Valentines Crafts for Seniors - Part 1

By Anna Hazard

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Part 2: More Valentines Crafts for Seniors

Introduction

Valentine's Day isn't meant for lovers alone. Spread the love and fun around by having your senior loved ones stretch their artistic muscles with these easy-to-do crafts that will double as holiday gifts or decorations (or at least giving a purpose to all that leftover candy besides adding on the pounds)

Check out these first 7 in a set of 14 crafts that are easy-to-do, require little preparation & common household or crafting materials, and can be specifically tailored to the needs of your senior loved ones.

Valentines Scent Sachets

• These sachets can be made from felt, other fabric, or paper stock and can be filled with lavender, potpourri, and other sweet smelling herbs or spices. Sewing can be replaced with gluing for those seniors with hand dexterity issues.
• Check out step-by-step tutorials for varying styles of heart sachets at Flamingo Toes, Yesterday on Tuesday, Top Party Ideas, and Crate Paper

Valentines Butterfly Lollipop

• These handmade butterflies (and bees) can act as a fun valentines card to give away or as decorations for around the house during Valentine's Day. Easy to make either freehand or with a pre-printed patterns using only paper, foam, tape or glue, and your choice of lollipops.
  
• Check out tutorials and butterfly & bee pattern prints at Skip to My Lou, DLTK, Itsy Bitsy Fun, We Made That, and Eat Craft Parent

Valentines Snow Globe

• Create Valentine's style snowglobes using a variety of materials ranging from jars (baby food to pickle to mason ),  pipecleaners, felt, glitter, confetti, sparkles, fake snow, styrofoam balls, paint, photos, and glycerin depending upon the style of snowglobe you'd like to craft.
• Some preparation beforehand may be required, such as slicing open styrofoam balls for those with hand dexterity issues
• Check out tutorials to various styles of snowglobes at Real Simple, Dandee Designs, It's the Small Things, Tell Me Tuesday, Pandora's Craft Box, Homespun with Love, and Whipperberry

Valentines Yarn Hearts

• A simple craft that requires only a few supplies depending upon the style of heart being created. The solid hearts can use styrofoam, cardboard, or light wood for their bases while the open hearts can be made with or without the use of wire.
  
• Check out these samples & tutorials for more ideas at Fynes Designs, N!fy Mag, Shelterness, and Aunt Peaches

Valentines Pompom Critters

• These adorable guys can be easily made from pompoms or yarn and other miscellaneous crafts supplies found around the house including paper, googly eyes, fabric, foam, pipecleaners, or buttons.
  

• Check out the various style of pompom monsters available to craft at Create Craft Love, Play Learn Share, Consumer Crafts, Adventures in Making, and Practically Functional
  

Valentine's Chocolate Love Bugs

• Add a bit of extra oomph to this year's Valentine's candy by transforming them into cute decorative love bugs. All you and your senior loved one needs is candy (suggestions include Hershey's kisses, reeses pieces, gummy worms, marshmallows ) depending upon the style of bug you'd like to craft, along with paper, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, foam or other random craft items around the house.
  
• Check out step-by-step suggestions for various lovebug styles at Hershey's, Moscato Mom, Stockpiling Moms, Crafty Texas Girls, Decorated Cookie, and Bullocks Buzz

Valentines Suncatcher

• Put your senior's homes in a festive mood with these handmade and easy-to-craft suncatchers. Supplies include a variety of choices in paper including vellum, contact, construction, wax, cellophane, computer, cardboard, posterboard, or tissue paper along with glue & scissors.
  
• Check out the various styles of suncatchers available at Wee Folk Art, Marin Mommies, First Palette, Aunt Annie's Crafts, Makobi Scribe, Bugsy & Buddy and Happiness is Homemade