Animal-Shaped Valentine's Day Cards

Turn paper hearts into adorable animal valentines that the kids can make.

By Amanda Kingloff from Parents Magazine

  • Peter Ardito

    Frog Valentine

    Cut paper into heart shapes to make this toad-ally adorable frog valentine. Go to the next three slides to see the how-to steps.

    What you'll need:
    Spoon, craft paper, heart-shaped paper punch, scissors, marker, and glue

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  • Peter Ardito

    Frog Valentine: Step 1

    Fold paper in half, then fold in half again. draw a half-heart against the folded corner, making sure that the top and side edges align with the folds. Cut out, unfold, and flatten.

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  • Peter Ardito

    Frog Valentine: Step 2

    Cut 4 legs as shown, 2 at an angle about 5" tall and 2 straight about 4" tall. Punch 6 hearts and glue to ends as feet. Glue legs under big heart, and bend larger legs at the knees.

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  • Peter Ardito

    Frog Valentine: Step 3

    Trace spoon handle, cut out, and glue inside of mouth. Cut 2 2" dark- green and 2 1" light-green ovals; glue together. Draw pupils; fold edge of ovals, and glue to top of head.

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  • Peter Ardito

    Bird Valentine

    Heart-shaped wings make this chick perfect for Valentine's Day

    What you'll need:
    Solid and patterned craft paper, Scissors, Glue, Paper clip, Pen

    Make it:
    1.     Download, print, trace, and cut out bird template.
    2. Fold patterned paper in half and cut 3 1"-tall heart shapes. With them folded, glue 2 back halves of 2 hearts together. Then glue the back half of the third heart to the back of the second heart. Fan out and glue to top of bird's back.
    3. Unfold a paper clip and glue it to the back of the bird's mouth.
    4. Cut out a small heart, write a Valentine message, then glue it to the other end of the paper clip.

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  • Peter Ardito

    Mouse Valentine

    Keep this paper heart folded to make this critter come to life.

    What you'll need:
    Solid and/or patterned craft paper, Scissors, Glue, Yarn, Small black pom-pom, Small pink pom-pom

    Make it:
    1.     Fold a piece of craft paper and cut a heart that's about 5" tall and 4" wide (unfolded, but keep heart folded).
    2. Cut a heart about 3/4" tall and glue it to the straight edge of the heart about 1 1/2" up from the bottom point.
    3. Cut a 5"-long piece of yarn and glue it to the inside of the heart at the rounded end.
    4. Glue on black pom-pom as eye and pink pom-pom as nose.

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  • Peter Ardito

    Fox Valentine

    This critter's heart-shaped face makes him so lovable.

    What you'll need:
    Solid and/or patterned craft paper, Scissors, Glue, Small black pom-poms, Pen

    Make it:
    1.     Fold a piece of solid paper and cut an 8"-wide heart. Fold a contrasting paper and cut a 4?"-wide heart. Glue together, aligning bottom points.
    2. Download the 2 ear and 2 tail templates. Trace and cut from paper; glue 2 ear shapes together and 2 tail shapes together. Glue to the back of the fox's head.
    3. Glue on pom-poms as eyes and nose, and draw a small mouth shape with pen.

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  • Peter Ardito

    Butterfly Valentine

    A candy center makes this Valentine even sweeter.

    What you'll need:
    Solid and/or patterned craft paper, Scissors, Glue, Vertical candy like Pez, Tootsie Roll, or Smarties, Paper clip, Small pom-poms

    Make it:
    1.     Fold 3 pieces of paper in half and cut 3 hearts per sheet: 5" tall, 4" tall, and 2" tall.
    2. Stack hearts, lining up bottom points, and glue together. Glue points of 2 large hearts together.
    3. Cut 4 3/4" hearts and glue to the corners of the 4" hearts.
    4. Wrap candy in paper and glue to the center where wings meet.
    5. Unfold paper clip until straight, fold in half, and glue to back of candy as antennae. Glue pom-poms to the points.

    Originally published in the February 2012 issue of Parents magazine.

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