Rock Candy

Total Time Needed:: 1 Hour

A box of conversation hearts and two mini peanut butter cups in disguise hit all the right notes for a tune-loving babysitter or pal. The idea comes from Grand Island, Nebraska, mom Lisa Toner, whose daughters, Anna, 14, and Maria, 10, wanted a new way to tell friends, "You rock." "Valentines can seem babyish to older kids," explains Lisa. "They really need something cool."

Materials

Tape
2 (14-inch) pieces of string
2 mini peanut butter cups
1 (1-ounce) box of conversation hearts

2 (4-inch) circles of aluminum foil
4- by 7-inch strip of pink paper
Glue stick
Sheet of white printer paper or printable scroll wheel and playlist

Instructions

Tape each end of a piece of string to a peanut butter cup. Tie on the other piece of string as shown, then tape the loose end to the candy box.
Wrap each peanut butter cup in a circle of aluminum foil.
Wrap the pink paper strip around the candy box and secure it with a glue stick.
Cut paper shapes and write text for the scroll wheel and playlist (or download and print ours), and use a glue stick to attach them to the box. Write a valentine message on the back of the box.