Craft tutorials and free templates

Valentine craft for LMNOP blog

Did you know you can make great invisible ink from lemon juice? Armed with this new bit of knowledge I put my thinking cap on and came up with the idea that invisible ink + message in bottle = cool valentines day gift!

The invisible ink bit is easy…simply squeeze a lemon and use the juice to write a message on a piece of white paper. I don’t have a dip pen so just ended up using a q-tip (cotton bud).

Then you need to find a bottle to put the message in. I used an old vanilla extract bottle. I also stuffed in lots of multi-coloured hearts as you can see!

To reveal the message all you have to do is hold it up to a heat source (you can see the results in the image below). You can use a lightbulb, iron (no steam) or candle for example. PLEASE PLEASE be careful and don’t let the kids do this bit. I nearly flambΓ©ed a few pieces of paper on the stove top.



I love these coloured hearts almost as much as I love my hubby and took a zillion pictures!!

Check out the LMNOP blog for lots more goodies….

Update: A lot of people have asked me where the hearts come from….I have a little heart punch and bought a lovely rainbow pad from paperchase.

60 thoughts on “Valentine craft for LMNOP blog

  1. Thank you! I really did get carried away with the hearts……I’ve had them stashed away for months waiting for an excuse to get them out.

  2. thank you…..it’s pretty funny cos my kids can’t even write yet….purely for my pleasure. It’s very cool though….would have loved the whole invisible ink thing when I was a kiddo.

  3. What a great idea to use this for valentines day. My hubby would never dream of putting something lovey dovey up on his wall at work but I can see him pinning something like this up. A secret message only he knows.
    Thanks for the inspiration. πŸ™‚

  4. Thanks for all the wonderful comments. My husband isn’t a romantic type at all but I’m hoping this will make him smile….esp if the boys give it to him….thank goodness he doesn’t read my blog πŸ™‚

    Lucie…I can’t get enough colour…agree with the fact that too many things are dull nowadays!

    Polwig….thanks for the tip regarding the iodine solution…I presume I can pick some up in the chemists?

  5. Brilliant! I might have to usurp my other idea for valentines this year and use this one. And those colorful hearts are the best–i can completely get how you were so smitten with them.

  6. Thanks guys…thanks too Holly. Nice to see you here! I remember reading your list of new years resolutions and you said you wanted to make more things in rainbow. I’ve joined the rainbow club – I’m addicted!! haha!

  7. I remember using lemon juice invisible ink to write secret messages to my bestfriend when I was a kid! We used feathers which were sharpened a little at the end to “write” with – which we thought was very old fashioned and classy! Thanks so much for making me remember this fabulous idea!

  8. Thisz a sincerely pleasant blog. Thanks for the good post! You’ve made some skillful points here. And with most intimates will agree with you. Helpful writing.

  9. You can also pick up paint chips at Wal-mart or the hardware store to make your colorful hearts.

  10. As far as letting kids hold it up to a heat source, I remember when we were little we did this all the time and we would just hold the paper over the toaster. πŸ™‚

  11. Hi Audra. You have to let it dry out anyway before exposing it to heat….so yes, it still shows up. Good luck!

  12. Kate , it is just amaaaaaaaaaaazing :)) I will try o do this for my hubby this valentine for sure ! :)) H e will love it , I cam imagine shock on his face when 1st he will see empty paper but then :)) Just question , how you prepared the colored hearts ? ?)) I am newbie in this field :))

  13. oh no!! I felt really sad after reading that. I do hate crafty disasters! Maybe a test-run would be a good thing to do next time. Kate ^_^

  14. So cute! I was looking for an inexpensive gift my two little friends across the street–ages 5 and 7–could make for their mother for Valentine’s Day. What I really love about this is that I already have everything on hand to do this project. Talk about budget-friendly! I hope all of your readers have as much fun making this as I know we will. Happy Valentine’s Day!

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  16. Wonderful write-up. I’m examining continually this blog and i’m influenced! Really useful information and facts specifically the best aspect πŸ™‚ We keep like details a great deal. I’m looking for this specific particular data for your number of years. Thanks a lot as well as connected with fortune.

  17. I hate to be one of those naysayers but isn’t iodine poisonous? I guess it depends on the solution but I’d read up on it before using it especially with kids. Love your colorful hearts in the bottle and the reminder about lemon juice being a great invisible ink. Thanks for sharing.

  18. Kate,
    This is a great idea, My 4 year Old Son always like to display magic art. Am sure he would have a great fun and be thrilled. Thanks a lot. Please post such easy experiments . Thanks Again

  19. I adapted this to go Afghanistan for Father’s Day…we punched hearts and stars to go in our message in a Pringles can (empty)! Shipped better than glass!

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