Valentine’s Day Projects for teens to make

These are some fun ideas for teens to make the bracelets might be a great idea to do for other holidays, too. Unfortunately, the last project does need a laminate machine so, they may need an adult to bring them to copy store or get help from someone who owns one.

 
Crayon Hearts

Materials: Waxed paper, Wax crayons, handheld pencil sharpener, Kraft paper,     Iron, Pencil, Scissors, and Silk thread

Directions:

Begin with a 12-by-16-inch sheet of waxed paper. Fold it in half along its length; unfold. Deposit wax-crayon shavings (made with a handheld pencil sharpener) evenly but not thickly across one half of the paper. Fold the clean half of the paper over the shavings. Crimp the three open edges with a 1/2-inch fold to hold the shavings.

Protect your ironing surface with Kraft paper. Place the waxed paper on the Kraft paper, and cover it with another sheet of Kraft paper. Iron lightly on medium heat, checking after every few passes. Stop when all the shavings have melted; let cool.

Next, trace and cut out hearts of various sizes. String each heart with a silk thread for hanging.

 
Heart Bookmark

Materials:  Heavy card stock, Decorative paper, Utility knife/scissors and Glue stick

Directions:

Create a template of a heart, about 1 1/2 inches wide.

Cut out with a utility knife, and trace onto heavy card stock.

Copy it at 80 percent, cut out, and trace onto decorative paper, such as wrapping or origami paper.

Cut out both hearts, and use a glue stick to secure smaller patterned heart to center of the larger one; let dry.

Finally, trace bottom half of inner heart with a utility knife, cutting through card stock beneath. Then your valentine can slip pages between the hearts.

 
Knot Bracelet

Materials: Liquid seam sealant, Tweezers, Cord or ribbon, Buttons, Foam board, and Dressmaker pins

Directions:

Choose nylon or silk cord, or velvet ribbon. A 4-mm width is easiest to work with. Use about 45 inches of cord or ribbon for a 7-inch bracelet. You'll also need liquid seam sealant, tweezers, buttons, a foam board, and dressmaker pins, as shown here.

Cut cord to size, and seal ends with seam sealant. Thread through buttonholes, keeping ends even, and lay face down on foam board. Insert pin through one buttonhole and cord to secure. Make S bend with end A, securing by winding around pins; pierce cord with pin at top right corner of S bend. Weave end B over first horizontal segment of S bend, and under the next two.

Weave end B back over all three horizontal segments of A . Then weave it back up, under the bottom two segments and over the top segment. Remove pins. Using both hands, carefully pull cord as indicated left, making a loose knot.

Using tweezers, gently tug up on knot where indicated above and slide knot so it's about 1 1/2 inches from the button. (The back of the knot will resemble the one far left; the front will resemble far right.) Use tweezers to tighten knot. Pin it to foam board, and secure. Continue adding evenly spaced knots.

When bracelet is desired length, pinch loose ends together, and tie an overhand knot. Trim the excess cord; seal ends with seam sealant.

Valentine's Day Secret Messages

Materials:  Paintbrush, Sponge, Baking soda, Water, White watercolor paper,  Decorative paper and card stock, Self-adhesive laminating sheets, or laminating machine, Double-sided tape, Spray bottle, and Grape juice (The acid in the grape juice reacts with the baking soda, which is a base, to change the color of the paper, revealing the message.)

Directions:

In a small bowl, mix equal parts baking soda and water.

Using a paintbrush, write a secret message with the baking soda mixture on a piece of white watercolor paper. You should be able to see the message while it is still wet; if it's hard to see, look at the paper at an angle as you write.

Allow the message to dry completely (about 10 minutes).

Brush off excess baking soda residue with a dry sponge.

To make a water-resistant card, cut pieces of decorative paper or card stock slightly bigger than the secret message paper. Sandwich the card between 2 sheets of laminate material, or run it through a laminating machine.

Using double-sided tape, attach the watercolor paper with the invisible message to the top of the laminated card.

Present the card with a spray bottle of grape juice. Instruct the recipient to spray the grape juice on the card to reveal the secret message. Note: The message must be lying flat until dry or the grape juice (and message!) will drip off.

Share your ideas on this or anything here on the blog either here or e-mail me at stipple@verizon.net.  I look forward to hearing from you!