When the classroom Valentine’s Party looms near, it can be daunting to come up with a non-candy favor to give classmates and school yard pals. This quick and easy craft is the perfect project for a collaboration of big and little hands, and requires only a few inexpensive supplies. You can find hearts of all shapes and sizes at a craft store - felt, gem stone, glitter, macrame. Metal barrettes and stretchy headbands are easily found at drugstores. Put those items together and you have a simple and stunning Valentine's craft that all ages can enjoy making. 

Creating felt hearts is about as easy as it can get - simply cut out a few hearts freehand and then add a dot of glue to layer two hearts of different sizes to add contrast. 

While the glue dries on the felt hearts, sort out the craft supplies. Felt, macrame, gem, and glitter hearts from a craft store, plus a few inexpensive metal barrettes are all you’ll need. 

Gluing the gem hearts is probably the easiest for little hands. Apply a dot of glue, press on to the barrette and hold until the glue is secure.

For grown up hands, using a little super glue can save time and prove a more long lasting and secure bond. Apply a dot of glue to the back of one of the felt hearts from the craft store, then press and hold to the metal barrette.

For the macrame hearts, a spot of hot glue is required. A bobby pin with a flat head makes a perfect surface for the macrame heart. 

Press and hold until the glue has cooled. 

Next up, a few inexpensive drug store headbands and a few more of those store bought felt hearts become a heart-themed headband with the help of a little needle and thread. 

Use a few straight pins to secure the hearts in place. Sew along the periphery of the felt heart to secure it to the headband. Small projects like this make an excellent introduction to basic sewing for little fingers - just be sure to supervise! 

See? Simple, easy, fast and fun.

This project has all the hallmarks of a busy mom-approved solution to the Valentine’s Day favor hunt.