This year The Granary received many Christmas cards. Most of our Amish friends sent us handmade cards, which made them even more special to receive. You can imagine the fun the families had with their children creating them. Valentine's Day would be a great opportunity to gather your family together to make cards. Clean out your drawers off odds and ends, buttons, fabric scraps, glitter, construction paper, or whatever you're creative family can dream up. The best ideas will probably come from your kids themselves. You'll not only be creating cards, you'll be creating memories.

Do you have some tips or fun ideas you'd like to share? Send them to us at granarymike@yahoo.com .

Remember Valentine parties at school? We sure do, and here are some tips on creating fun valentine boxes that will be sure to catch the eye of your child's classmates. With a little green paint, construction paper, and imagination a shoebox can become an alligator. Start by painting an old shoebox green. Cut out four legs and two jaws from construction paper and glue them on your box. Use pieces of egg carton or ping-pong ball halves for eyes and you're finished!

Your child can also make a neat robot using an old quick oats cylinder, aluminum foil, and styrofoam cups. Start by covering all of your components with foil and let your child's imagination take over. What a great way for your child to spend an afternoon, and encourage his or her creativity!