Valentine's Candy Bar Posters

Every year I try to come up with something different to do for my kids for Valentines.  This year I decided to resurrect the candy bar poster.  Remember doing those?  It was a lot harder than I remember it being.  When I went to buy the stuff I think the cashier thought I had a serious candy problem.  

I made my youngest a poster that would just look nice since she is too young to appreciate words.  My five-year-old declared me, "The best mom ever!"  I told them they could take one piece off and put it in their lunch box but no one wanted to destroy their poster.  Wow.  Wasn't expecting that.  Their favorite part was the 1 billion dollar candy bar.  My 9-year-old thinks he'll be able to trick a cashier into believing its really money.

Other ideas I had for the poster were those individual cereal boxes like Lucky Charms.  I also searched town for a Hunk candy bar with no success.  Thank goodness Snickers put cool things on their candy bars.

Valentine Mail Boxes

I decided to make my kids mail boxes to put their valentine goodies in from my husband and I.  I just thought it would be fun.  

 I just took some cardstock and decorated one sheet for each kid.

 Then I cut another piece in half and then lined it up with the top sheet and cut off a little on one end so it would match up.

 Then I taped the 8x10 sheet to the 1/2 piece.

 Then I traced this "box" on another sheet and cut out to pieces to form the end and the door.  Then I added a little flag.

Hopefully they like them!

Heart Shaped Shortbread Cookies with Raspberry Butter cream Filling

Shortbread Cookies with Raspberry Butter Cream

My kids and I have fun looking through recipes and coming up with things we want to try.  Of course this month we want everything heart shaped.

Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks butter at room temperature)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 Tbsp. milk
5 Tbsp. cocoa powder (optional)

For the Filling:
5 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter at room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla
a dash of raspberry jello powder
a dash of milk


    For the cookies preheat your oven to 325 degrees.  Line two pans with parchment paper or a Silpat.  Beat the butter until creamy and add the sugar.  Add flour and cocoa powder if you are making chocolate cookies.  Add the vanilla and milk until the dough comes together.  Chill the dough in the fridge for 15-30 minutes.  Then roll out the dough and cut into heart shapes.

   Bake for 10-15 minutes.  Do not over cook!

   For the filling, beat the butter and add the powdered sugar, vanilla, raspberry jello powder, and enough milk to form a thick frosting.

   When the cookies are cool spread frosting in the middle and put another cookie on top.

   Enjoy!

Kid Friendly Valentine Cards

Is it just me or does every Valentine you find on Pinterest that is supposed to be made by kids really just look like the mom did everything but write the kids' names?  

This year I found some cute ideas out there, but then I made my kids do everything.  I just made it easy for them to this by providing supplies. 

Our first Valentine says, "Have a FAN(TACHE)TIC Valentines!"

The next says, "You're Cute as  Button."

   What made these easy for the kids to make is the stamps I made out of sponges.  I just bought some cheap sponges at the store and cut them into a heart and a mustache.  I also cut the paper into rectangles.

So to start the kids just stamped each sheet of paper with a heart or a mustache.

 We let them dry and then we added the words and some decorations.  I found this cute tape at Walmart that added easy flare.  Stickers are always good too.  We glued buttons to the "Cute as a Button" cards.

 Then we punched two holes in each card and added a sucker because really what is a Valentine without some candy?