Historically, Valentine’s Day dates back to the 5th century A.D. Today, Americans observe Valentine’s Day as a way to express admiration, affection, fondness or love

for special people in our lives. People recognize others in their lives with small gifts like candies, chocolates, cards, homemade sweet treats, and often flowers.

Whether you’re making cards, baked goods, or transforming your home or workplace with Valentine’s Day decor, the most meaningful way to express Valentine’s Day sentiments is through do-it-yourself craft projects.

People often get excited about homemade baked goodies. Baking is an excellent way to spend time together as a family. Many of the ingredients you’ll need for cupcakes are staples that you already keep in your pantry. You can also use cake mixes, store-bought frosting and colorful cupcake pan liners in the baking department at the grocery store. Let the kids decorate the liners before you put them into muffin tins. After placing decorated liners into the tin, place a marble between the liner and the tin. After pouring batter into each liner, adjust the marble so there is an indentation in the center of one side. The marble forces the mixture to create a heart shape while baking. After the cupcakes cool sufficiently, your kids can decorate them with sprinkles, colored frosting, cinnamon dots, or whatever they want to put on their masterpieces. Place them in a box or container that will keep them upright, then make your special deliveries.

A Craft Project to Give as a Gift or Keep at Home

Snow globes are fun to play with or look at, but they’re expensive to buy. If you’re looking for a fun project that will spruce up your home or give as a gift to a teacher at your child’s school, to grandma and grandpa, or anyone else, make a Valentine's Day version of the Christmas snow globe. Here's what you'll need:

A Glass Jar With Lid

Pipe Cleaners - Red, Pink, and White

Floral Foam Glitter - Red, Pink, White, Gold, and Silver

Craft Glue

Step 1. The first step involves gluing the floral foam to the inside of the jar lid, which will be the base. Allow it to dry.

Step 2. While the glue that secured the floral foam to the jar lid is drying, twist and bend pipe cleaners into heart shapes, making sure that you leave an inch or two at one end so you can push your pipe cleaners into the floral foam. After arranging pipe cleaners in the floral foam put the lid aside.

Step 3. Take the glass jar and fill it with water, leaving about ½ inch of space at the top. Scatter sprinkles into the water. Then secure the top of the jar, so it’s tight enough to prevent spillage. Shake the jar and turn it right side up.

This creative spin on a holiday snow globe is an excellent way to add a bit of Valentine’s Day elegance to your home or to give to a meaningful person in your life.

Goodies in a Jar

A Mason jar is a fun, attractive, and useful way to share food gifts with someone. For Valentine’s Day, red, pink, and white felt, fabrics, construction paper, ribbons, and stickers can transform a plain glass jar into a festive gift package. As for filling the jars, there are a variety of options. Think about the types of treats your recipient would like. You can keep it simple by filling the jar with conversation hearts or Hershey Kisses. Or, if you know someone loves brownies or hot chocolate, assemble the dry ingredients needed for either treat. Put the ingredients in a plastic bag before you stash it in the jar. Add a homemade card that includes the recipe and instructions for preparing the sweet treat. Alternatively, create a cookie making kit that consists of all the necessary dry ingredients for making the type of cookie you choose.

Homemade gifts always carry more significance because of the thought that goes into their creation. Having a pantry stocked with basic baking supplies and staples is the best way to ensure that you don’t have to make extra trips to the grocery store. When you and your kids work on craft projects together, you teach them the value of family time and of giving from the heart.