A Year of Valentines (with DIY scratch-offs)

I am so excited for Valentine's Day to come so I can give these special valentines to my kids.

Before I get into the tutorial, though, let me tell you how the idea came about because it shows you just what it's like inside this tired mom's brain. 

When I first joined Pinterest several months ago, I came across this awesome tutorial for DIY scratch off tickets.  For months and months, those tickets stayed in the back of my mind, just waiting for a chance to use them.  Then, just before Christmas, I came across this great idea for a Year of Dates with your kids.  I loved the idea of monthly activities, but I didn't have time to make them for Christmas.  So, those two ideas were floating around my brain in the sea of useless facts and half-baked ideas until ... BAM!  They collided! I decided I could make each of my kids twelve Valentine's cards, each with a monthly activity concealed beneath a scratch off!!  

Even though my mind can be a scary place sometimes, I love this idea and I'm sure my kids will be thrilled in a couple weeks.

Okay, let's get to the tutorial!

Here's what you'll need...

    * blank monthly 

       Valentine's notes  

     ( Here's a link to the printable!)

     * coordinating scrapbook

        paper (optional)

     * silver metallic 

         acrylic paint

     * dishwashing liquid

     * clear contact paper

Here's what to do...

1.  Cut out your cards and write a monthly activity on each one.  Obviously mine are kid-oriented, but you could easily make a set for a special adult too.

I ended up making three sets, one for each kid.  They'll each have the same activities, just in a different order so their month's activity is just for them to have some one-on-one time with me.  Most of the activities are free or fairly low cost, but all things that can be rather difficult (or too costly) for me to do with all three kids at once.

Here are the 12 monthly activities I came up with...

• Mommy reads a chapter book  at bedtime
• Go roller-skating or ice-skating
• Breakfast at a restaurant
• Go to a museum
• Go to an amusement park (we have season passes)
• Go for a long bike ride
• Play mini-golf
• Go on a hike
• Go to the movies
• Dessert at a restaurant
• Have a craft night/game night
• FREE CHOICE (they can pick that month's activity)

2.  Next, attach your Valentines to some pretty paper.  ( This is optional, you could always just print your Valentines on cardstock instead, but the different patterns will help me keep the cards going to the right kid ~ plus it looks pretty!)

3.  Then you'll want to cover the fronts of your cards with contact paper.  I just  peeled off the paper backing, set my cards face down, then cut them out.

No picture of me flipping them over and cutting them out, but you get the idea!

4.  Now for the fun part ~ turning them into scratch-offs!  Mix together a bit of your acrylic paint and the dishwashing soap.  I did about two parts paint to one part soap.

5.  Then just paint the mixture onto your card where you want the scratch off part to be.  I found a foam brush gave great coverage and only needed one coat.

I outlined with a thin brush, then used the foam brush to fill it in.

6.  Do the same for all the cards, then set aside to dry.

That's it!  As you can see in my first picture, I picked up some little mailboxes in the dollar bins at Target to hold the 12 scratch-off valentines.  The kids will be able to scratch off February's ticket on Valentine's Day, then a new one at the beginning of each month for the rest of the year!

These DIY scratch-offs really worked!

I'm really looking forward to the one-on-one time with each of my children throughout the year.  Even though many of these activities are ones we'd do anyway, I think having a new one to look forward to each month will make this gift extra special!

If you'd like to make your own, here's a blank printable version you can use!

Sharing our 12 months of love at:
The Frugal Girls
Sun Scholars  
Ladybird Ln 
Make and Takes 
Design Dazzle 
Tatertots and Jello
Family Ever After  
Here Comes the Sun
Six Sisters' Stuff  
Be Different, Act Normal
I heart Naptime  
No Time for Flashcards 
Craft-O-Maniac 
Brassy Apple 
Skip to My Lou 
Sugar Bee Crafts