February is not my favorite month. In fact, it’s the least favored month in my opinion. Most days are freezing cold, but the joy of the holiday spirit is long gone. We’re not quite into spring, but winter is taking its sweet time in leaving. It’s boring! It puts me in a funk! I want March already!
This is where Valentine’s Day comes in! For most of society, the day is associated with romance. For me, it simply gives character to a monotonous time of year. Just as twinkle lights illuminate the dark month of December, the bright reds and pinks add a spark of charm to get us through a dull period.
My husband and I rarely do much for Valentine’s Day. Crowds are obnoxious, and dating happens year-round. Sometimes we use it as an excuse to give gifts, but there is no obligation to do so. Throughout the first couple weeks of the month, however, we find little ways to celebrate love as a family. On February 1st, my kids wake up to a heart posted on their bedroom doors with a notes detailing something I love about them. Every morning they find a new heart until they receive a small Valentine’s Day goodie bag waiting for them on the 14th.
What is especially fun this time of year, are the crafts! Who doesn’t have core memories of making popsicle stick picture frames and heart-shaped cards for their parents? Does anyone else get that warm fuzzy feeling when they recall a scene of dripping glue bottles, spilled glitter, and scraps of red, pink, and white paper scattered across a school table?
Remembering it for yourself is one thing. Imagining it as an adult may cause a conniption. What is it they say? Glitter is the herpes of art supplies?
However, mayhem is not necessarily required for arts and crafts with small children. The other day I wanted a creative activity to try, but lately, I’ve struggled to keep up with housework. I didn’t want additional chaos added to my life.
As it turns out, this dilemma is the perfect opportunity for washi tape.
These suncatchers are easy peasy to make and look adorable displayed in windows. Go wild in choosing washi tape designs, and have fun lining different patterns across the hearts. As an added bonus, you can still achieve that traditional Valentine’s Day glitter without leaving your house in a wreck, thanks to sparkly designs currently available at Michaels.
To get started on these beauties, you’ll need to gather a few basic supplies:
Themed washi tape
Glue stick
Scissors
This print out on colorful construction paper or cardstock:
To begin, use your colorful cardstock/construction paper to print out the hearts. Each print will make one suncatcher.
Using the outer lines as your guide, cut out each heart. Next, you will cut out the inner heart. To make this easier, fold your heart in half and follow the inner line just as you would make a normal paper heart.
Next is the fun part! Lay strips of washi tape across one of your heart cutouts. Play with any designs or patterns that inspire you!
You can cover as little or as much of the heart as you want. When finished, run a glue stick on the surface of the heart (on the non-sticky side of the washi tape). Cover your heart with the second heart cut out. Trim any access washi tape from the edges.
Press the sticky side of the washi tape to your windows, and enjoy these lovely suncatchers!
