Looking for free family fun on Valentine's Day?

You might consider Artascope Studios in South Portland, which is hosting a free open-house and "card-making extravaganza" on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The workshop will help people learn about card-making techniques, including collage, stamping, drawing and painting. The event is free.

Artascope is located at 352 Cottage Road, in the Meeting House Hill neighborhood. The phone number is 799-5154.

For more information, check out the Artascope Web site.

This week, make bedtime stories an adventure.

Kids are being invited to wear their pajamas for an evening story hour Wednesday at Saint Joseph's College, 278 Whites Bridge Road in Standish, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Elementary education majors will be reading to children grades K-3. Kids can also participate in various activities and munch on snacks. The event is free. Books and activities will reflect winter themes.

Kids are invited to bring a blanket or a favorite teddy bear. No registration necessary.

Future bedtime stories programs and themes include Feb. 11 (Valentine's Day), March 25 (springtime activities), and April 29 (celebrating Maine). For more information call 893-7723.

Maine's state parks are not just for summertime fun.

It's hard to remember that right now, when it is 5 degrees outside. But to remind you of that, there's a statewide initiative called Take It Outside which provides information on things to do with kids outside. Especially things at state parks.

For instance, the next Take It Outside event will be a children's ice fishing derby Sunday at Lake St. George State Park in Liberty, on Route 3 about 25 miles east of Augusta. It'll be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Bureau of Parks and Lands will provide everything families need to fish, including instruction, traps and bait. They'll even cut the hole in the ice for you.

There'll also be other winter activities, a warming hut, coffee and hot cocoa, and lunch. To pre-register and for more information, call Lake St. George State Park at 589-4255.

The only cost is the regular park off-season admission, $1.50 for adults and free for kids under 12.

Other Take It Outside events planned in the coming weeks include "Family Fun Day" events at Mount Blue State Park in Weld on Feb. 7, and at Aroostook State Park in Presque Isle on Feb. 21. The Web site also includes information on lots of other park events this winter, such as ranger-led hikes at Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal and nature programs at Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park in Freeport.

For information on outdoor family events, check out the Take It Outside Web site.