Maybe you just got your Christmas decorations packed away (no judgement) and you’re not ready to hear this, but … Valentine’s Day is 1 month away.
In my house, V-Day gets the shaft because I do so much Christmas that I’m just ready for spare, boring February. On the other hand, I’m a girl who loves glitter, hearts, and the colors purple and pink. I was made for Valentine’s Day.
So while my house might not be decorated with heart garland and sparkles, I do get into the Valentine’s Day cards for my kids. We could just go to Target and pick out a couple of boxes of their favorite theme character, sloppily sign their names, and call it a day.
But I did that two years ago with Easton and I’m here to tell you … punching out the cards, signing, folding, and sticker-ing them closed is a task designed to punish moms. Kids don’t want to do that. And who does that leave staying up till 11 PM on February 13? Not them, that’s for sure.
I prefer to design my own Valentines, print them myself (usually on Avery pre-punched name badge stock so that they easily separate — see my Tips at the end of this post), add a cutesy embellishment, and call it a day. The boys like it because they get something very customized to that year’s obsession.
And this year I’m sharing the boys’ past obsessions with you, so you too can easily print your own and avoid that whole folding-sticking-pencil-or-other-small-crappy-toy-assembly garbage. Read on for free printables and quick instructions to add a pack of snacks or little prize for extra wow factor. (Because, in case you didn’t realize it, Valentine’s Day is the new Christmas for kids.)
I’m kicking off this series with my boys’ current favorite, the Star Wars glowstick light saber. If this isn’t your jam, stay tuned for new Valentine printables and easy DIYs on the blog every other day over the next two weeks.
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Star Wars Glow Stick Light Saber
Download Star Wars Glow Stick Printable Valentine (6 per sheet)
Quick and Easy How-To:
Print and cut cards (see Tips below for my paper recommendation – Avery prepunched stock makes it so easy).
The dollar store is your friend on this one. Grab a few packs of the most inexpensive glow stick bracelets (6 for $1)!
These become the “light saber” for your valentine. Use a hole punch to thread it through part of the card, secure with a piece of Scotch tape, and become a hero in your boys’ eyes.
Download Star Wars Glow Stick Printable Valentine (6 per sheet)
Tips for Printables:
- All the printables can be printed simply on regular letter-size paper. For the most professional results, I personally use smooth cardstock, but that’s my designer-nerd background. Here’s my favorite from Amazon (Prime):
Wausau 40508 Neenah Exact Index, 110 lb, 8.5 x 11 Inches, 250 Sheets, White, 94 Bright - Or go simple yet fancy by printing onto pre-punched name tags (6 to a sheet), then detach along the perforations and go. (Make sure to print your PDF “Actual Size” rather than “Fit” for best results.) This is how I do ALL my valentines because it’s so easy.
- If you’re printing on regular cardstock, you’ll need a way to cut them out. Grab a pair of scissors or if you’re OCD about straight lines like I am, you need a paper trimmer in your life. This little tool is a must for all my DIY projects. Just line up the paper, slide, and DONE. Straight lines, no cut fingers. Here are two of my picks (I own both and use them for different purposes):
Fiskars 12 Inch SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer (152490-1004)
Marigold Scrapbooking Craft Stack Paper Trimmer , Blue , 12″ (GTC410) - If you don’t want to invest in a paper trimmer, a simple X-Acto knife and ruler will work just as well. My X-Acto knife is pink, of course:
X-ACTO Craft Tools 1 Knife With Safety Cap, Pink
Use of the Force not required for this one … I’m keeping it simple and inexpensive for Valentine’s Day. Follow me on Instagram and Pinterest for daily ideas and inspiration, including tomorrow’s Goldfish bowl!
