Valentine's Day Decoupage Craft for Kids

This decoupage craft is easy for children of all ages. Its collage style lends itself well to imagination, and the box can be filled with a Valentine's gift such as candies, heart shaped cookies, a plush toy animal, candles or "I love you" notes. You might even want to decorate the box to match what you tuck inside or vice versa.

Supplies

• Scissors: Small, sharp school scissors or for young children, round tip safety scissors.

• White glue that dries clear or Modge Podge Decoupage finish (gloss or matt.

• Cardboard box: This could be a recycled gift box, but it should be sturdy. Cardboard hat boxes (round), heart shaped boxes and other sturdy boxes can be found at inexpensive prices at many online crafts stores, as well as offline at large chain stores, such as Michaels.

• Pictures: These can be cut out from magazines, Valentine's cards, gift wrap and from computer print outs. You could use your Paint program to create lettering or designs (like big red hearts). Printed photographs could also be used. Depending on the type of design, you may also want other materials such as doilies.

• Large art brush (for spreading glue).

Before we get started with the directions here are some various designs that could be used for the box. These may help you to think of some of ideas of your own, or you may want to use one of these as is. When you make your box you will be working with pictures, words and/or designs you have cut out. You will be gluing these on like a collage, so keep this in mind while considering your theme.

Puppy Love: This would be a cute Valentine's Day theme for someone who loves dogs or puppies, and who can resist an adorable puppy? You could create a collage of puppy pictures, or you could cover the box with say all pink paper and then add two adorable puppies to the center. Then cut out letters to spell "Puppy Love." Remember, you can cut out letters from magazines, cards or pages printed off the computer.

Victorian Hearts & Lace: In the Victorian style, lots of tiny designs are used, such as romantic flowers, hearts and cupids. For lace, you could use scarps of real lace, lace ribbon or pieces cut from doilies. To get an idea of the Victorian styles, search online for "Victorian Valentines Day Cards" or even "Victorian Decorating." This is a very romantic style.

Flower Power: Get in the groove with this 1960's design. Decorate your box with bright colors like lime green and pink and pictures of mod flowers (like the ones that decorate the Scooby Do gangs van), big hearts and words like "Love" in 60s style lettering. You can find lots of images and ideas online.

Directions

1. Cut out your pictures and letters. You may want to lay them out in front of you to experiment with design ideas, or you may want to create as you go along.

2. One at a time, use the brush to smooth the glue or Mod Podge onto the back of the picture and adhere to the box. Depending on how you want this to look you may want to have some pictures upside down and at different angles, instead of all right side up. When you press each picture to the box, smooth it out so there aren't air bubbles and so that it lies nice and flat. You can have everything overlapping so that none of the box shows, or you can leave spaces. It all depends on the design you want.

3. Continue gluing your pictures and lettering to the box until all the sides, the top of the lid and the sides of the lid are covered. You don't need to do the inside or bottom.

4. Using the brush, dab on the glue or Modge Podge. (If you brush it on with long strokes, the brush strokes will show when it dries.) After this application dries, apply one or two more.

Now, you have a lovely Valentine's box!