optional screen reader
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission.
Valentine’s Day is probably the craftiest of holidays, but you may be in need of some fresh ideas outside of cutting out paper hearts. Never fear! These Valentine’s Day crafts for kids are adorable, and — most importantly — easy to do.
For some of the crafts below, we spoke to artist Kelly Lynn Jones, owner of the San Francisco art shop Little Paper Planes (which has since closed), to get her tips for kid-friendly Valentine’s Day DIYs. (Other crafts here came to us by the secret magic of the internet.)
So check out these quick, cheap and easy ideas and then start working on some sweet projects with your littles. And bonus: When you’re done crafting, voilà — instant Valentine’s Day decor.
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
Fingerprint hearts
Subscription toy company KiwiCo shared this idea, which is just messy enough for kids to get really into it, and personal enough that it will make an excellent gift for grandparents. All you need is a washable ink pad, scissors, glue, and two sheets of paper — card stock if you want to make this feel like a lasting treasure.
Read the full instructions on KiwiCo, (and while you’re at it, check out all their subscription options for everyday arts and STEM activities). And if you need to stock up on supplies, here are some links to help out.
Valentine's Card Stock
$24.50
on Amazon.com
Buy now
Elmer's Glue Stick 3-pack
$3.19$6.9954% Off
on Amazon.com
Buy now
Fiskar Scissors
$4.35$5.6823% Off
on Amazon.com
Buy now
Ink Pads for Kids
$8.08$10.9826% Off
on Amazon.com
Buy now
Image: Reality Daydream.
Beginner string art
Blog Reality Daydream has a simple tutorial for this elegant heart-shaped project. “This piece is really sweet and good for older children, so they can learn hammering nails,” Jones told SheKnows. Just make sure to supervise them.
Start with a piece of wood — 4 inches-by-4 inches is perfect. Then draw a heart on paper, place it over the wood and hammer nails in to form the outline. (A mini hammer is perfect for this if you have one.) Then remove the paper, and kids can start wrapping any color of string they like around the nails, creating a heart. Perfect.
Embroidery Floss
$5.99
on Amazon.com
Buy now
Image: Krokotak.
Heart-hand tree
Use an outline of your child’s hand to make a tree using this tutorial from the craft blog Krokotak. “I love this so much… for the younger kiddos,” says Jones. “Using their hands is always a great way to create a project, and this is a clever craft. Who doesn’t love a heart tree?” Once they have the cardboard tree trunk shape, kids can fill out the tree with construction paper hearts and leaves and even “carve” (write) a message on the trunk.
Prang Construction Paper
$13.51$17.9925% Off
on Amazon.com
Buy now
Image: Crafty Morning.
Construction paper critters
This Valentine’s-themed critter craft “is also a great moment [for kids] to learn about a variety of animals,” Jones explains. Let kids choose their own creatures; check out instructions from blog Crafty Morning for specific shapes and parts to cut from construction paper. Glue them together, add some googly eyes and voila: adorable valentine.
1000 Googly Eyes
$6.99$14.9953% Off
on Amazon.com
Buy now
Image: The Resourceful Mama.
Upcycled bee
Speaking of adorable valentine critters, this fun little bee craft from The Resourceful Mama is not only cute; it’s eco-friendly too. Kiddos can turn a used toilet paper tube into this creative creature. “Perfect for all ages,” says Jones.
Gather some paint, construction paper, pipe cleaners and a toilet paper roll. Paint the roll yellow, and while you’re waiting for it to dry, cut out various bee parts from the paper. Then glue or tape it all together to craft your colorful bee. Don’t forget to write, “Bee mine” — that’s the whole point, right?
Black Pipe Cleaners
$6.00
on Amazon.com
Buy now
Image: The Resourceful Mama for Crafty Morning.
Valentine carryall
This inventive Valentine’s craft is presented by The Resourceful Mama for Crafty Morning. Jones likes this project because there are so many ways to personalize it. “This heart purse… can be made in so many ways,” she says. “The child can paint the paper, add glitter, put their name on it, add more hearts in a variety of colors, braid the yarn — to name a few.”
Start with paper plates (cut the tops off straight across) and have your child punch holes along the plates’ edges. Then have them thread yarn through the holes. Create a strap with a piece of yarn (Jones suggests braided sections). Then start decorating. Use stickers, cutouts or anything else your little one desires. In the end, kids will have the perfect place to stash their classroom valentines.
Bernat Red Cotton Yarn
$8.13
on Amazon.com
Buy now
A version of this article was originally published in January 2018.
optional screen reader
Leave a Comment
Comments are closed.
More Stories from Parenting
Parenting News
Vanessa Bryant’s Nickname for Her Daughters Has Us FeelingEmotional
by Delilah Gray
Parenting News
by Delilah Gray
Parenting News
by Delilah Gray
Parenting News
PR Experts Claim Barron Trump Will Follow One of His Parent’s Footsteps When It Comes to theSpotlight
by Delilah Gray
Parenting News
by Delilah Gray
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or beliefs, but I can provide you with information on the concepts mentioned in this article. Here's a breakdown of the concepts and related information:
Valentine's Day Crafts for Kids
Valentine's Day crafts for kids are a popular way to celebrate the holiday and engage children in creative activities. These crafts are often easy to do and can be made with simple materials. They can serve as decorations or gifts for loved ones. This article provides several craft ideas for kids to try on Valentine's Day.
Fingerprint Hearts
One of the craft ideas mentioned in the article is creating fingerprint hearts. This craft involves using a washable ink pad, scissors, glue, and two sheets of paper. Kids can make heart shapes using their fingerprints and personalize them as gifts for grandparents. The full instructions for this craft can be found on the KiwiCo website.
Beginner String Art
Another craft idea mentioned in the article is beginner string art. This project involves using a piece of wood, drawing a heart shape on paper, placing it over the wood, and hammering nails along the outline of the heart. Kids can then wrap string around the nails to create a heart shape. This craft helps older children learn hammering skills and can result in an elegant heart-shaped artwork.
Heart-Hand Tree
The article suggests making a heart-hand tree craft using an outline of a child's hand. Kids can trace their hand on cardboard to create the tree trunk and then decorate it with construction paper hearts and leaves. They can also write a message on the trunk. This craft is considered suitable for younger children and allows them to create a clever and personalized project.
Construction Paper Critters
The article mentions a Valentine's-themed critter craft that allows kids to learn about different animals. Kids can choose their own creatures and cut out specific shapes from construction paper. They can then glue the shapes together, add googly eyes, and create adorable valentine critters. This craft provides an opportunity for kids to explore different animal shapes and develop their creativity .
Upcycled Bee
The article suggests an eco-friendly craft using a used toilet paper tube to create a bee. Kids can paint the tube yellow, cut out bee parts from construction paper, and glue or tape them together. This craft is suitable for all ages and allows kids to repurpose materials while creating a cute and colorful bee.
Valentine Carryall
The article presents a craft project for making a heart purse using paper plates. Kids can punch holes along the edges of the plates, thread yarn through the holes to create a strap, and decorate the plates with stickers, cutouts, or other materials. This craft offers various ways to personalize the purse and provides a fun and functional item for kids to store their valentines .
I hope this information helps you understand the concepts mentioned in the article. Let me know if there's anything else I can assist you with!
