{living well crafts} words & photo by Jennifer Carroll
DIY
Bumble Bee VALENTINES
I have always loved the iconic symbol of Bumble Bees. I remember a quote by Mary Kay Ash that said, “Aerodynamically, the bumblebee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn’t know it so it goes on flying anyway.” This really resonates with me. There is so much we can achieve if we believe and don’t give up. This year, while my daughter and I were brainstorming Valentine card ideas for her to share with her fellow secondgraders, one idea we felt strongly about was a bee craft. Bees are the mascot for her school, so we knew this would be a popular idea. My preferred way to make these cards is by using my Cricut papercutting machine, however, the PDF I have created will allow for the kids to help. For the PDF, as well as for a video tutorial with step-by-step instructions, visit celebratingeverydaylife.com, so you can download, print and then cut out by hand.
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February 2019
Materials Needed: • BumbleBee Valentines PDF available in my Free Resource Library (more about that below) • Adobe Acrobat Reader • Cardstock • Scissors • X-Acto Knife • Tootsie Roll Pops Directions: 1. Get the card file from my blog’s Free Resource Library. When you sign up to receive my email newsletter, you are automatically sent a password to access the library. 2. Once you’ve logged in, the file you need is called “BumbleBee Valentine PDF.” Click to download the PDF file. Make sure you don’t accidentally download the Print then Cut version for a Cricut
paper-cutting machine. 3. Open your downloaded file in Adobe Acrobat Reader, and press the print icon to print as many copies as you need. 4. Once printed, use scissors to cut out the bees. 5. You will also need to make 2 slits on the bee for the stick of the lollipop. Use an X-Acto knife for this step. 6. Once your bee is cut, along with your two slits in the body, slide the stick of the lollipop through these slits so that the pop is behind the bee’s head. Ta-da! You have a charming Bumblebee Valentine card that is affordable and easy to pull together, even if it’s last minute, and a card that will stand out for friends and teachers to love.
Jennifer, a Southern gal with an unquenchable thirst for all things creative, wears many hats—a photographer, blogger, designer and home entertainer. From cooking to decorating, no matter what she is doing, she is committed to celebrating everyday life. Visit celebratingeverydaylife.com.