Prepare to be smitten with this collection of adorable heart crafts for kids. Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day, or simply looking for ways to scatter around a bit of love, creativity abounds (in heart-shaped style) with these sweet kids’ heart projects.
I’ve been steadily ticking January days off the calendar, and although it may seem early, over here in the kids’ crafting world we are rapidly approaching the realm of Valentine’s Day – where all things “hearts!” reign supreme.
In preparation, I’ve been playing Queen of Hearts behind the scenes, collecting all of my favorite kids’ heart crafts from friends to share with you.
Kids Heart Art, Crafts, and Activities – Table of Contents
Kids Heart Art, Crafts, and Activities – Table of Contents
We’ve organized our collection by theme, so you can use the links below to jump straight to a specific topic of interest in this article…
Hearts – in all their forms – are never a one-size-fits-all affair; they’re as unique as the little artists making them.
Whether your kiddo is into bright, splashy colors, or has a soft spot for pastel hues, adores painting processes or prefers building projects, there’s a heart project here that’s sure to catch their eye and capture their heart.
Even better, most of these invitations and projects use items you probably already have at home, making it easier to set up a fun Valentine’s Day activity on the fly.
Looking for some kid-friendly, love-inspired jams to click on and turn up while you’re making fabulous art? Hit play on our Spotify Valentine playlist – you’re gonna dig it.
Heart Art for Preschoolers
Art is where the heart is – try some heart art projects that are fantastic for little hands. Perfect for preschoolers (but wonderful for kids of any age!), this series of heart art activities will help your kids investigate a variety of art-making tools, emphasizing process over product.
1. Spin Art Hearts
Watch colors whirl and twirl into beautiful heart designs with this exciting spin art activity. Great for kids who love a bit of action, this process art project combines art and motion for a super fun effect!
2. Rainbow Heart Suncatchers
Play with colors and enjoy the dazzling reflected rainbows winter sunlight creates as it streams through your art with this suncatcher project.
3. Shaving Cream Print Heart Art
Mix up some unique Valentine’s Day art with a cool shaving cream art technique that combines marbled heart art with a fun, sensory play experience.
4. Heart Symmetry Painting
Investigate the beauty of visual balance with these folded heart designs – a lovely opportunity to learn about symmetry through a Valentine’s Day theme.
These projects are just a small sampling of age-appropriate heart-making activities for early learners. Part of the fun of process art is simply playing with different techniques using a variety of supplies – standard art-making materials or unconventional household finds. For a bit of inspiration to get you started, here are just a few more ideas to help your youngest Valentine’s Day revelers participate in the celebration:
- Stamp heart art with bubble wrap
- Work fine motor skills and explore pointillism with Q-tip painted hearts
- Use tin foil for heart painting
- Make mosaic heart art from paper scraps
- Recycle cardboard tubes for heart pattern-making
Creative Heart Art for Kids
A treasure trove of heart-inspired art projects, each one brimming with the potential to inspire children of all ages. These heart art activities work well across a wide range of skills and interests.
5. Clay Heart Art
Combine clay crafting with mosaic art to create these charming DIY clay heart ornaments – a sweet kid-made gift or keepsake that works for so many occasions!
6. Black Glue Heart Art
This striking twist on Valentine’s art uses a clever combination of art supplies to create a fun stained-glass-like effect, and it’s perfect for older kids who can handle a glue bottle with precision.
7. Cake Pan Printed Heart Art
Experiment with new ways of printmaking with this fun tutorial for cake pan prints. The beautiful palettes and fresh art-making process offer fantastic inspiration to introduce kids to printing.
8. Romero Britto-Inspired Heart Art
Draw inspiration from artist Romero Britto to create heart art that’s bursting with color and character. Save this project for your art classroom or Valentine’s Day color play at home – it’s a keeper!
Kids Heart Crafts
Whether you’re looking for a quick afternoon activity or a more involved project, each of these heart crafts is fun, creative, and full of opportunities for kids to put their hearts into their creations, making Valentine’s Day all the more special.
9. Recycled Art DIY Heart Pins and Pennants
Wear your heart on your sleeve (…or lapel…or backpack) with these eco-friendly paper heart pins and pennants. These handmade lovelies let kids show off their flair for upcycling fashion, and make a fantastic option for classroom valentines or small surprises for friends.
10. 3D Paper Hearts
Bring the love into the third dimension with these pop-up hearts. Tailor-made for children who relish a paper crafting challenge and are into exploring more complex designs.
11. Poseable Conversation Hearts
This conversation heart craft adds a twist of fun and interactivity to Valentine’s Day – they’re poseable and FULL of personality! This one’s a hit with children who adore crafting things they can animate and engage with (and we had a blast using them for stop-motion video learning!)
12. Cardboard Heart Tassel Necklaces
Merge fashion design with eco-friendly crafting in these chic cardboard heart tassel necklaces. This craft is a gem for young fashionistas who relish in creating their own unique accessories, blending artistic flair with a touch of environmental mindfulness.
