To make these custom treat packages, cut out a picture of your child, scan it, and print onto heavyweight matte paper. Cut tags using pinking shears for the bottom edges, draw hearts, and stamp or write a message on each one. Fold the tags and tape them to cellophane bags filled with sweets.

Fill flattened cupcake liners with candy for a treat you won't have to bake. The liners' pleats nicely frame scrap-art pictures or paper hearts (we used scalloping scissors to trim some). Use a craft punch or paper flowers to make cute borders.

Create this card by making signs out of construction paper, doilies, and adhesive letters from an office-supply store. Photograph your child holding the signs, then tape the pictures to construction paper and fold the card accordion-style.

Store- bought treats are more special when covered in pretty patterned paper. Pen a note on the underside or on a tag attached with waxed twine. Tuck gum into a card stock "matchbook" stamped with a message; sticks of gum sold in large packs often have plain white wrappers that are perfect for decorating with stickers. A lollipop adorned with a sticker and taped to a card stock heart will also be welcome, as would button candy slipped into a small paper bag embellished with die-cut scrap art (available at crafts stores).

Send a touching message with valentines traced from little hands.

This punched Valentine's Day clip-art card doubles as a handy bookmark.

These easy frames are as cheerful and humble as the illustrations they're meant for.

Snip delightful candy hearts for an entire class in a snap.

Pipe sweet designs and messages onto store-bought chocolates.

With just a little TLC, colorful hearts flourish as the petals of a new flower variety -- one with a lollipop center and stem.

A gift of cookies or sweets becomes extra tempting when packaged in a transparent envelope that lets the goodies show through.

Secure a small satchel of Valentine's Day treats with this festive fastener.

These cupcakes bear hugs and kisses for a special someone, or an entire classroom.

Make these fun secret messages for your valentines.

This practical valentine marks the sweetest spot in a book.

Warm someone up by adding a handwritten note to a tea bag. Cut two hearts out of red construction paper using a heart-shaped crafter's hole punch (available at crafts stores). Use a metallic pen to write a short message on one of the hearts. Next, remove a tea-bag tag and, at the end of the string, affix two hearts, back-to-back, using double-sided tape or a stapler. Package bags to give as a present, or steep one in hot water and serve.

Here's a potion kids are sure to love. Among the ingredients are cinnamon candies that give it zing. Stir 1 quart apple cider and 1/4 cup hard cinnamon candies in a medium saucepan over low heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, until heated through and candies have melted completely, about 8 minutes. Serve warm.

Friends will be aflutter over envelopes that turn into valentines. Cut a fat heart from paper that has a white side and a patterned side -- wrapping paper works well.

Get your baby ready to fight the winter chill: a festive pilot's cap embellished with felt hearts helps keep tiny ears toasty. Cut two large hearts from felt. Then use a needle and thread to stitch them to the cap at three points. If you want the decoration to be permanent, affix hearts with fabric glue before sewing.

These valentines can be stamped out by the dozen, but each one will still be unique.

When opened, this valentine expresses your love four times over on its accordion folds.

The secret to capturing a heart is to use a button -- at least when the heart in question is made of felt. Create this no-sew decoration for Valentine's Day: Cut hearts from pink and red felt based on the size of the shirt's buttons (ours are cut from 1-inch squares). Fold each in half horizontally, and cut a vertical slit, or buttonhole, about the same size as the button. To wear, button up shirt, and then slip hearts over buttons.

If the sun seems to peer right into your window, give it something pretty to look at -- and through. These translucent hanging hearts are easy to make from waxed paper and crayons. In return, sunbeams will color your room with cheer.

Stamped soaps, inspired by candy conversation hearts, are great gifts for friends. Put in cellophane bags tied with tags; adorn with glitter.

The easy-to-make envelopes don't hold your valentine cards -- they are the cards.

Surprise a loved one by hanging a heart-shaped container filled with candy on his doorknob or near his computer.