Think your kids get enough candy at their school Valentine's Day parties? Me, too! But I still like to give them a special Valentine's Day party favor. That's why we make the Pencil Mice together. My kids give them away to classmates, and love making original Valentine's Day gifts.

Materials

• heavy construction paper
• pipe cleaners
• decorated pencils

• hole punch
• black marker or pen

Instructions

1. From red, pink, or purple paper, cut out several hearts approximately 4 inches across.

2. On each, draw a nose and eyes.

3. Punch four holes above the mouse's nose.

4. Thread a short length of pipe cleaner through the top two holes and another through the bottom two.

5. Lastly, slip a pencil down behind the whiskers, from the backside of the heart.