Homemade Valentines are always the best. Who doesn’t love a Valentine’s treat that was made by hand and delivered by someone near and dear to you? In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’ve put together a few little do-it-yourself tutorials. A Valentine you can share with the those you love. Part I featured clay heart earrings and glitzy nail polish techniques. Enjoy Part II! Check out these DIY projects and follow step by step…

Heart-Shaped Banana Dog Biscuits
Your four-legged canine companion will really love you on Valentine’s Day if you bake some of these delicious treats. Even if you’re not normally a good baker, these treats will taste great to any dog. You will have all the tails wagging when you deliver these snacks on Valentine’s Day. These treats are made with oats and bananas and are a healthy treat,( & something to do with those quickly browning bananas rotting on your kitchen counter.) Most ingredients can be purchased in the ‘natural and organic’ section of local grocery stores.
 Valentine's Dog Treats
Ingredients: 1 ½ cup oat flour, 1 ½ cup brown rice flour, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1 cup rolled oats (not instant oats), ½ cup oat bran, 1 egg, ½ cup bananas (mashed), ½ cup water.
1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.) Combine all ingredients together and mix thoroughly to create dough. If dough does not form easily, add more brown rice flour until doughy. The dough should not stick to your hands or the mixing bowl.
3.) Put some flour on a clean, flat surface. Using a rolling pin, flatten the dough. With a heart-shaped (any shape will do, really) cookie-cutter, cut shapes out of dough. Heart shape cookie cutters can be picked up at Michael’s for $.99 – $3.99 depending upon size.
4.) Place flattened treats on a greased cookie sheet.
5.) Bake 18-22 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
6.) Let treats cool completely on a wire rack.
7.) Store at room temperature in a loosely covered container. Do not place in a plastic baggie – they will grow mold if there is any condensation in the container.
8.) Share your yummy baking skills with your dog… they’ll be begging for more!
Valentine’s Day Cards
Many people believe that Valentine’s Day is a made-up holiday created by the large card companies as a way to boost sales between Christmas and Easter. Whether it’s true or not, who really cares? Everyone loves getting a fancy little Valentine’s love note delivered to their mailbox.
There are many options when it comes to picking out a Valentine’s Day card. Too cheesey? Too corny? Too over-the-top romantic? Not romantic enough? Not simple enough? Here’s a thought – Why don’t you just make a Valentine’s Day card for your lover?
Any local craft store (like Michael’s, Hancock, or Hobby Lobby) sells fancy scrapbooking paper that can be cut up, glued, folded, and turned into the world’s best Valentine. Simple construction paper, white paste, and some crayons work just as well. Check out the homemade kids card below:
Hand-made Valentine You can obviously tell that this card was hand-crafted with love.
Martha Stewart Crafts, Recollections, and other well known crafting supply brands sell die-cut pieces that can be easily glued to a folded piece of scrabooking paper. Don’t forget to write a special message to your Valentine inside. Voila! A custom card with not much hassel.
The card on the left was created using Martha Stewart Crafts glittered Valentine’s die-cuts glued to thick red cardstock. The two cards on the right were purchased at a local superstore. Both hand-made and purchased cards are sure to make their recipients smile on Valentine’s Day.
If you’re not feeling card crafty, just head to the card isle at any local shop, pharmacy, or grocery store. Just remember to sign the card!
Happy Valentine’s Day!