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Works For Me: Homemade Valentines

Wfmwsmall I have three school-aged children, each with roughly 25 kids in their class.  Add to that the 15 kids in my daughter's preschool class, and that's a lot of valentines to prepare. 

Since I have so much extra time these days, I thought I'd personally crochet 90 little Valentine-themed afghans and bake 90 boxes of homemade, perfectly-iced cookies. 

Oh, I hope you know how I jest.

This is an especially busy few weeks for our family, and I didn't feel like over-seeing the signing of 90 store-bought cards.  Instead, this year I created Valentines on the computer, and I printed them out on cardstock.  The boys are cutting them out, taping a dollar-store pencil to the back of each one (12 pencils for $1!  Score!), and we are DONE.  And nobody had to mass-sign anything.  They turned out really cute, too.  The boys' cards all look the same (except for the name, of course):

Valentine1

For some extra girly fun, I even tied a ribbon on Corrie's:

Valentine2

(And no, I don't normally organize my kids' valentines two weeks early.  I'll be out of town the country the hemisphere during the school valentine parties, and while my husband is a wonderful, hands-on father, he draws the line at valentines.)

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NEXT WEEK'S WFMW is a themed edition--we'll all be listing our favorite on-line stores.  Whether it's your favorite source of good bargains or unusual products, post your links of best places to shop on the web.  The marketing people will love us for this.

