DIY Guitar and Fish Valentines

I have been way behind in posting things! It's been crazy busy up in here...
and I have lots to post about! =) I babysit on Monday mornings to help my friend 
out with her kids. She had twin girls in December...and it can be a little overwhelming 
at times with 5 kids. So, her 2 older boys had to have Valentines for their Valentine's 
Day parties. I offered to help them make their own Valentines. I let them pick out what 
Valentines they wanted to make. (I got my ideas from Paper Source.) Of course they 
picked the hardest ones possible! =P That was ok though. I cut out and prepared all the 
pieces for each of the boys' Valentines. They were really excited about 'craft time'...
until they realized how many they had to make. haaha!

 I took this picture with my phone...can you tell? This is Parker...
he's on his third Valentine and asking how many more he has to do. =) 
haahaa! His big brother eventually came over to help him.

This is Jake...the big brother. He did really well with his. He had a lot of steps with his guitars. We didn't finish them that day. Adrianne had a schedule for him for the rest of the week though...Tuesday- glue the backs of the the guitars on, Wednesday- cut the strings, Thursday & Friday- wrap the strings on & glue the guitar bridge on, Monday- write the names of his classmates on the Valentines. (Adrianne did confess that she was silently cursing my name because I wasn't going to be there the rest of the week to help finish these guitars). The first step to forgiveness is confession...haaahaa! =) Just so you all know, her son was the one who picked them out...and you ask, 'Why give a kindergartner a choice?'...that's a very good question.

 Download: Guitar Valentine Templates & Guitar Valentine Backs. 
You'll want to print the guitar Valentine backs onto card stock. 
When you glue them on the backs of the guitars it helps make the 
guitar more sturdy. I found mini brads for the 'tuning pegs' at A.C. Moore. 
On the website they are $3.29 for 100 pack, but at my local A.C. Moore 
they were only $1.99 for 100 pack of silver mini brads.

 I just used regular sewing thread for the strings of the guitar. 

Adrianne & Jake did a great job finishing the 21 guitars. =)

 Download: Fish Valentine Templates, Fish Waves, Fish XO bubbles 
Again, I would print everything on card stock to make it all the more sturdy.

They turned out really cute!

They are happy about their Valentines as they go off to school...
and I think a little happier that they are finally finished. 
Maybe next year they won't be as ambitious...and I can talk them 
into taking their pictures and putting a lollipop in their hands. 
(like the picture below, which I found on Pinterest.)

We'll see. =) So, Maybe next year if you don't have 21 guitars and 11 fish to 
make...you'll be as adventurous as I and make these cute Valentines with your kids, 
class, or for your friends. I totally would give the guitar ones to my friends! 
Ps. They fit inside a business sized envelope! =) Thanks for reading!