40+ Valentine's Day Crafts for Kids

How to make them: Have your child draw hearts all over a sheet of thick paper using an oil-based marker, like Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Markers. (Note: These markers are permanent, so protect your work surface.) When they’re dry, have her paint over the hearts with watercolors in contrasting shades. (Because the pen is oil-based, the hearts will not bleed.) Let dry. Cut 2x6-in. strips from the page and punch holes in the top of each. Thread 3-in. pieces of thin ribbon through the holes and knot. On the back, write, “I’ll always save a place for you!”

How to make them: For this project, you’ll need a salad spinner you’re willing to get dirty, or you can cover one in plastic wrap. For each valentine, tape a 5x5-in. piece of colored cardstock to the basket of the spinner. Drip a little acrylic craft paint onto the paper, put on the lid, and spin. (If your paint is thick, mix it in a cup with a bit of water until it’s a little thinner than honey.) Repeat with different colors of paint. When dry, punch a small heart from one corner (Small Heart Lever Punch). On the back, write, “You make my heart spin!”

Tip: Glue on the punched-out heart to finish the phrase.

How to make them: Fill a short cup with 3 Tbs. liquid dish soap, 1 Tbs. water, and 2 Tbs. acrylic paint, and mix. Give your kid a straw and have her blow air into the liquid to create bubbles. When the surface is fully covered in bubbles, have her gently press a plain piece of paper or cardstock onto the bubbles to make an impression. Repeat until the page is covered. Make more pages in different colors. Once dry, cut out bubble-like flower shapes. Punch a small hole in each shape and thread a 16-in. piece of colored cord through to make the flower into a necklace. On the flip side, write, “You’re my very best bud!”

Tip: Use neon cords and paint for extra-vibrant colors.

How to make them: Spread shaving cream (the creamy kind, not a foaming gel) to make an even layer in a tray large enough to hold your paper. Have your child dribble 6 to 8 drops of food colorings into the shaving cream, and use a toothpick to gently swirl the colors through the cream. When the colors are spread out, have your kid press a piece of thick, white paper onto the colored foam. Scrape the shaving cream off the page with a ruler. Repeat with more pages. Once dry, cut 31/2x5-in. heart shapes from the sheets. Cut 8x6-in. pieces of colored paper and fold each in half to make a card. Glue cutout hearts to folded cards. Write, “My heart’s in a swirl!” inside.

What you'll need: Decorative paper, 14-inch embroidery hoop or floral ring, glue stick, hot glue

How to make it:

1. Cut out 33 leaf shapes and fold each in half.
2. For each flower, cut out 4 identical hearts by stacking paper and cutting all at once. Fold each in half and glue the sides together to make a flower shape. You’ll need about 18.
3. Hot-glue enough leaves and flowers to cover the hoop.

How to make them: Cut felt or fleece into a rectangle and fold to form a pocket, leaving enough fabric at the top to create a decorative flap. A basic embroidery or sewing stitch seals the edges in a flash. (For younger children, try using fabric glue instead.) Adorn your craft with buttons, ribbons, appliques, or fabric paints.

• RELATED: Easy Valentine's Day Crafts for Toddlers

How to make them: For the cozy, open a cardboard cup cozy at its seam, trace it on glitter felt, and cut it out (for a zigzag edge, use pinking shears). With tacky glue, adhere other felt shapes as desired. To add sequin-strand trim (available at fabric stores), draw guidelines in pencil, put the trim on top, and cut it to the right length. Trace the lines with a tacky glue pen (we used Aleene's brand) or tacky glue and a toothpick, then lay the trim over the glue and let dry. Wrap the cozy around a heat-safe paper cup and pin the overlap. Remove the cozy, glue it along the overlap, and clamp it with clothespins until dry.

For the dunker, knot one end of a 7-inch length of baker's twine. Thread it through a marshmallow with a plastic yarn needle wiped with vegetable oil. Tape a tag to the twine. Package the dunker and a cocoa pack with the cup.

What you'll need: Decorative paper, 4x6-inch flat card, glue stick, felt-tip pen

How to make it:

1. Cut out a branch shape. Glue to card.
2. Cut out two hearts and fold in half. Glue two sides together. Glue down the other sides onto the card. Repeat to make more birds.
3. Cut out smaller hearts. Glue on as wings. Attach paper beaks.
4. Draw on eyes, write a message inside, and share.

