Parenting 

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Valentine's Day treats

Help your child make these delightful Valentine's gifts and make someone happy this February 14th

Forget store-bought cards and expensive presents - a home-made gift can be very special. Your children will enjoy making these simple projects and giving them to the people they love.

Picture frame

A heart-shaped frame to display the people your child loves the best

What you need:

• Heart-shaped biscuit cutters or templates (approx 140mm x 110mm)
• 9mm-wide ribbon. Approx 600-700mm long, but the length depends on the size of your heart
• 2 x 150mm squares of stiff cardboard - if you use felt, the cardboard does not need to be so thick
• PVA glue
• 250mm x 300mm piece of felt or other fabric
• Darning needle
• Stapler and staples

What to do:

1. To make frame: Cut out two same-size heart-shapes from cardboard. Use a biscuit cutter or make a template to draw around.
2. Draw a smaller heart (approx 70mm in diameter) in centre of one and cut out to make frame section.
3. Cover both heart shapes with red felt or other coloured materials of your choice. If you wish, you need only cover the front and the back, but do ensure you cover the edges.
4. Leave to dry. If using felt, place under a heavy object to keep flat.
5. To make ribbon holes: Measure small equidistant spaces (about 10mm apart) around the heart and mark lightly with a pencil.
6. Place the two hearts together and use a bradawl or other pointed tool to make holes through both layers at the same time.
7. To thread ribbon: Cut a length of ribbon and thread it through the eye of a darning or tapestry needle, so that there are two equal lengths.
8. Leaving half the length of ribbon loose, thread the other half through the back of the bottom hole and then through the back of the next one and so on, to the centre hole.
9. Rethread your needle with the loose end of the ribbon and, beginning in the same hole as before, thread the ribbon through the holes to the top.
10. Tie the loose ends in a bow.
11. To make stand (optional): Cut a strip of stiff cardboard about 120mm long by 30mm wide.
12. Make a fold about 30mm from the top. Score lightly.
13. Cover the longest part of the strip and attach the folded piece of card to the back of the frame with glue or staples.
14. Cover the bare cardboard with a square of matching material/paper and your frame will stand up.

NOTE: It may help to place your picture in the frame before threading the ribbons. To change the photo, simply untie the ribbons and rethread.

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