No-Candy Valentines

At the beginning of January, Annie’s preschool made the switch to non-edible treats to celebrate birthdays and other events. That was more than fine by me – there is a child in her class with a severe nut allergy, and I had a lot of anxiety about baking a cupcake that would be safe. For Annie’s birthday, I sent her to school with mini-playdoh tubs and cookie cutters. Cheap, easy and safe for everyone!

This switch means no candy for Valentine’s Day, which is again fine with me because Annie needs sugar like I need a hole in my head. I was inspired to make these Valentines for her when I saw her playing with a hand clapper I’d bought her for New Year’s Eve. I ordered mini-clappers on Amazon, but most party stores sell clappers in regular and mini sizes.

I put together a template for the mini-clappers, and also for the full-sized clapper, which are available for download for free if you’d like to make these Valentines with your kids (or maybe for your officemates or cats, I don’t judge).

Mini Clapper Template
Full-Sized Clapper Template

To put them all together, you need:

No-Candy Valentines

Card-stock paper
Scissors
Hole punch
Pens
String or ribbon
Hand clappers!

Right now the Target dollar section has baker’s twine and the most freaking adorable Valentine ribbon ever. Unless you shop at my local Target, because I bought all the cute ribbon. SORRY.

No-Candy Valentines

After I printed and cut the Valentines, I had Annie get to work. We’ve been teaching her to write her name, so I thought printing her Valentines this far in advance would be a good motivator for her. She can write her name on two or three every night, which is just about right for her attention span.

Writing her name
Someone tell me how to teach a lefty to hold a pencil.

Writing her name

She told me, “I did it! I’m so proud of myself!”

No-Candy Valentines

Place your clapper on the template to figure out where you want to tie it to the card-stock. Mark either side of the clapper with a pen or pencil.

No-Candy Valentines

Punch holes out where you marked the paper. If your hole punch can’t reach, you might want to use an eyelet punch or x-acto knife.

No-Candy Valentines

Run your string or ribbon through the holes, then tie your prettiest bow. Annie wants to learn how to tie bows, too…that will be interesting.

No-Candy Valentines

Happy (early) Valentine’s Day! I think I’ll get Annie a few little chocolates to eat at home…then she can burn off the sugar with a bunch of hand-clappers! Sounds relaxing.