All you need is love… and a sweet surprise to make Valentine’s Day extra special. These Love Bug Candy Jars are fun, fuzzy, and filled with chocolate candies!

I “heart” this time of year! Valentine’s Day is all about spreading love and treats, especially for children. Luckily, there’s never a shortage of either! As parents, we know it’s all about the candy grams and goodies they get to exchange with friends. Even if their February 14th celebration is a little different than usual, it’s sure to remain the sweetest holiday of them all. With the majority of children still learning virtually from home, creativity calls upon us to make new memories outside of the classroom. In between the sugar rush and excitement, kids will love making Love Bug Candy Jars. These colorful critters can be gifted to a friend, neighbor, or family member.

LOVE BUG CANDY JARS

To make Love Bug Candy Jars you need 4 oz. glass mason jars, pipe cleaners, glitter foam heart stickers of various sizes, googly eyes, and heart shaped gems. A hot glue gun, pencil, and scissors are also necessary supplies. The pink mason jar lids are sold on Amazon. They come in a pack of 12 and are perfect for Valentine’s Day crafts! A few coats of acrylic paint can also be used to color the standard metal lids pink or red. Sometimes Target sells Valentine themed mason jars in their dollar spot, but I haven’t had any luck finding them this year. Keep an eye out next time you find yourself in Bullseye’s Playground!

To get started, fill each mason jar with a treat of your choice. By now just about every brand has released their red, white, and pink version of Valentine candy. For parents that prefer to steer clear of the sweet treats, small toys can also be used. Themed erasers, heart shaped crayons, and Goldfish crackers are just a few alternative ideas that kids love. Once the jars are full, add the lids and twist tight to ensure they are secure.

Next, it’s time to make the Love Bug’s antennas. Take a pipe cleaner and fold it in half so that each side is even. Using a pencil, wrap each side of the pipe cleaner around its length to achieve a curl. Standard pipe cleaners are typically very thin, so I recommend doubling up to create fullness or purchasing the jumbo versions that are extra FLUFFY! These pictured are from Target, but Michael’s craft store also sells them in a variety of colors. When in doubt, check Amazon.

Use hot glue to secure the pipe cleaner on top of the mason jar lid. The center of the “V” shape antennas will need to be slightly flattened so that the base is able to be attached. It will take a few squirts of glue to prevent them from flopping around, especially if you are using the heavier jumbo pipe cleaners.

The Love Bug Candy Jars are coming right along! Attach foam shaped hearts to the tips of the pipe cleaners. Even if the backs have adhesive stickers, use hot glue to keep them in place.