I'd say it's a good time to be a kid.  There seem to be endless clever and creative ideas available to parents for celebrating Valentine's Day.  I remember using store-bought Scooby Doo cards with my friends (because nothing breeds third-grade romance like a picture of Shaggy).  These days, however, the bar has been raised.  Here's a round-up of creative ideas for making this holiday special for your kids:

(Although, in the interest of full disclosure, I feel like I should share that I sent my own offspring to school with packs of Fun Dip for the friends, and we're calling it good.)

Princess Spanky Pants of Gather has written out step-by-step instructions for how she and her kids made homemade valetines for the class.  I'm especially impressed by the fake iPods!

If you're not feeling particularly skilled in the craft department, Living Locurto offers some easy (and free!) downloads you can simply print out and customize however you'd like.  I love the little owl!

Learning by Living offers up instructions for an especially boy-friendly craft:  a barn-shaped "mailbox" for depositing Valentines!

Kiddio shares instructions for making cute (and even edible) conversation hearts out of salt dough.

Peoples Online shares the Valentine love with our feathered friends, giving instructions on how to make heart-shaped bird feeders.

No Time For Flash Cards has a brilliant and simple idea:  she's making heart-shaped pizza out of tortillas.  The kids can easily get involved with this hearty (oh, the pun!) idea.

Kaboose is keeping it simple with downloadable coloring sheets, many that can folded down into actual cards.

Scrumdilly-do shares an idea that is do-able for even the least crafty among us: using cardboard and scrapbook paper for making a heart-shaped memory game.  (This is a great idea year-round, actually--it could be adapted for any holiday celebration by just changing the shape!)

Amazing Moms gives a long list idea for Valentine's celebrations, including some video instruction for party planning.  There are some great ideas for games and recipes.

Twig and Thistle has an elegant idea: pastries in a custom box.  And she even offers a free, downloadable box for the gift (the link is just under the first photograph.)

Homespun Oasis shares ideas that even the youngest toddlers can do:  homemade valentines using crafters foam and simple embellishments.

Who says hanging decorations are just for Christmas trees?  Not Bread of Angels, who offers a variety of suggestions for Valentine's-themed ornaments.

Martha Stewart, of course, has plenty of lovely suggestions for Valentine's crafts, and she shared some video tutorial on The Today Show.  (If Matt Lauer can do it, so can you.)

Simple holiday sugar cookies are always perfect, and Parenting the Tiniest of Miracles shares a favorite family recipe for this sweet treat.

Homemade doesn't have to mean complicated, as Blessed Femininity shares a photo of her simple homemade valentines, using construction paper, suckers and a printer!

Life to the Fullest not only made cute valentines for her kids' friends, she included an extra-thoughtful gift for the teachers.

Inchmark created these dainty little boxes to fill with treats.  She used, of all the clever ideas, matchboxes.

Have you found any Valentine's ideas on-line that have especially tickled your creativity?

Shannon Lowe is a BlogHer contributing editor (Mommy/Family). She also blogs at Rocks In My Dryer and The Parenting Post.