Valentine’s Gifts: Build Your Own Bracelets

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Valentines Gifts for Kids To Mak - bracelets

31 Days of Love

The 31 Days of Love series contines. We have brought you fabulous Valentines Cards and now we are looking at a great set of Valentines Gifts that kids can make. Amanda from The Educators Spin On It makes fabulously personal DIY beads.

It is such a delight to be participating in the 31 Days of Love at Red Ted Art. I am Amanda Boyarshinov, a book loving, dig in the dirt, run around the yard, hands on kind of mom who writes at The Educators Spin On It.  At our house, we enjoy making home-made gifts and Valentine’s Day is no exception. 

Gifts Kids Can Make

This year, my seven year old asked to make penguin bracelets for her friends.  We assembled and baked our own penguin beads, then built the first bracelet.  Deciding that half the fun was in making your own bracelet, we put the supplies into little bags, attached a sweet message and made, “Build Your Own Bracelet Valentines,” for our friends. That way our friends can make their own patterns, hone in on their fine motor skills and have fun too!

Valentines Gifts: Needed For the Penguin Beads:

Gifts for Kids Make - DIY Beads

  • Baking Clay and an oven (we used orange, black, white, and turquoise)
  • Toothpick for small details

Valentines Giftsf for Kids to Make – Directions:

  1. Roll one small black ball, then smash it into a flat oval.
  2. Add a white stomach, 2 tiny white balls for the eyes, and a small orange nose.
  3. Use a toothpick to poke a bead hole through the middle of the penguin.
  4. Follow the clay package instructions for baking. Ours baked for 75 minutes.

Valentine's Gifts for Kids to Make - DIY Beads

Materials Needed For the Build Your Own Bracelet Packets

  • Beads
  • Beading Elastic
  • Small plastic bags
  • Tape
  • Paper
  • Printer and Ink

Valentines Gift – Bracelet – Directions

  1. Put enough beads for one bracelet in a plastic bag (add a few extras just in case)
  2. Cut elastic band around 1’ long, roll it up and add it to the bag.
  3. Tape the bag shut.
  4. Print or write a special message on a paper tag.
  5. Tape the tag to the top of the bag.
  6. Give to a friend.

Valentines Gifts for Kids to Make

Some messages to write:

I  U like a .

You warm my

Sliding by to say “Hi.”

I included a little note with directions on how to make the bracelet that looked like this.

Make your own penguin bracelet:

  1. Add the beads until the bracelet fits around your wrist.
  2. Tie the elastic.
  3. Dab a tiny bit of glue on the knot to keep it from coming undone.
  4. Wear and enjoy!

 

This penguin bracelet was inspired by our month long penguin learning adventures in Playful Preschool.

Here are some other ideas of Amanda’s to get your kids learning and creating.

IMG_1218b IMG_9927 matroshka

How to Host a Winter Playdate

Penguin Learning and Crafts

And with the Winter Olympics being held in Russia this year, she is a great resource to learn more about the language and culture.

7 Ways to Use Russian Nesting Dolls to Teach

Looking for more DIY Friendship Bracelets ? Here are some great ones for Summer Camp and beyond!
11 Friendship Bracelets. These are great for Summer Camp or for making and sending to your friends over the long summer holidays!

Hope you like them!