The Handmade Valentines box from Kiwi Crate includes supplies for valentines that are easy for kids to make.

Make homemade pop-up cards like these using scrapbook paper and accoutrements.

Make homemade pop-up cards like these using scrapbook paper and accoutrements.

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and with it the age-old card exchange.

You can choose from any number of pre-made valentines at the store, but to put a personal touch on them, why not have kids make their own? Add some pizzazz with pop-up cards this year.

I was sent a kit from Kiwi Crate that makes the process simple for parents and kids — the Handmade Valentines box includes 24 pop-up cards, cutout shapes, heart stickers, googly eyes, markers and a glue stick, plus easy instructions.

I enjoyed the simplicity of the kit and had fun writing valentines phrases to go along with the shapes, which included robots, cars, butterflies and, my favorite, bees — “Bee my honey!” And there’s plenty more where that came from.

What I also liked about the kit was that it included instructions for making your own pop-up cards, for more ambitious crafters. It includes one starter card, but it would be easy to make more with construction or scrapbook paper.

And so, without further ado, here is how to do just that.

Supplies

• Cardstock or blank cards
• Paper: scrapbook, colored, construction
• Scissors
• Glue
• Markers
• Stickers or other scrapbooking accessories (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut cardstock to desired card size and fold in half.
2. Cut paper to match card size (or smaller) and fold in half. At the fold, snip two cuts of about 1/2 inch about 1/4 inch apart. Open the folded paper and push the pop-up strip to fold the opposite way of the paper.
3. Tuck the paper inside the card or cardstock and glue it in.
4. Cut a shape or write a phrase on a piece of paper. Glue it onto the pop-up strip.
5. Decorate the front and inside of the card with markers, stickers, cut paper or whatever suits your fancy. Then give it to your sweetheart.

The all-inclusive kit I used was sold out as of last week, but check kiwicrate.com to see if they are back in stock.