This is what we’ve been working on for 8-year-old Olive’s valentines this year. I think they’re turning out cute, no? My favorite is the hippo shouting “Hippo Valentine’s Day!” But I need your opinion: do we prefer the wild animals featured in the little cellophane bags? Or do we like them attached directly to the card with craft thread? I can’t decide.
UPDATE: Your wish is my command. Click here to download a 4-page pdf featuring both versions. (Nothing fancy. Not even crop marks. But hey, they’re free.)
Also. I’m coming up short on a little valentine message for these animals: rhino, tiger, zebra, giraffe. So I’m going with a neutral “I’m wild about you Valentine” for those four. If you think of anything brilliant, I’d love to hear it.
Need some other last minute ideas? Here are some cute valentine ideas on Kirtsy this week:
-FREE labels and gifttags for your valentine mix cds.
-These vintage valentine images are free to print and use in your own projects.
-Really clever idea for classmate/friend valentines — and totally doable in an hour or so.
-Make this cake. It is the prettiest valentine cake in all the land.
-Inexpensive, but gorgeous table ideas for your valentine meal (at our house, we like to have a big Valentine Day Breakfast with little (token) gifts for the kids).
-Rosebud valentines made from crepe paper. Sweet!
{ 74 comments… read them below or add one }
bags, but only from the perspective of receiving it and having to untie the animal from the card. both are darling though…and i'm sure your little one will be putting sparkles in her valentines eyes
those are adorable! i love that you used a sewing machine on it! wish i was a fellow 8 yr old about to receive that. :)
Adorable. I like the bags better, I think. You always have such great ideas.
i like them attached directly to the card. what a fun idea!
I like the card, otherwise it looks like you just bought them at some store. If I put the work into something like that, I kind of want the credit. They are too cute.
I like the card, otherwise it looks like you just bought them at some store. If I put the work into something like that, I kind of want the credit. They are too cute.
Oooh I like both but as a PP pointed out, the string one will be harder to open, especially for (impatient) kids!
Idea for the giraffe: I'd stick my neck out for you anytime! (may be lost on an 8 year old though)
Okay this is by far the cutest thing I have ever seen for V_DAY! I love them both but I do think the bags are a little bit more original than on the card especially with the stitching!
Rhino you're the one.
I really love these! I think they look best attached directly to the cards.
For Rhino – Rhino who I want to be my Valentine! You!
For Giraffe – You're heads above the rest Valentine!
For the giraffe: I'd reach the tallest tree for you Valentine!
Rhino: Rhino I'd never forget you–Happy Valentine's Day.
Card! So cute and original. And less plastic is always a good thing. What an adorable idea!
Have to agree with PP about the bag looking like something that came from the store, even though the stitching is adorable. I prefer the cards, patience in opening them will be good practice. :)
I like the bags – they look WAY easier to assemble. Whichever is easiest for mom, that's my vote.
So cute! And what a clever idea!
I love them! Particularly the stitching on the bags—these are going in my bookmarks for next year:)
Oh! I love these so much I must steal them for next year. I personally like the cards better.
Ok I am soo making that cake right now… I've been reading that blog for a few months now and when I saw her post the cake tutorial earlier this week I just knew I had to try it out!
Really really cute.
giraffe – I'd stick my neck out for you valentine.
OK…you guys are brilliant!!!! i love this idea.
i vote for the bags, but both are cute.
where did you get the plastic animals??
xoxox
love the animal valentines! how clever!
Thanks for all the great comments! I love your ideas for what the other animals could say. You're all geniuses. I hope you don't mind — I'm totally going to use your words.
Joslyn, I found the little animals at a store called Constructive Playthings. It's basically the Oriental Trading catalog — except it's in person. I'll bet you could find something similar (or even exactly the same) at Party City.
To any of my Dear Readers, if you decide to pick up some animals and make these, let me know and I can send your pdfs of the cards.
Either idea is adorable…as for animal lines…how about "I'd stick my neck out for you, Valentine" for the giraffe.
(oops, just scrolled through comments and saw that one already). Too bad you don't have a lion. "I''m not lion, I'd do anything to be your valentine", may be you could work that one for the tiger somehow.A "tony the Tiger line like " I think you're GGGrreat, Valentine" could work, too. This idea is so awesome though.
Really? these are the cutest EVER!!!
gabby, i love these!
also, they always have animals like that at dollar stores. i bought a huge pack of animals there last time!
amyks ideas for lines are good!
Loving this idea. I'll bookmark it for next year. I prefer the cards- no bags. There'll be no extra plastic waste and all the charm of a homemade valentine.
I prefer the ones tied to the card. So cute either way though!
hmmm-overachiever much?:)Adorable, as always. I want to be you when I grow up. I felt fancy because I bought a pdf on etsy and attached a coordintating pencil.Lucky, luck Olive.
How about for the tiger:
You're tiger-rific, Valentine!
Kids love opening things, so I think the bag is a great idea.
Imagine having a talented Mama like you. Bliss!
I think the little sewn bags came out really cute but I like how the animals look tied on the card better. I like the backdrops.
ok – for once I was organized this year and already have my kids Valentines done (http://paulacharchenko.blogspot.com/2010/02/happy-valentine-dayvictoria-childrens.html) but I am gonna save this for next year. SO CUTE!
