When the girls were little, we tried to make something each Valentine’s Day. But it’s a challenge to not spend too much money, have something they can make, and have it be something everyone enjoys. We made airplanes out of chewing gum sticks one year (wrapped so the recipient could chew the gum!), various pretzel things, cookies, and so forth. But the favorite was red play dough hearts!  You’ll want to double this for about 24 hearts.

Play Dough

1/2 cup salt
1 cup flour
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 Tbs vegetable oil

1 cup water
food coloring

Put everything in a heavy saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it forms a ball. Remove from heat. Put the dough onto a board and let it cool a few minutes, then knead for 5 minutes or so.

Roll the dough out and cut into heart shapes with cookie cutters, put them in sandwich bags, and either write directly on the sandwich bag or slip in a paper heart with the recipient’s name.

Enjoy!