Sending Hugs to Those You Love

I discovered this idea for sending long distance hugs from a Valentine's Day craft featured by The Party Event, and thought it was brilliant. Because of our military lifestyle that shuffles us from one state to the next, we are always missing "home" and the family and friends we have to leave behind. So this craft is perfect to let those we love know we are thinking about them while sending hugs their way.

This is a quick, fun, and easy craft to do with children of any age, and can be customized by your child. Add this attached note along with your hug, or create a note of your own.

Nya and I have sent a few hugs, and we've done them differently each time. I love the personal touch of coloring the hands as opposed to solid color card stock, but both work equally well. I let Nya color all over a piece of card stock before tracing and cutting her hands over the coloring (this was by far easier than letting her color the hand after they had been cut). This works great for your littlest tots that are just learning how to color, and is fun to see the transformation of their hugs over the years. It also makes the craft last much longer because your little one can be coloring while you are cutting and assembling (unless they're old enough to do it themselves!)

These make sentimental birthday gifts for grandparents, father's or mother's day, and are especially great to send to parents serving overseas.

Whatever you do, make it your own... Be creative and have fun with this. There is no right or wrong way to send a hug to someone you miss and love!

What you need:

Card Stock (any color -white works best for coloring)

Scissors

Hole Punch (or use scissors if you don't have one)

Twine or Ribbon

Crayons, colored pencils, paint, stamps, glitter, stickers, etc. (for decorating the hands)

What you do:

1. If you have extremely little ones, it's easiest to let them color on a piece of card stock before you cut their hands out.

2. Trace their hands (if you have a little one that won't sit still, just trace one hand and copy it!) on the card stock.

3. Cut out the hands and allow older kids to decorate if they wish to.

4.  Measure the arm span of your child and cut the twine or ribbon in the same lengths.

5. Make a small hole punch in each hand, and thread the twine or ribbon through, tying at each end.

6. You can print out the following note or write one of your own.

7. Send your hug in the mail!

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