Rhino know who loves you? ME!
i love the cards! i also asked my 7 yr old which he liked and he said the cards as well. "Mom it is so funny that the animals are talking! Those are my favorite!" great ideas. so fun!!
Tied to the card!
I love you from A to Zebra.
You are the cutest thing from A to Z
You have me seeing stipes (tiger)
haha, I am lame…no wonder you went with the neutral!
how about " I LONG for you!" from the giraffe…cheesy
how about " I LONG for you!" from the giraffe…cheesy
Oh my- cutest valentine for a kid i've seen yet. i'd even love one of these! both are adorable, but i think i prefer the card a bit more. i'd love a pdf of the cards if you get a sec… i'll send you my email. how do you think of these things?!?!
for the zebra… my stripes were made for you, valentine!
I vote for the cards as well. Too cute that the animals are talking, and less store-bought looking than the bags. Adorable! As for sayings, it looks like my ideas are already taken: I like you from A to Zebra, You're necks above the rest, You have me seeing stripes (for either zebra or tiger). Good luck! these are great
I vote for the cards!
I LOVE this idea. I'm so stealing…um, borrowing this idea next year. I vote bags so they can get to their animals on their own.
The talk bubbles on the cards sold me. Just beyond adorable!
What a great idea! I like the bags the best
i love how the string looks wrapped around the animals. too stinkin' cute!
i like the pp's giraffe greeting:
you're heads above the rest!
i keep thinking something about the eye of the tiger – you're the eye of my tiger?
that's not quite right, and maybe dated, carry on.
I like the bags. They are cuter. But ask your Olive; she'll know what an 8 year-old likes better than I do!
zebra: My love for you is black and white!
(although, I like A to Zebra better.) :)
Very cute idea; you know nothing but cute!
Goodness, I think both versions are spectacular! LOVE!
And thanks for linking up the rosebud valentines! xo
great valentines! I like the string!
bags.
this is awesome. the kids will be stoked.
string for sure.
What a darling idea – can you share the pdfs of the labels when you're finished? I'd love to do this.
these are beautiful … i love the bags. great idea!
the cellophane bags! totally looks like something from a store!
great job! and so fun!!!
:)
You are so Clever!!
These are so amazing. I love the ones on the cards the best!
I love how you stitched the bags (very cute!) but from the perspective of a tree-hugger, I'm going to vote for the cards.
Rhino – "Let's get to the point, be my Valentine."
These are too cute!
Rhino-cha be my Valentine?
THESE ARE FANTASTIC!!
Would PLEASE link the PDF's My little one has class tomorrow and he's crazy for anmials, these would be perfect!! Thanks!
Nie.
my vote is for card. such a nice take on valentines, it makes me a little sad we don't celebrate here in Australia.
ooh, would so love the PDF for these! they're lovely!
Tiger:
Valentine, your GRRRRReat.
Tiger:
Valentine, your GRRRRRReat!
So cute! I love the cards with the talk bubbles. Totally stealing this idea next year. This is so fun. How about these?
Tiger — You're a cool grrrl!
Giraffe — You're head and shoulders above the rest.
Zebra — You make my hoof beat.
Thanks again for all the great comments! For those of you wanting access to the pdfs, I just added a link where you can download them near the top of the post.
Happy Valentines Day!
This is definitely the cutest, most fun and original idea ever!!! I'm with the card vote contingent, and with the group that is absolutely stealing this for my animal-lover daughter next year!
You truly are amazing!
Thanks so much for featuring my little cake… your blog is great!
Blessings-
Amanda
Hi Gabby!
I like the cards but I'm also all about simplicity. The little bags are darling too so whatever is the easiest would be my vote.
I wish the cards I made for my grandchildren were as cute as these!!
What a wonderful idea! My 3 year old will flip out over these. Thank you so much for sharing the PDF. <3
I like the one without plastic, plastic makes me crazy!
I like both, but the bags look simpler than tieing each one on/untying them. These are really fantastic. I am so ripping off this one and the lolly-in-fist photo valentines next year.
Another slogan idea: "Wild thing, I think I love you."
I agree with the previous comment, plastic makes me crazy too. I like the string, also, it it is hard to get off, it is more likely to get home with the kid and no tears at school.
I want to do with with my to be Kindergarten son next year! Yay! Love it. Teresa
So fun!! We stole your idea using Mad Libs from another year and one of the boys in my son's 3rd grade class totally snubbed my son today. Took it out of the box and gave it back to him! Thankfully the other kids LOVED the idea!!
superrrrrrr :) I posted a link to you're wonderful idea on my blog, hope you don't mind (or maybe even like it :)) Happy Valentine's Day!
Thanks for the idea! We stole it for our daughter's preschool class. I found a nice elastic string that held the animals on the paper nicely. Then we put it in a see-through bag sealed with a sticker, just for extra assurance that it would all make it home. Thanks again!!
Genius! Two things I love about this: 1. no sugar, and 2. perfect for boys giving to boys. Brilliant.
Oh my! these are just way tooo cute and awesome! thank you for sharing!
Ridiculously cute, thanks for the file!!!