• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • About
  • Shop
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

teach mama logo

teach mama

helps families connect & build bridges between home & school, by amy mascott

  • early literacy
    • alphabet
    • beginning sounds
    • phonics
    • phonological awareness
    • read-aloud learning
    • rhyming
    • sight words
  • reading
    • books
    • comprehension
      • activating schema
      • connecting
      • inferring
      • predicting
      • questioning
      • retelling / summarizing
      • visualizing
    • concepts of print
    • environmental print
    • fluency
    • non-fiction
    • spelling
    • word building
    • word consciousness
    • vocabulary
  • writing
    • creative writing
    • grammar
    • informative writing
    • tripod grip
  • math
    • computation
    • counting
    • numbers
  • science
    • animals
    • plants
    • science experiments for kids
  • Activities
    • birthdays
    • cooking
      • new for us foods
    • crafts
    • foundations
      • colors
      • critical thinking
      • fine arts
      • listening
      • pretend play
      • sorting
      • speaking
    • holidays
      • new year’s
      • valentine’s day
      • president’s day
      • st. patrick’s day
      • april fool’s day
      • easter
      • mother’s day
      • teacher appreciation
      • father’s day
      • july 4th
      • halloween
      • thanksgiving
      • christmas
    • family life
      • family fun
      • giving back
      • lunchbox love notes
      • school
    • indoor activities
    • outdoor activities
  • digital literacy
    • computer time
    • iPad for learning
  • early literacy
    • alphabet
    • beginning sounds
    • phonics
    • phonological awareness
    • read-aloud learning
    • rhyming
    • sight words
  • reading
    • books
    • comprehension
      • activating schema
      • connecting
      • inferring
      • predicting
      • questioning
      • retelling / summarizing
      • visualizing
    • concepts of print
    • environmental print
    • fluency
    • non-fiction
    • spelling
    • word building
    • word consciousness
    • vocabulary
  • writing
    • creative writing
    • grammar
    • informative writing
    • tripod grip
  • math
    • computation
    • counting
    • numbers
  • science
    • animals
    • plants
    • science experiments for kids
  • Activities
    • birthdays
    • cooking
      • new for us foods
    • crafts
    • foundations
      • colors
      • critical thinking
      • fine arts
      • listening
      • pretend play
      • sorting
      • speaking
    • holidays
      • new year’s
      • valentine’s day
      • president’s day
      • st. patrick’s day
      • april fool’s day
      • easter
      • mother’s day
      • teacher appreciation
      • father’s day
      • july 4th
      • halloween
      • thanksgiving
      • christmas
    • family life
      • family fun
      • giving back
      • lunchbox love notes
      • school
    • indoor activities
    • outdoor activities
  • digital literacy
    • computer time
    • iPad for learning
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

secret message valentines: homemade, candy-free, totally cool

home / Activities / holidays / secret message valentines: homemade, candy-free, totally cool
1.1K shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

Longtime fans of the ole homemade Valentine, I’ve had to get a little more clever and crafty as the kids get older.

But I still want them writing, reading, and thinking (come on. . . at least a little!) while they’re making them.

secret message valentines magic and totally cool teachmama.com

So when I did some Valentine searching this year, I found a ton of cool ideas.  A ton of cool ideas.

There are about a million, trillion awesome homemade Valentines out there.

But the Secret Message Valentines caught my eye. I knew Maddy, Owen, and Cora would totally love them, and they do.  They really think they’re fun.

Secret Message Valentines that are homemade, candy-free and kids still think they’re totally cool? Like a dream.

And they won’t break the bank.

Here’s the skinny. . .

Secret Message Valentines–Homemade, Candy-Free, Totally Cool:

Want to make these for this year’s rockstar Valentines? Super.

Your kids will love you.

You’ll need:

  • white cardstock
  • liquid watercolors
  • inexpensive paintbrushes for each Valentine
  • white crayon
  • Secret Message Valentine template: download below

Put your email in the box below, and the Secret Message Valentine Template will magically end up in your inbox when you subscribe to teachmama.com for other fun, cool, creative ideas!

secret message valentines | teachmama.com

secret message valentines | teachmama.com

Here’s a quick video with the ‘how-to’ for making Secret Message Valentines:

Before Maddy, Owen, Cora and I started making them, we did a whole lot of ‘message brainstorming’.  I wanted them to realize that though some of the Valentines required that they only signed their name, other ones left spaces for real secret messages.

What would those messages be? 

What should they be? 

We came up with some ideas:

magic message valentines -| teachmama.com

magic message valentines -| teachmama.com

magic message valentines -| teachmama.com

Having the ideas helped, especially because messages had to be short.

And because they were writing the messages with white crayon on white paper, the messages had to be simple.

magic message valentines -| teachmama.com

magic message valentines -| teachmama.com

magic message valentines -| teachmama.com

These kind of reminded me of the Scratch-Off Tickets we made a few years ago during holiday time in the way that they carried a secret message for the kids to find.

I think I just may use them for Valentine cards next year. . . hmmmmm.

What are your favorite super-cool, candy-free Valentines for kids to make? I’d love to hear ’em!

Here are a few of ours:

  • Scratch Art Bookmark Valentines
  • Tattoo Valentines
  • Mini Stained Glass Hearts
  • Happy Face and Flower Valentines (okay. . . so there’s candy in these)

HUGE and happy thanks to all the folks who came before me and made similar Valentines. Though I love this idea, I by no means invented it! I did not use one particular post as a model, but the following posts were my inspiration: SpanglishBaby Secret Message Valentines; Small + Friendly Secret Message Valentine; Secret Message Valentine Mini-Edition; Spoonful Secret Message Valentines, & more! Thank you, thank you!

