We could have bought a box of pre-printed cards to give to classmates for Valentine’s Day, but that would not have been complicated or original enough for my tastes. I had multiple suggestions like Paper Fortune Cookies and Button Paper Clip Bookmarks, but Mr. Star Wars and Miss Priss were having none of it. They just wanted to give a snack size bag of Valentine M&Ms or a box of candy hearts with their name written on the back in Sharpie pen.

We compromised. I cooked up these little Valentine “medicine bottles” that are filled with mini M&Ms. We printed stickers that looked like prescription labels. The labels say, “Heart Medicine” and have a use by date of 2/14/15. I got the satisfaction of a homemade, crafty Valentine, and my kids are happy because it involves candy.

Materials

• Mini plastic bottles with lids (I used Bead Landing 6.3″ x 5.3″ x 1.4″ bead storage jars, sold in a box of 30)
• Mini candies (mini M&Ms, Chiclets, candy coated sunflower seeds, Tic Tacs…)
• Avery return address labels (2/3″ x 1 3/4″, template 5195)
• funnel and teaspoon for filling bottles (optional)

Directions

• Print a sheet of Heart Medicine RX Labels. Have your child write his/her name after “prescribed by.” My Heart Medicine RX Labels use the Avery 5195 template, 60 labels per sheet.

• Fill each bottle full with candies.
• Put lid on and tighten.

• Wrap the label around the jar. The bottom of the label should line up with the base of the jar to help adhere it evenly and not overlap with the lid.

Notes

• I bought the plastic bead jars at Michael’s Crafts.
• The glass jar with the cork lids that I use for many American Girl projects would be a great little bottle for these Valentine gifts. I get the jars with the cork stopper at Hobby Lobby.

XO Happy Valentine’s Day (almost).