Category Archives: Holiday Crafts

Make Handmade Valentines for Your Girlfriends This Year

Valentine’s Day Card Making Idea Featuring Heart Balloon Motifs and Craft Supplies by Lawn Fawn

Valentine’s Day has traditionally been a romantic holiday to celebrate with your sweetheart, if you happen to have a sweetheart. However, the sad truth is, there are some Valentine crafts that might unfortunately be, shall we say, under-appreciated by some of our sweethearts. On one hand, there are definitely guys who appreciate froofy handmade Valentines. But if you’re in love with a guy who isn’t the lovey-dovey type, you have to admit that there are probably things your husband or boyfriend would rather have than a Valentine card. And if there are, I think it’s probably better to give him that — whatever that is. For some guys, a home-cooked meal or a batch of heart-shaped cupcakes would be more of a win. That’s just one example; there are plenty of other creative, guy-friendly Valentine gifts you could come up with…

But that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun making Valentine crafts like the fun, heart and balloon-themed Valentine’s Day card pictured above. My opinion is that your crafting time is best spend making projects for the people in your life who would most appreciate them. So if that means you end up making Valentine cards to send to your best girlfriends, your sisters, and / or your mom, so be it!

Pictured above: This Valentine’s Day card is fun and playful, and it is super easy to make using an affordable set of Valentine’s Day-themed stamps from Lawn Fawn. I actually think this card design could be suitable for guys if you dare to go there; it isn’t too “mushy” or lovey-dovey, so it would be suitable for giving to a newish boyfriend who you aren’t quite ready to start composing love poems for. But when I designed this card, I made it for one of my best girlfriends who LOVES pink, purple and blue color combinations.

If you’d be interested in making cards for anyone in your circle, you’re invited to use our free step-by-step instructions and tutorials for doing so. You can find our list of Valentine Cards to make here on THIS PAGE. Instructions for making the heart balloon card pictured above are HERE. And you can find even more handmade greeting card ideas and instructions HERE. Hope you’ll have a fun, enjoyable Valentine’s Day this year! Best wishes.

Decorating Your Crocheted Flowers to Use in Valentine’s Day Projects

Abstract Crocheted Flower Motif Embellished With a Heart Pin

Little details can make the difference in whether your crocheted flowers look spectacular or mediocre. Cool embellishments can really help. If you crochet, you’re invited to check out these fun ideas for embellishing your flowers with pinbacks. You might also want to take a look at this free pattern and tutorial for crocheting the abstract flower motif pictured above.

More Valentine’s Day Craft Ideas

Valentine-Friendly Fashion Accessories for Winter Weather

Free Valentine’s Day Scarf Pattern

Free Valentine’s Day Crochet Scarf Pattern

I crocheted this pretty Valentine’s Day scarf back when I lived in California, where February weather is typically chilly but not freezing cold. I chose a cotton yarn for the project — but if you live in an area where winters are arctic, you’d want to substitute a warmer yarn like wool or alpaca when you make this scarf for Valentine’s Day. There are a couple of other versions of the scarf that are similar, so if Valentine’s Day colors aren’t your thing, you could choose a different colorway of the design instead of the one you see pictured (of course, feel free to substitute whatever colors you happen to love — or whatever colors happen to match your winter coat…)

You can click here to get the free scarf pattern.

Easy Crochet Neck Warmer Pattern for Beginners

Beginner’s Crochet Neck Warmer: Free Pattern

The scarf pictured above isn’t that hard to crochet, but it isn’t the ideal first project for beginners. If you’re a beginner to crochet, you might prefer an easier project to get started with. This dressy, solid-colored neck warmer is suitable for wearing on Valentine’s Day, and it’s also a super easy crochet project that even a beginner could succeed with.

A bonus: If you make this design in solid red, as pictured, your neck warmer will also be wearable for next Christmas and throughout the entire winter holiday season. If you use a dressy closure similar to the jeweled clasp I chose for finishing the sample project, your finished neck warmer will be the ideal wardrobe piece for wearing out to dinner or to dressy holiday parties. If you prefer to wear it on more casual occasions, simply choose a more casual closure design than the one pictured.

Click here to get the free crochet neck warmer pattern.

Valentine Heart Pouch to Crochet

Valentine Crochet Heart Pouch: Free Crochet Pattern

If you’re going out this Valentine’s Day, and you want to carry some essentials with you, you could make yourself this pretty Valentine’s Day heart pouch. Of course, the pouch will be useful well beyond Valentine’s Day; you could use it every day if you like.

You can click here to get the free pouch pattern.

Beaded Lace Crochet Choker Necklace Pattern

This choker won’t do much of anything to keep you warm on a cold and wintry Valentine’s Day, but it sure is pretty — and it’s also a super quick project, as far as crochet projects go.

Click here to get the free beaded choker necklace pattern.

Hearts to Crochet for Valentine’s Day or Any Time

Want more Valentine-friendly craft project ideas? Be sure to check out our main directory of Valentine’s Day craft projects, where you’ll find ideas for DIY Valentine’s Day cards, Valentine hearts, and all kinds of other fun things you can make for this romantic holiday.

Related Resources:

Crochet Loom Blooms by Haafner Linssen, published by Interweave. The paperback edition of this book comes with a starter loom, and it includes patterns for 30 flowers plus 5 finished projects.

Posted By: Amy Solovay

This page was last updated on 1-8-2024.

Fun Toys to Make for Christmas

‘Tis the season for toy shopping, but shopping for toys isn’t your only option. Have you given any thought to the possibility of making the dolls or toys you’ll give to the children on your gift list? It’s totally do-able considering there are many, many patterns available for sewing, knitting and crocheting adorable toys.

You aren’t limited to these craft techniques, by any means. Lately my niece has been begging me for tiny, cute needle felted toy animals (which I don’t know how to make — so I have no recommendations for needle felting patterns. Yet.) Right now, knitting and crocheting are my top craft techniques, so this post will focus primarily on pattern recommendations for crocheted and knitted toys.

Knitted Dolls and Teddy Bears

If you want to knit a teddy bear for a special child on your gift list, consider using this cute teddy bear knitting pattern from Arne & Carlos Favorite Designs, published by Trafalgar Square Books.

If you want to knit truly wonderful holiday gifts for anyone in your inner circle, my top pattern book recommendation of the moment would be Arne & Carlos Favorite Designs. This book isn’t specifically intended to be a toy pattern book, but it does have some fantastic options for fun toys you can make — including a vibrant and colorful teddy bear, bunches of different dolls and doll clothes, plus assorted other toys. The book also includes patterns for slippers, socks, and all kinds of other gift-worthy items.

Learn More About This Book:

Click or tap here to shop for this book at Amazon.

Amigurumi: Cute Crocheted Stuffed Animal Toys

Amigurumi Adorable Collection Crochet Pattern Book

Reasons I love this book:

These patterns are super fun, super cool and super cute. Well, OK, not all of these designs are cute, but most of them are.
There are designs suitable for both boys and girls, so the boys are not left out of the fun.
The book format is totally logical and user-friendly, with gorgeous full-color photography and readable fonts.