Since Valentine's Day is a festival of love, it is a wonderful opportunity for dads to reinforce messages of love and security. While not everyone will have time to make a big production of Valentine's Day, here are a few ideas that will make the day stand out for you and your kids. At the very least, don't forget the flowers for your wife.

Valentine's Day is usually thought of as a holiday for lovers. But in reality, this is a special day that celebrates loving relationships. What can be more special than the love between parents and children. Celebrate Valentine's Day with the kids and express the love you already share and cherish.

Four blank greeting cards (available at craft stores), dark red piece of scrapbooking paper, white piece of cardstock, cream colored piece of cardstock, red and white gingham piece of scrapbooking paper, paper cutter, scissors, glue stick, computer, printer, sewing machine.

Card #1

For this card you will need a dark red piece of scrapbooking paper, a red and white gingham piece of scrapbooking paper (or other coordinating piece of paper), and a piece of white cardstock. Cut a piece of the dark red paper to fit the front of the greeting card and glue it in place. The dark red is the background of the card. Cut two strips of the gingham paper, approximately an inch and a half wide. Cut them to the width of the card (this card will open horizontally). Tear a freehand heart from the gingham paper, large enough to fill up approximately three quarters of the entire card. Next glue the strips of gingham paper to the front of the card with space in between them. The idea is that there is a "strip" of gingham, a strip of red, a strip of .....

Homemade Valentine’s are great for your kids to give to the really special people in their lives like Grandma’s and Grandpa’s, Aunt’s and Uncle’s, brothers and sisters, best friends and of course, Daddy! But unless you start them at Halloween, we suggest you stick to boxed cards for all their friends at school! Here are some fun and easy ideas to make Valentine’s Day cards with your kids…

Hearts and Hands Valentine

Here’s what you need:
Construction paper (two different colors)
A pencil
Markers
Scissors
Glue

Here’s what to do: ......

t’s always the right time to stick a little note in a lunch bag, briefcase, in between pages in a book...or tucked under the pillow! It really doesn’t have to be Valentine’s Day to tell someone “I love you...” Buying cards can get expensive---and besides they are big and obvious. So why not just slip in a little note that is the size of a business card? With the free printable Valentine Note Cards offered with this article (see link at the end), you can hand-write a note, or you can use your computer to preprint short love notes---all done on blank business cards! Use white or any plain-colored business card blanks (which you can purchase in stores like Office Depot, Staples, and usually even stores like Target and Wal-Mart). Instructions are provided below. You can make up little “coupons” for Valentine’s Day, using the business-card-sized notes! Tuck a coupon that