Want a few more fun Valentine’s Day ideas? Check out: 

valentine's day class party ideas

how to throw a rockstar valentine's day party teachmama.com 2

valentine's day class party ideas, 2.0 | teachmama.com

  • How to throw a rockstar Valentine’s Day class party
  • Valentine’s Day Class party 2.0
  • Musical Hearts
  • Secret Message Valentines
  • Bookmark Valentines
  • Scratch-Off Ticket Valentines
  • Valentine’s Day Lunchbox Notes
  • HEART Bingo

fyi: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Forever and always I recommend only products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”  For more information, please see teachmama media, llc. disclosure policy. 

You May Also Like...

  • valentine's day class party ideas, 2.0
    valentine's day class party ideas, 2.0
  • scratch off ticket valentines: candy-free and totally fun
    scratch off ticket valentines: candy-free and totally fun
  • valentine's day class party: 10 easy activities for that extra 10 minutes
    valentine's day class party: 10 easy activities for that extra 10 minutes

About amy mascott

teacher, mother, dreamer. lover of literacy, fun learning, good food, and three crazy-cool kids. finder of four-leaf clovers | dc metro · http://about.me/amymascott
tweet with me: @teachmama

Previous Post:kendama why your kids need one | teachmama.cowhat is a Kendama and why do your kids need one?
Next Post:support your students’ learning differences: micro-credentials for teachersmicro-credentials for teachers | teachmama.com

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. PragmaticMom

    February 13, 2014 at 9:43 pm

    That is so awesome. We will have to make those next year. My son will love them and he still makes his own Valentines. We did the toilet paper heart stamping again this year because making more than 6 requires something quick and easy.

    http://www.pragmaticmom.com/2014/01/valentine-card-craft-for-kids/

    Reply
    • amy mascott

      February 14, 2014 at 8:55 am

      thanks, mia!! Totally get the need for quick and easy, especially when kids are making more than a few!

      Reply
  2. Ava

    February 18, 2018 at 10:13 am

    Aw lovely 🙂
    Your valentine cards are looking very beautiful and colorful.
    I definitely gonna made this cards next year for my loved ones.

    Reply
  3. dorothy holland

    February 12, 2020 at 3:10 pm

    Can’t find the box to give you my email.

    Reply
    • amy mascott

      February 13, 2020 at 9:26 pm

      Dorothy! It’s right there on the front of the blog post!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sidebar

amy mascott profile blog

join the coolest club around:

  • About
  • Contact
  • disclaimer
  • terms of use
  • privacy policy
  • Site-Map

Instagram


our books

setting the stage for rock-star readers
raise a reader

Find Us On Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Helpful Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

Follow Us On Instagram

View
Open
@rescueorg —> International Rescue Committee IRC

@ifrc —> The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network.

@doctorswithoutborders —> Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

@unicefusa —> The United Nations’ children agency

@together.rising —> 
Together Rising transforms collective heartbreak into effective action.

#dosomething #bethechange #everylittlebithelps #webelongtoeachother
View
Open
SPOILER ALERT: Valentine care packages for college kids ❤️💜💙

Sneaky moms gathered tonight over wine and snacks —each bringing a bunch of fun and Valentinesy things. Our creative and crafty hostess had picked up flat rate mailing boxes, tissue paper, stickers, gave us instructions, and let us gooooo! 

How cute are these!?! Thanking God for my village tonight. Sure couldn’t go this college road alone!

#valentinesday #collegecarepackage #sneakymom #spoileralert #momsnightout
View
Open
LET’s GOOOOOO Maryland! ❤️💛🖤

What a GAME, @terpswbb !!
@marylandcheer @marylandterrapins @testudo_umd @mightysoundofmd 🐢

#universityofmaryland #terpswbb #UMDcheer #umfpepband
View
Open
UPDATED for #SuperBowl2023 — for fans of the #footballgame and fans of the #superbowlcommercials !

Find the Super Bowl Party Pack in the shop: https://shop.teachmama.com/
View
Open
I’m hooked. 

Do you have a little hobby that’s keeping you sane right now? 

What is it? 

#crochetlove #amigurumi #cantstopme #newhobbywhodis
View
Open
Even if you have younger kids, take them to your local high school sporting events! 

There are so many reasons to take them, and it is bound to be a really fun night (or afternoon!). 

My three reasons are here —> 
https://teachmama.com/high-school-basketball-games-families-should-go/

#familyfun #makememories #featuredreel #familytime
View
Open
The ULTIMATE Valentine’s Day Class Party Plan shop.teachmama.com
View
Open
This makes me SO SAD, @washingtonpost !! 

We can’t dedicate ONE PAGE to our younger readers? 

My children and students LOVED the KidsPost. Thousands and thousands of folks in the DC Area and around the world loved it. Loved it. 

I do not understand this move. AT ALL. 

#washingtonpost #kidspost #teachersofIG #raiseareader #authenticreadingexperiences #nonfictionreads #getkidstoread
View
Open
Valentine crafts that are quick and GLUE-FREE are the big win for Valentine’s Day Class parties, right? Right! 

Tap the screen to let me know if these Origami Heart Necklaces would be a hit for your crew!

#Valentinesday #kidcrafts #classpartyideas #easyvalentinesdaycrafts

Copyright © 2023 · teach mama media, llc · All Rights Reserved

  • 6
1.1K shares