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1. Ashlyn (Missing Baby Socks)
2. The Diaper Diaries (be a good mom)
3. Christa @ No End in Site (Rewarding kids\' good behavior while shopping)
4. Daiquiri (Cheap Kids\' Fun)
5. Sarah K (perfect cookies!)
6. OW (creativity for children’s mealtime)
7. MamaGeek (Free College Money)
8. TNS (We love Wii)
9. OW (creativity for children’s mealtime)
10. Anne Glamore (old school parenting)
11. Infinity Goods (Junk Mail)
12. lisa (get rid of canker sores)
13. Wired For Noise (better cat litter)
14. Mrs Pear (What side to gas car up)
15. Carol (Keep your eyeliner from smearing)
16. Infinity Goods (Purpose Driven Life)
17. Heidi (10 min meatloaf)
18. Mom Is Teaching (get more blog visitors)
19. Michelle at Scribbit (Valentine\'s Ideas)
20. Keren @ Mill Musings (Tour of My Coupon and More Organizer
21. Ronnica (Early Reading Game)
22. ellen b
23. A Juggling Mum (Clothes)
24. Hotomom (Mom\'s Disney Panel)
25. Capturing Today (knife storage magnet)
26. Allison (Have a question?)
27. Peggie (giveaway suggestions)
28. Beth @ The Natural Mommy (Cheater Cleaning)
29. Stretch Mark Mama (Natural Bathroom Cleaner)
30. ToddleBits (Happier Mealtimes)
31. Miriam (Foiling Toddler Escapes)
32. Many Little Blessings (Recording Your Family History)
33. At A Hen\'s Pace (cold leather couches, chilly house)
34. Lisa (easy fast lasagna)
35. Christy (Clean your Washer)
36. jennifer (Kid Valentine\'s Day Table)
37. phyllis (great read!)
38. The Nourishing Gourmet-quinoa chicken crockpot stew
39. Becky (Puzzle Storage)
40. Jenne (Easier Meal Planning)
41. Michele (The Perfect Biscuit)
42. Jack\'s Mommy (Keeping Your Bathroom Guest-Ready)
43. Kristin (Clean Shower)
44. Aubrey (Cool, inexpensive gift)
45. Elizabeth (boys cowlicks)
46. LeeAnn (aka Frazzmom) Travel essentials
47. Totallyscrappy (gifts for teachers)
48. Mrs. Fussypants\' Guide to Life ( How to NOT raise a spoiled brat in a funny way! )
49. Dena\'s Deliberations (Strewing)
50. Mamacita (fantastic thrift store directory)
51. Not the Queen (wall decor, part 2)
52. Jenn @ Adventures in Poop
53. Susan@Don\'t Ask Why... (duct tape)
54. The Thrifty Blogger (natural remedy)
55. Christine (three tips for taking great pics of your children)
56. Nadine (store used sewing machine needles)
57. Lindsay @ Passionate Homemaking (frugal valentine ideas)
58. Robin (cutting fingernails)
59. Duckabush Blog (Computer Time Rationing)
60. Jasmine31 ( Make brown sugar! )
61. Digital Daydreams (finding time for crafts)
62. Domestically Blissed (50\'s style end of day routine)
63. K: Envelopes for Lists
64. Rag-Tag Believer (to-do list and computer time)
65. Lindsay @ Passionate Homemaking (frugal valentine ideas)
66. MomOnTheGo (household)
67. Martie\'sHouse(Mom of 9 keeps house CLEAN)
68. Abbey (Entertaining Babies-Toddlers)
69. Amy @ By His Grace (Unconventional Garage Storage)
70. Mrs. Who (100-calorie snack)
71. Hadias (Pre-made mixes)
72. Niki (new use for denture tablets)
73. Shalee (Just Let Go!)
74. Cindy @ ValuesDrivenFamly.com (Enjoying Your Kids)
75. Vickie@PursuingSimplicity (Valentine Time Savers)
76. Sara(Laundry - Cold Water)
77. Andrea@Braun Family Circus (managing cords)
78. fullheartandhands mama (Switching Handbags Made Easier)
79. Feminine Pursuits (Money maker!)
80. Edi(keeping a journal for kids)
81. Sarah (Rising Bread Dough Quicker)
82. Clappy Shoes-tax information organization
83. Multitasking Mama (Prep Bowls)
84. Candace (Dinner Co-op)
85. Biblical Womanhood (Structure your day for efficiency)
86. Missy\'s Hubby (Nothing)
87. Cyndi (saving favorite childhood books)
88. Mrs. G (dry hands help)
89. Mommin\' It Up (10 minute exercise)
90. Tiffany (Books)
91. Lorraine (Noiseless Alarm Clock)
92. Shannon @ A Reforming Mom (the BEST seasoning EVER!)
93. Jane (no tears onion slicing)
94. Britni (Clothing Swap)
95. Alana (Ode to Tums)
96. Nicole (An easy hairbow holder)
97. Meredith (Removing Deodorant Marks)
98. Karol (Chicken Prep)
99. Melissa (Yummy, Healthier Nachos)
100. Rhen (yestheyareallmine!!)
101. Tracy (not your grandmama\'s cup \'o joe-or maybe it is...)
102. Beth@sportsmomma (great podcasts)
103. Christine (feel pretty - oh, so pretty!)
104. Stacey (Gym Nursery)
105. Laura@HeavenlyHomeMakers (Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies)
106. Dawn @ Baby Addiction (Teach Baby to Pray)
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120. She\'s a Crafty Pumpkin (Cheap & gentle eye cleanser)
121. Thia (cake decorating)
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123. Scott (take a risk on blog design)
124. Megret (help the doctor out!)
125. SAHMmy Says (Tips on Providing Meals!)
126. Peggie(attitude)
127. Alison (valentines for kids)
128. LifesLittleSteps (teahing toddler he alphabet)
129. Heather (use for unused cranberries)
130. Penny Raine (making wedding invites)
131. Karen (encouraging reading)
132. Christine (Price Book)
133. Momala (Treat Box)
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135. Kim (Prewriting Posts)
136. Texastanya (Reading Suggestions)
137. Jeni (get prints of your digital pictures)
138. Kirstin (vacation homes)
139. Tamara (accountability)
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141. Briggie (hallmark)
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144. Amy (keep track of books to read)
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147. Nonnie (Easiest & Tastiest Chili Ever!)
148. Jennifer in OR (Faith)
149. Jen M (backpack storage in a tiny house)
150. Baby Sally (diaper tip)
151. Mrs. Troop (Family Devotions)
152. Beth (freezing cookie dough)
153. Jacquelyn@Because I Said So! (Hiccup relief)
154. Melonie @Momma & More (creative storage)
155. Amy@sonshinecottage(picture bookshelf)
156. Amyswandering (Homeschool Freebies)
157. Abbi (garage organization)
158. At Thy Word (teach reading)
159. Kara(drinking water tips)
160. Simply A Musing Blog (Junk your Junk Mail)
161. Family Focused Fun (Free Parenting Resource)
162. Melonie @ Workerette
163. Shades of Shannon
164. Dee (Grocery Budget)
165. warillever (place for diapers and undies)
166. A Family, Created (extra bread)
167. Makeshift Mama - Smooth, Soft Underarms!
168. Sonshine (organizing little things)
169. If only I had super powers (High Elbow)
170. Elizabeth @ Homeschool Mommy (Reading Aloud)
171. Ashley (moisturizing dry or chapped skin) :)
172. Proverbs 31 (lotion by kitchen sink)
173. Donielle @ Raising Peanuts
174. Maria (Soup Recipes)
175. Sandi (tip for quicker meal prep)
176. Greenstylemom (cottonball substitute)
177. Karla (postage)
178. BRC Banter (Lent Help)
179. Veggiemom (Anti-aging cream)
180. Melody from ~Pennies In My Pocket~ (TRASH CAN DIET)
181. Erin (laundry day)
182. Nichole (change sheets fast!)
183. Jules (Skunk smell)
184. Rain\'s Musings (booboo soothers)
185. Babychaser (helping your child accept new foods)
186. Ann (Ubiquitous Capture ideas)
187. Linda(Frugal Drain Cleaner)
188. Kim (Easy and Good Veggies)
189. Shelley(stainless steel cleaner)
190. Jenn @ Full of Boys (Emergency Radio)
191. NerdMom(Life & Focus Help)
192. Laura (Frugal Air Freshener)
193. JoAnn (Kid\'s Closet Organizing)
194. Jen (Easy Chicken & Noodles)
195. Sheila @ Who can find a wife of valor?
196. Tickled Pink (a red menu for Valentines Day)
197. Betsy (banana bread in food processor)