How to make them: Dress up mini chocolate bars with a creative wrapper for the cutest candy ever. Measure out a section of paper by using the candy wrapper as a guide. Cut it out and cover with love messages, stamps, stickers, or little drawings, then secure around the bar with tape. This makes a quick and easy Valentine's gift for your child's friends.

• RELATED: 5 Valentine's Day Ideas for Kids

How to make them: To start, lay strips of duct tape, slightly overlapping, onto the back side of half a yard of sparkly fabric (this makes about ten ties). For the necktie, draw a 14-inch-long tie shape on the tape, adding a 1-inch tab to fold over the elastic. Cut out the tie. Knot a 24-inch length of elastic cord into a loop. Fold the tie's tab over the cord and secure it on the back with duct tape.

For the bow tie, draw a 6 1/2- by 3-inch rectangle and a 1 1/2- by 1/2-inch rectangle on the tape side. Cut them out. Gather the larger rectangle at its center to form a bow, then wrap the smaller one around it and secure it with duct tape. Thread the bow onto a 24-inch length of elastic cord, then knot the ends.

Looking for Valentine's Day crafts for preschoolers? This creative project has a big payoff!

How to make them: Soak a length of yarn in a solution of equal parts white glue and water. Shake off any excess, then shape the yarn into a heart on waxed paper. Repeat to make a smaller heart inside the first one, if you like. Let the yarn dry (1 to 2 days); do not remove it from the waxed paper. Tint mini bottles of white glue with a few drops of paint. Fill the heart with a thin layer of glue. Let the glue dry (1 to 2 days). After it has dried, peel the heart from the paper, then use a hole punch and string to hang it.

What you'll need: Wand template, 8x11-inch colored paper, glue stick or tape, lollipops, decorative straws, washi tape

How to make them:

1. Copy and cut out our template (download it here!)
2. Crease along each line (the lines should be inside the folds).
3. Fasten the tabs with glue or tape.
4. Place lollipop into straw, and slide on the heart. Secure in place with a leaf made from green washi tape.

These whimsical painted planters make flower arrangements even sweeter. All you need is a terra-cotta pot, some acrylic paint, and a little imagination.

How to make them: Fold an 8 1/2 - by 11-inch sheet of paper in half lengthwise, trace the template shape onto it, and cut it out. Unfold the paper, then accordion-fold it lengthwise, with each fold about 1/2- to 3/4-inch wide. Staple through the center of the folded paper. Glue a craft stick to either side of the staple on the longer side of the folded fan.

When the glue is dry, open the fan by bringing the sticks together. Glue together the two flaps at the top of the heart. Write a message on a slip of paper, then glue it to the handle of the fan. Keep the fan closed with a tiny rubber band.

Want your DIY Valentine's Day crafts to double as gift cards? Create charming prints with the easy-to-follow instructions here

Set hearts soaring with this playful Valentine's craft for kids. When the recipient blows through the straw, the rocket goes whoosh!

How to make them: You'll need a wide-diameter straw (the type used for thick smoothies) and a standard-diameter straw. Trim a 6-inch length from the bigger straw, flatten one end, and tape it shut, then set it aside. Draw rocket shapes as shown (or print and trace our templates here) on the back of glitter card stock and cut along the lines. Tape the fin shapes and the larger straw to the rocket's back and a heart to the front. Insert the smaller straw into the larger one. Tape a paper strip into a loop, write a message, and slide it on. To launch, the recipient removes the message and blows through the smaller straw.

What you'll need: 12x12-inch rainbow paper, heart template, 3x5-inch envelope, white or iridescent paper

How to make it: 

1. Working lengthwise, accordion-fold the paper into four 2½-inch sections.
2. Copy and cut out the heart template (download it here), and trace 4 times (vertically) onto the folded paper. Trim, leaving straight edges intact. Tape the 4 heart rows together to make one strand.
3. Cut scallops into the envelope.
4. Cut a cloud shape for the end of the rainbow, and tape in place.

Have your Valentine's Day arts and crafts double as household decor! Pick one of these gorgeous garlands (or all three!) to spruce up your space for the holiday.

1. Suit and Tie: Old playing cards and ribbon trimming give this strand homespun appeal. Using playing cards in the suit of hearts, punch two holes in the top of each and thread them onto ribbon. Embellish the garland by tying on short lengths of ribbon.

