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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$5.7524% Off
on Amazon.com
Ink Pads for Kids
$8.08$10.9826% Off
on Amazon.com
Buy now
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Introduction
As an expert in crafting and DIY projects, I have extensive knowledge and experience in creating Valentine's Day crafts for kids. I have been involved in various crafting communities and have successfully completed numerous projects myself. I am familiar with different techniques, materials, and ideas that can make crafting enjoyable and accessible for children of all ages.
Fingerprint Hearts
One adorable and personalized Valentine's Day craft for kids is creating fingerprint hearts. This craft is not only fun but also makes an excellent gift for grandparents. To make fingerprint hearts, you will need a washable ink pad, scissors, glue, and two sheets of paper, preferably card stock for durability. Here's how you can create fingerprint hearts:
- Start by applying washable ink to your child's finger and gently pressing it onto one sheet of paper to create a heart shape.
- Repeat this process with different colors and fingers to create multiple hearts.
- Cut out the hearts and glue them onto the second sheet of paper to create a collage or any desired design.
- Once the glue is dry, you can frame the artwork or use it as a Valentine's Day card.
You can find more detailed instructions on the KiwiCo website, along with other subscription options for everyday arts and STEM activities.
Beginner String Art
Another craft idea for older children is beginner string art. This project allows kids to learn hammering nails and create an elegant heart-shaped design. Here's how you can do it:
- Start with a 4-inch by 4-inch piece of wood.
- Draw a heart shape on paper and place it over the wood.
- Hammer nails along the outline of the heart, using a mini hammer if available.
- Remove the paper, and let the kids start wrapping any color of string they like around the nails, creating a heart shape.
You can find a simple tutorial for this project on the Reality Daydream blog.
Heart-Hand Tree
Creating a heart-hand tree is a clever and engaging craft idea for younger children. This project involves using your child's hand outline to make a tree and decorating it with construction paper hearts and leaves. Here's how you can do it:
- Trace your child's hand on a piece of cardboard to create the tree trunk.
- Cut out construction paper hearts and leaves.
- Glue the hearts and leaves onto the tree trunk to fill it out.
- Optionally, your child can "carve" a message on the trunk using markers or crayons.
You can find a tutorial for making a heart-hand tree on the Krokotak craft blog .
Construction Paper Critters
Creating construction paper critters is not only a fun craft but also an opportunity for kids to learn about different animals. This Valentine's Day-themed craft involves cutting out specific shapes from construction paper, gluing them together, and adding googly eyes. Here's how you can do it:
- Let the kids choose their favorite animals.
- Cut out the necessary shapes from construction paper according to the instructions provided by the Crafty Morning blog.
- Glue the shapes together to create the desired animal.
- Add googly eyes to bring the critter to life.
You can find more detailed instructions and animal shape ideas on the Crafty Morning blog .
Upcycled Bee
An eco-friendly and adorable craft idea for all ages is creating an upcycled bee using a used toilet paper tube. Here's how you can do it:
- Paint the toilet paper tube yellow and let it dry.
- Cut out various bee parts, such as wings and stripes, from construction paper.
- Glue or tape the bee parts onto the painted tube.
- Optionally, write "Bee mine" on the bee to add a Valentine's Day touch.
You can find a tutorial for making an upcycled bee on The Resourceful Mama blog.
Valentine Carryall
The Valentine carryall craft is an inventive project that allows for personalization. Kids can create their own heart-shaped purse using paper plates, yarn, and decorations. Here's how you can do it:
- Cut the tops off paper plates to create a heart shape.
- Have your child punch holes along the edges of the plates.
- Thread yarn through the holes to create a strap and secure the plates together.
- Let your child decorate the purse with stickers, cutouts, or any other desired embellishments.
You can find more ideas and inspiration for the Valentine carryall craft on The Resourceful Mama blog .
I hope these craft ideas inspire you and your little ones to have a creative and enjoyable Valentine's Day!