Valentines Cards: An Art Project Or Should They Be Store Bought?
Posted by Irena Koteva on Monday, January 19, 2009
Under: St.Valentines Day Gifts
Valentines Cards: An Art Project Or Should They Be Store Bought?
By Irena Koteva
Giving Valentines to your classmates used to include endless
hours of making them out of construction paper, cute dollies and
with painstaking attention to all the details. It was a project
that was done at home, for each individual child in the class.
And, it was one that great pride was taken in doing. Today,
there are much fewer families making Valentines and many more
just buying a box of them to give out to their classmates with a
simple signature on the back of them.
This has happened mainly because of how commercialized the
holiday has become. As manufacturing techniques have gotten
better and more cost effective that is the way that American
school children have gone. Before this, in the 1960’s, a book of
valentines could be purchased. Children could actually cut out
the cards from the book, personalize them with lace trim or even
with candy and then send them on. But, it wasn’t long before
children were ready to skip the cutting out part altogether.
The Puns
Who hasn’t smirked at the cute sayings that are placed on the
Valentines cards? Such sayings as “I’m Sweet On You” have been
used for years and years. It came from a time of collecting
these types of catchy, cute sayings and riddles. These can still
be found today on the Valentines that are purchased out of the
box.
The Cards
The cards used to fill a box with a variety of different styles
and designs. Common ones were those of fruits and vegetables
with these puns on them or they could include a few pictures of
cute animals. Today, children’s Valentines are more often in
their favorite cartoon character.
Homemade Valentines
While children may not feel comfortable with providing homemade
Valentines to their classmates today, they can and should still
make them for their friends outside the classroom, for their
adult friends and other loved ones. Not only is it a fun task to
do, but it helps with motor skills and creativity as well. All
that is needed is a simple piece of paper. The paper can be
folded, cut, shaped in any way that they would like it to be.
Here’s one project to try:
* Fold the paper in half, and then fold it in half again in the
other direction.
* Trim the outer edge as desired and cut a straight line
diagonally across the folded corner. This will make a diamond
shape in the middle.
* Fold it diagonally. Cut hearts along the diagonal line. When
the paper is unfolded, there is a line of pin pricks, which make
it look much like a piece of lace.
* Add this lacey paper to the top of a piece of pink or red
paper.
* Add decorations such as a picture of cupid, a coloring of a
rose or anything that is enjoyable.
This is a simple, affordable way to make homemade Valentines
that parents and other friends will love to hang on to for many
years to come. If your child seems to want to use only
Valentines that are store bought, this should be okay as well.
Allow them to pick those that they find enjoyable and help them
to make those for others as well.
About the Author: Nicola Kennedy has become an expert in giving
valentines day cards that are appreciated. Visit her site
http://www.Best-Valentines.info for more great Valentines gift
ideas. Copyright http://Best-Valentines.info All rights
reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the
resource box and the live links are included intact.
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=28850&ca=Arts+and+Crafts
By Irena Koteva
Giving Valentines to your classmates used to include endless
hours of making them out of construction paper, cute dollies and
with painstaking attention to all the details. It was a project
that was done at home, for each individual child in the class.
And, it was one that great pride was taken in doing. Today,
there are much fewer families making Valentines and many more
just buying a box of them to give out to their classmates with a
simple signature on the back of them.
This has happened mainly because of how commercialized the
holiday has become. As manufacturing techniques have gotten
better and more cost effective that is the way that American
school children have gone. Before this, in the 1960’s, a book of
valentines could be purchased. Children could actually cut out
the cards from the book, personalize them with lace trim or even
with candy and then send them on. But, it wasn’t long before
children were ready to skip the cutting out part altogether.
The Puns
Who hasn’t smirked at the cute sayings that are placed on the
Valentines cards? Such sayings as “I’m Sweet On You” have been
used for years and years. It came from a time of collecting
these types of catchy, cute sayings and riddles. These can still
be found today on the Valentines that are purchased out of the
box.
The Cards
The cards used to fill a box with a variety of different styles
and designs. Common ones were those of fruits and vegetables
with these puns on them or they could include a few pictures of
cute animals. Today, children’s Valentines are more often in
their favorite cartoon character.
Homemade Valentines
While children may not feel comfortable with providing homemade
Valentines to their classmates today, they can and should still
make them for their friends outside the classroom, for their
adult friends and other loved ones. Not only is it a fun task to
do, but it helps with motor skills and creativity as well. All
that is needed is a simple piece of paper. The paper can be
folded, cut, shaped in any way that they would like it to be.
Here’s one project to try:
* Fold the paper in half, and then fold it in half again in the
other direction.
* Trim the outer edge as desired and cut a straight line
diagonally across the folded corner. This will make a diamond
shape in the middle.
* Fold it diagonally. Cut hearts along the diagonal line. When
the paper is unfolded, there is a line of pin pricks, which make
it look much like a piece of lace.
* Add this lacey paper to the top of a piece of pink or red
paper.
* Add decorations such as a picture of cupid, a coloring of a
rose or anything that is enjoyable.
This is a simple, affordable way to make homemade Valentines
that parents and other friends will love to hang on to for many
years to come. If your child seems to want to use only
Valentines that are store bought, this should be okay as well.
Allow them to pick those that they find enjoyable and help them
to make those for others as well.
About the Author: Nicola Kennedy has become an expert in giving
valentines day cards that are appreciated. Visit her site
http://www.Best-Valentines.info for more great Valentines gift
ideas. Copyright http://Best-Valentines.info All rights
reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the
resource box and the live links are included intact.
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=28850&ca=Arts+and+Crafts