This post is brought to you by the 1980s.
We’re going old school — or elementary school — for Valentine’s Day.
Like, love letters are so totally grody to the max. Like, gag me with a spoon.
But Valentine’s Day Cootie Catcher Love Notes? Like, totally tubular, for sure.
Enough with the Valley Girl speak. Like, if I keep that up much longer, I’m going to have to interrupt this post to watch “Heathers.”
If you watched my live Google+ Hangout on Air last week, you saw me flash back to my childhood with this fun, simple and heartfelt project that is sure to make your Valentine’s heart swoon.
Instead of a typical love note, I dusted off my 5th-grade paper folding skills and made some cootie catchers (also known as paper fortune tellers) with secret little sweet nothings hidden inside. (Next up, we’ll play M.A.S.H. and I’ll pass you a note that asks, “Do you like me?” with check boxes for “Yes,” “No” and “Maybe.”)
Each cootie catcher has eight flaps, so that’s eight chances to tell that someone special just how you feel about them.
I made a special cootie catcher for my husband for Valentine’s Day celebrating our eight years of marriage.
The flaps are numbered for each year of our marriage. When he lifts the flaps, he’ll find a memory from that year.
I pulled out my stash of decorative scrapbook paper to make my cootie catcher love notes. (I’ll show you exactly how I made them at the end of this post.)
I added little paper pull tabs to this vintage-themed cootie catcher. I just taped little strips of paper under each flap.
While I created these cootie catchers for Valentine’s Day, I think they’d be great for a wedding, too. They’d make great place cards at the reception. Guests could write messages to the bride and groom under each flap. What a wonderful keepsake that would make.
One of these would also make a great handmade anniversary gift, especially for a first-year anniversary, when the traditional gift is paper.
If you don’t have fancy scrapbook paper, don’t worry. You can still make a cootie catcher. Just grab a piece of plain printer paper and cut it into a square.
You can embellish your paper fortune teller with washi tape, stickers, rub-on transfers or even your own artwork. There are so many possibilities.
Now, let me show you how to make your own cootie catcher. Watch the You Tube video to see me fold one of these, or scroll down for step-by-step pictorial tutorial.
Do you want to see that in photos?
Here it is one more time.
Now, go be sweet. And if you want more cheap, easy and crafty Valentine’s Day gift ideas, check out my Google+ Hangout on Air with Marty of Marty’s Musings. We share lots of “sweet nothings” for Valentine’s Day, where it really is the thought that counts.
Be sure to check out my other Valentine’s Day craft and gift ideas.
Linking up to the following parties:
Cowgirl Up
Allison
Excited to feature you tomorrow at A Little Bird Told Me Link Party!
jenny
What a cute idea! I remember doing these when I was much younger girl!!
Thanks for linking up to Oh My Heartsie Girl WW!
~jenny
Jessica
Awww these are cute and so easy to make for someone special. Thanks for the idea.
Barb
I’m all about old school. I’m a huge advocate of the lost art of letter writing and all things paper so I absolutely love these cootie catchers (what a hilarious name). Love your choice of papers. Thanks for sharing. Have a lovely day.
Atta Girl Amy
I just stumbled upon an old journal of mine and thought I need to get back to that. Putting pen and thoughts to paper is becoming a lost art, but I know how special it is when I receive a letter or a note from someone special to me. Though I’m a technology-loving girl, like you, I’m also all about the old school! Thanks for stopping by, and I’m glad you liked my cootie catchers!
Marty Walden
I love this. You did a great job with the post, the video, the whole deal! I’m taking notes! And I also made some for our table.
Angie
Wow – thank you so much for bringing back some great grade-school memories!
I’m stopping by from LIve Laugh Rowe blog hop.
Thanks
Angie
godsgrowinggarden.com
Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage
My girls had a V-day girls only party this weekend. Girls rule and boys drool – and have cooties!
Kelly
Suzy @ Worthing Court
Amy – this is such a cute idea! My 9yo granddaughter is already fascinated with cootie catchers, so I know she would have a blast making some of these. Love!