Valentines Day is around the corner and this is a perfect time for your preschool child to create a hand made gift! The project below, Calendar Picture Bookmarks is a great one for the younger crew. Use pictures from your old 2011 calendars as a base, and additional scrapbook paper scraps are wonderful to use too. This is a good time to teach your preschooler a bit about measuring with a ruler, and cutting the pictures to size. Encourage your child to make lots of bookmarks, maybe one for each family member and friend to include with their valentine. Grandma, grandpa, neighbors and cousins will all appreciate an amazing hand made bookmark for their new year novels. Here are the directions:

Calendar Picture Bookmarks

Turn your old calendar photos into bookmarks for your family and friends. These make excellent gifts and are always useful.

Supplies Needed:
Old calendar photos
Drawing materials
Scrap card stock
Glue stick
Paper cutter/Scissors

Directions:
Choose the calendar photo(s) you wish to use for your bookmark, and cut it to measure 2” x 5". Also choose a color of card stock and measure it, plus cut it to 2” x 5”. Glue the calendar photo paper onto the card stock, and trim (if needed have an adult help). Those of you with laminating machines can laminate these as well, but they are perfect as is, too!

After your child completes the bookmarks have him or her work on corresponding valentines for all of the recipients. Your child can choose to coordinate the theme of the bookmark and the valentine, too! Be sure to have on hand plenty of red, pink and white paper. Other great items for valentine making include doilies, markers, crayons, scissors, glue sticks, stickers, glitter, embellishments, small wrapped candies, pre-cut heart shapes and pencils for sketching the valentine out first.

However your preschooler chooses to create valentines for your family and friends it is sure to be a lovable gift for everyone!