Well, friends. Valentine's Day is a week away! When it comes to putting together Valentine exchange cards for my son's class, I'm all about simplicity. There are 3 things that I think about when considering little gifts, like classroom Valentines or teacher appreciation gifts:
- Can I keep it low budget? Like many families, we are living on a budget. While I do like to plan ahead when there are upcoming holidays, regular household expenses can get in the way of make special purchases. And if something unexpected comes up, like a medical bill or a broken appliance? Forget it.
- Can I use something I already have on hand? In addition to keeping on budget for the month, I don't like to create a lot of waste with projects. This applies to my business as well as my family life. If I can create something special with arts and craft items (like fabric, paper, ribbon/string) without having to order anything or stop at a store, all the better.
- Does it meet a need? Obviously, I want little gifts to be cute, but I also want them to be functional. For example, last year for Teacher Appreciation Day, I gave my son's teachers each a quilted coaster and a coffee card. Long after the coffee was gone, the coaster would still serve a purpose (while being stylish!).
The Valentine exchange cards that I put together this year meet all 3 points! Here's how:
I used crayons I already had on hand to make dino crayons.
I used cardstock we already had on hand to make the cards.
Giving crayons as a gift instead of a sweet treat means we are not contributing to kids' sugar crashes! Plus, they inspire kids to get creative with art!
If you don't have time or the supplies to make dino crayons, you can alternatively attach a dino figurine to the card instead. How cute is that?
Get the free DINO-MITE printable here.
