The Wandering Washingtons

I first made these when my kiddo was a toddler, and they were a huge hit with friends and family.  They were so simple and fun to make, we made them again this year!  They don't take much time at all, making them the perfect quick and easy Valentine's Day idea.


Ready to make your own?

You will need:

• a camera or camera phone
• individually wrapped Valentine's Day-themed candy- I used lollipops and small chocolate hearts.  I also experimented with chocolate candy lips (we'll get to that towards the end)
• a hole punch
• removable glue dots
• scotch tape (optional)
• a way to print your photos

Find a solid background to take your child's photo.  I used our large chalkboard.  Have your child make a fist and hold their arm out in front of them, slightly off to the side.  This will keep the lollipop from blocking their cute little faces.  Kids can also get pretty squirmy.  Be sure to take several photos so that you end up with at least one good one.

Add simple clipart or stickers, and a Valentine's Day message for a personalized touch.


Use a hole punch to make two holes in the photo; one at the top of your child's closed fist and another at the bottom. Be sure not to punch the holes directly onto the hand.  You will want to be able to see your child's whole fist after inserting the lollipop.

Insert lollipop through the front of the photo first, then gently back through the other hole.  If the lollipop feels loose, add a strip of tape on the back to secure the stick.


This time around, I wanted to make folded cards with her looking as if she were handing her valentine a piece of candy.  I also snapped  a few kissy lip photos.

To do this, have your child pose with their hand forward and slightly cupped. Take close-up photos that focus on your child's hand.  This is where the candy will sit on the final photo card.  You don't even need a professional camera to get the job done.  I took these in 5 minutes with my camera phone right before taking her to school.  Now, how's that for quick and easy!?


I print my photos online with Walgreens.  They always have great holiday designs, and my photos are ready in an hour!  I ended up choosing several different designs because I just couldn't decide.


Firmly rub a removable glue dot on the palm area of the photo (Kiddo helped me with this part).  You can also use double-sided tape, but it doesn’t seem to hold as well.  Press candy on top of the glue dot.  I used Hershey's milk chocolate hearts, but you can use anything similar in size.  The glue dot holds the candy in place and can easily be removed afterward to keep the card.



They turned out great! Did I already mention that I just love these?

So what about those kissy lip photos and the chocolate candy lips?

Hmm... I'm not quite sure how I feel about these.  They do make me laugh though!  I think they would have probably turned out better if I had made her face bigger, and the photo covered the full card.  Not bad though.  But hey, lesson learned for next year!