Love Buckets: Valentine’s Day Family Tradition

Several years ago, I was looking for a way to celebrate each other and our family during the Valentine holiday, and Love Buckets came to be! I found cute metal buckets—one for each person–then cut out some hearts out of scrapbook paper and cardstock, and set out pencils and crayons.

Love Buckets | Valentine's Day Tradition

LOVE BUCKETS:  A SIMPLE & MEANINGFUL VALENTINE’S DAY TRADITION

Beginning February 1st, we write love notes to each member of the family every day, and place them in the buckets. Little ones that can’t write yet draw pictures, and ask for help to spell words. I like to add a little candy in with my notes! We keep our Love Buckets out on a counter or shelf, and excitement builds every day as they can see the piles of notes grow and even bulge out of the pails.

On Valentine’s Day, after our special dinner, we all sit down together and look through our pails. I liken the revealing of the love buckets to Christmas morning–their little cheeks brighten with anticipation, and big grins tug across their faces as they read what their siblings and parents wrote about them. The feeling in the air is indescribable, and it’s just a really extra special time.

It’s a very simple yet meaningful way to share appreciation and love with each other, and it’s most definitely one of my favorite traditions of all.

As parents, we’re always looking for ways to strengthen the relationships we have with our kids, and also the ones that they have with each other. Let’s be real—sometimes kids argue, and they don’t always get along. Ours are no different, but despite that, they do love each other, and giving them a way to express that has been key in our family.

Love Buckets | Valentine's Day Tradition

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LOVE BUCKET DETAILS

♥ Check for pails at your local hobby or craft store, even the dollar store. If you look around Valentine’s Day, you should be able to find them in red, pink, and white. The metal ones are really cute too!  Check on Amazon too…I found these!

♥ Add names or initials to your buckets so everyone knows who they belong to.

♥ Place vinyl lettering or write directly on the bucket.

♥ Print your kids’ names or initials on to white cardstock (cute alphabet stickers work well too!). Cut out into a rectangle or square shape (or use a circle punch for a circle), then mat onto a cute piece of scrapbook paper. Punch a hole in the top, and use ribbon or twine to attach to the handle of the pail.

OTHER “LOVE” IDEAS:

Instead of love buckets, you could do one of the following ideas, which are all based on the same basic idea:

♥ Create a Valentine tree! Gather branches from around your backyard and place them in a pitcher. Cut out hearts from colored paper, punch holes in the top, then set them out with pens or markers. Write love notes on the hearts, then hang them on the tree!

♥ Make a love rug! My sister’s family uses one, and loves it. She found a cute Valentine rug that they have each member of the family takes a turn sit on, and they go around and everyone says something they love about the person on the rug.

♥ Decorate bedroom doors with hearts! Cut out a bunch of hearts in all sizes, and then each night, place a heart on each child’s bedroom with something you love written on it. If more than one child is in the room, just write names at the top of the hearts. Other members of the family can add them too!

Other Valentine Ideas you might like:

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26 Comments

  1. i love this idea! my little girl (3) has just gotten into writing notes….or what looks like notes. she will LOVE this. and i work so she writes me notes and draws pictures for me while i am away. i think she will get a kick out of having a bucket full of goodies for mommy:)))

  2. Very cute idea. :) I did this with mailboxes a few years ago and the girls never forgot. They keep asking me when it's going to start again. :)

  3. I absolutely ADORE that idea … and my kids would love to get some love notes. Hope you don't mind if I steal the idea!

  4. We do this and I always look forward to it. It's a tradition that will be very meaningful to your family.

  5. I love your site! It is chalk full of great ideas for just about everything. My most favorite is for todays post when you say you will leave your kids notes about fun activites you will do. Im like, "oh..great idea, but what kind of activities." And then you list a bunch too. Its great. Thanks :)

  6. I love this idea and may have to copy you! I think my children and husband would love to do this. Maybe all 5 of us! Thanks for sharing :)

  7. I found a link to your blog at Scissors & Spatulas, http://www.scissorsandspatulas.com/. I'm now following, and am glad I found your blog.

  8. This is a very sweet idea! I would love to make this a tradition with my babygirl :)

  9. I am anxious to try cutting vinyl with my cricut! Love the ideas…thanks for sharing :)
    Erin
    http://eberhartsexplorers.blogspot.com/

  10. I haven't even had time to *start* Valentine's Day crafts! LOVE the buckets! Wanted to let you know that I have awarded you with the Versatile Blogger Award. You can read about it here.

  11. I just discovered your great blog & loved it. I'm just new into blogging & have just finished off my own blog on fashion & interior design.
    scrapbook-melissah.blogspot.com
    I had a lot of fun putting it together. I would love your feedback on it if you've got a spare minute.
    x
    Melissah

  12. LOVE it! I'd also love to know what font you used for the names! :) Thanks!!

  13. love this and plan to make these for my 2 little girls….what a fun idea. thank you!

  14. This is fabulous! My kiddos are going to be thrilled to bits. Thanks for making my job that much better. ;)

  15. Love this idea! I linked to this craft on my new blog!
    THANKS for your ideas and tutorials!

    www.ncbabyblog.blogspot.com

  16. The Love Buckets are such a cute idea..you have inspired me to make some!!
    Wend, Sydney Australia
    http://dreamit-createit.blogspot.com

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