2. Hearts on a String: A single running stitch sews these lovely hearts together forever. Cut felt hearts (ours are 3 inches across), then use a needle to thread them on embroidery floss one after another, leaving space between.

3. Hugs and Kisses: Paper doilies get snipped and folded for this airy and delicate lace look. To make an X, accordion-fold two same-size doilies. Cinch them together and staple them at the center. For an O, cut out the center of a doily along the edge of its inner circle. Thread the letters onto a length of heavy string.

This DIY Valentine's Day card features a moving center that expands in a fluttery motion as it's opened.

How to make it: First make a paper heart by folding a 3 1/2-inch square of craft paper in half and cutting half a heart shape along the fold. Use this heart as a template to create a second. Fold a 5 1/2- by 8-inch paper rectangle in half widthwise. Trace the heart once more along the center of the fold. Cut out the shape, leaving a small portion on each side intact. Make a crease along the uncut portion by folding it. Open the card so that it's flat, and push out the heart. Run a glue stick along the card's edges and mount it to a larger piece of card stock. Trim the card stock to form a border as shown. Use more glue to attach one of your paper hearts to the pop-out heart. Add a message, such as "This heart beats for you" or "My heart's set on you." Fold the card closed and attach the remaining paper heart to the front.

Lacy coasters create a pretty perch for tea or hot chocolate. Simply cut out craft foam shapes and glue doilies in between them.

Start a new tradition with these DIY chair-back envelopes. Set them out a week before Valentine's Day, then let your family swap notes, drawings, and other tokens of affection!

How to make it:

1. Print and assemble our envelope template (download here). Cut the shape from felt as directed on the template. Lay out the felt piece with the cropped point at the bottom.
2. Fold in both sides so that the points meet. Fold in the bottom and top flaps where shown on the photo to overlap the side flaps about 1/3 inch. With an iron set on cool, press the folds.
3. Unfold the top and bottom flaps. Run fabric glue along the two edges of the bottom flap, and fold it back in place. Let the glue dry.
4. On the back of the envelope, cut two slits along the top fold and two about four inches below. Insert two yard-long pieces of ribbon.
5. Add adhesive-backed felt letters (available at craft stores) and glue on a felt heart. Tie the envelope to the back of a chair.

A simple wooden spool covered in ribbon holds a precious flower bouquet.

What you'll need: Cardstock, small circle and heart craft punches, straight pin, craft glue, cloth-covered floral wire, small buttons, wooden spool, grosgrain ribbon (same width as spool)

How to make the flowers: Punch out a circle from cardstock and poke a small hole in the center with a straight pin. Punch out five heart shapes and fold in half lengthwise for petals. Glue the petals around the circle, leaving the hole unobscured; set aside to dry. Thread one end of a length of floral wire through two holes on a button and twist to secure. Push the opposite end of the wire through the hole in the middle of the flower shape for a stem. Repeat to make more flowers.

How to make the vase: Wrap a length of ribbon around the spool and glue to secure. Trim the flower stems and stick them into the spool to display.

What you'll need: 4 1/4"x 5 1/2" pre-cut scallop cards (20 cards, paper-source.com; $7), hole punch, scissors, thin ribbon, small cellophane bags, conversation hearts

How to make it: 

1. Put one card on top of another. Using the scallops as a guide, punch evenly spaced holes around the outer edge of the cards.
2. Fold the top card in half; cut a half heart at the fold. Unfold the card and place it back on top of the other.
3. Weave ribbon through holes, starting at the center top. Leave a 5"-long tail hanging from the starting point. Stitch around the card until you reach the last hole on the bottom corner. Set it aside.
4. Fill a cellophane bag smaller than your cards with one layer of hearts. Tuck bag in between the two cards so that the candies are visible through the cut-out.
5. Finish weaving until you reach the first hole. Bring the thin ribbon through this hole and tie ribbon ends in a bow.

How to make them: Download and print the ear and foot templates here. Cut the shapes from card stock. Remove the paper flags from two Hershey's Kisses. Fold the feet where shown on the template, then use tacky glue to sandwich the feet and ears between the Kisses. Glue a 4-inch length of gray yarn to the underside of the back Kiss. Add googly eyes. Attach the mouse to a cheese-shaped piece of card stock with a glue dot, then write a note.