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Comments

Love your Valentines! Great idea - I think I'll try it this year :)

Those ideas are fantastic!

I'm going for the Valentine's ideas too.

Mine are still too young for Valentine's goodies, but the idea is fantastic and one that I hope I will remember for when the time comes.

What, no half-used erasers attached to the valentines? How will their friends know they are really loved?!

You shouldn't have explained why you were making Valentines two weeks early. I was thinking, "wow. she really has it all together. what an amazingly organized mom." Apparently, I didn't connect the whole "will be outrunning lions" trip being gone over Valentine's day.

With tons of pencils in our house I think I will run this by my kid too! We love doing arts in our house. A really good get together and spend time. Thanks! And double thanks for putting WFMW up early! teehee

This is a cool idea! :)

Great job! We've created Valentines on the computer for the last two years.... much easier - and I only have 2 kids going to school!

Those are so cute!! Great idea ;).

Am wishing I had a good color printer. You're a smart lady.

Now that I was finally getting past the spelling bee memories, you bring up Valentine's Day At School. Oh, the pain! Johnny loves me! Jeremy doesn't! He thinks I'm "nice!"

We're still working on boxes of cards I bought on clearance at 75% off oh, 2 years ago or so. Teachers here strongly suggest that they are handwritten to give the children practice. A few of my children are unhappy with the lengthy names they were given and my dislike of nicknames. Sorry, Johnjacobjingleheimerscmidt, only 25 more to go :)

Oh, geeze...I messed up and left a long (parenthetical) before I edited. Should I relist? I am really sorry!

My kids are at home for school, thank goodness (though in truth, they're both too old for the "mass Valentine giveaway" anyway). Great idea for yours, but WHY on earth you didn't do the afghans, I just don't understand! ;)

Oh, I can't even fathom doing valentines! Way to go. On another note, my tip says envelopes for lists, but it's not, it's clumpless mascara! Any idea on how to change this?

My daughter is only 3 and so the Valentines are mostly Mom work - what I do and what I clean up from what she does but it's fun. There are only 15 other kids in her daycare class and I'm planning to have her help me glue pics of her with a hear to paper doilies and then I'll write a message and her name. I bet she'll be begging me for the computer printed ones soon enough. I seem to remember preferring store-bought cookies over the ones my mom made ;+)

Brilliant idea! I think I will do that this year also. Thanks for the inspiration!

How creative! My kids aren't at the age yet for exchanging Valentine Day Cards, but I am going to keep this idea tucked away. Thank you.

This is my first year for Valentine's so I've been on the lookout for cute ideas. I think this will work perfectly for us. Thanks!

This is baby's first valentine's day, so we'll do this for his friends at daycare. He is part of a class of ALL boys, so we'll have to find something age and gender appropriate that is CHEAP to go with his cards. Maybe chocolate for the Mommies wouldn't be a bad idea??? Thanks for the tip!

Good idea! Individually signed is nice but not always practical during busy times.

I hadn't thought of doing Valentine's on the computer. Usually I buy Valentine's on clearance after Valentine's Day is done for the next year.

P.S. Great idea, though... :)

I don't think I ever received a pencil for Valentine's day, but it makes total sense when you're handing them out to all your schoolmates! Who doesn't need a pencil? Great idea!

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