13. Easy Paper Heart Plant Decorations
Embrace the elegance of minimalism with these charming paper heart plant decorations – perfect for anyone seeking a quick way to add a touch of bright Valentine’s Day cheer to any space.
14. DIY Heart Stamps
Offering a fun and engaging way to play with DIY art supplies + paint and shapes, these homemade heart stamps are a fantastic Valentine’s Day activity for exploring color combinations and patterns, leading to hours of artistic fun.
15. Sweet and Simple Paper Heart Door Hanger
Craft a doorway to delight with these sweet and simple paper heart door hangers. There’s no wrong way to make these charming little hearts, and they make a lovely surprise kids can deliver to the doors of neighbors or friends.
16. DIY Heart Pinata
Bring the party with this heart-shaped piñata, filled with love and treats! Perfect for a party or as a large-scale project, this craft is great for older kids who enjoy a bit of papier-mâché work.
17. Paper Pulp Heart Pendants
Dive hands-first into creative sculpting with these eco-friendly heart pendants. For children who enjoy getting their hands a little messy, this craft offers a tactile experience along with the pride of creating something uniquely beautiful.
18. Crayon Heart Suncatchers
Brighten any window while transforming light and color into art with these colorful, translucent hearts! These crayon heart suncatcher stunners are a wonderful exploration of hues and light for kids, creating stunning window art that dances with the sun’s rays.
19. Recycled DIY Heart Crayons
Give broken crayons a second life as charming heart-shaped upcycled crayons. This eco-friendly project is perfect for young eco-warriors, and makes a small but thoughtful homemade Valentine’s Day gift.
20. Trilingual Friendship Handmade Heart Wands
Celebrate the language of friendship with these trilingual heart wands. A fantastic choice for linguistically curious kids or those with a diverse circle of friends, spreading love in English, Chinese, and Korean.
Handsewn Heart Crafts Kids Can Make
These sweet kid-friendly sewing projects blend fun and skill to create adorable Valentine’s Day keepsakes, squeezable heart valentines, or little heart-shaped gifts.
21. Conversation Heart Tassel Charms
Hang a pop of color and a dash of charm just about anywhere with these conversation heart tassel charms. Perfect for crafty preteens, this project combines playful tassel creation with eye-catching charm design for a Valentine’s Day craft activity win.
22. DIY Heart Face Pillows
Turn artistic doodles into stylish Valentine snuggles with these charming heart face pillows. Kids can watch their artistic visions come to life in a soft, huggable form – perfect for kiddos who love to draw and cuddle.
23. Heart-Shaped Pillows
Surprise – no sewing is necessary for this sweet heart pillow project. A lovely craft that little hands can easily help with, these sweet softies offer a simple yet satisfying way to create a cozy, heart-shaped plush without needing a stitch.
24. DIY Heart Handwarmers
Warm hands and hearts with a set of handmade heart hand warmers. Suited for older children who can handle sewing, this craft is a Valentine sewn in the form of a warm, practical gift.
25. DIY Heart Bean Bags
Sew up some fun with this bean-bag sewing project, featuring a charming peek-a-boo heart design. This project is a great introduction to sewing for children, blending the excitement of creating a fun handmde toy with the satisfaction of learning a new skill.
26. A Handmade Knit Heart Craft
There’s love woven into every stitch of this hand-knitted heart craft. A cozy challenge for kids who are eager to learn knitting, this is a great way to develop knitting skills while creating something cuddly and cute with a Valentine’s Day theme!
27. A Pocket Person from Two Hearts
Create an adorable pocket-sized buddy from two simple heart shapes. This sewing craft is a wonderful journey for young sewers, turning basic stitches into a delightful, portable friend (that doubles as a little coin purse!).
28. Felt Heart Pouches
Craft and carry a little love at all times with these felt heart pouches, a charming sewing project for little stitching enthusiasts. This craft is wonderful for kids who enjoy a bit of a challenge, resulting in a sweet, functional pouch ideal for safeguarding small treasures.
Kid-Made DIY Heart Cards and Notes for Valentine’s Day
Explore some creative ways to spread love this Valentine’s Day. through heartfelt, handmade cards and notes crafted by kids. Find new favorites among this charming collection of DIY heart-themed valentines, each offering a unique way for children to convey their affection. Whether your child is a budding artist, a crafty creator, or just loves to spread joy through personalized messages, these card and note ideas are perfect for every skill level.
29. Clay Heart Pins with a Printable Card
Craft unique wearable art with these clay heart pins, each a little masterpiece on a custom-designed printable card. This activity is a hit with children who delight in blending the tactile fun of 3D clay art with 2D graphic design, to create one-of-a-kind valentines.
30. Heart in Hand Valentines
Compose a tender expression of affection with these heart-in-hand valentines. This folk art-inspired project is a lovely choice for little artists looking to create a personal and heartfelt gift for someone special, and an instant classic must-make Valentine’s Day project for art classrooms.
31. Thumbprint Heart Notes
Press a little piece of yourself onto paper with these charming thumbprint heart notes. Perfect for younger creators, this simple heart craft transforms small thumbprints into big-hearted messages, making each note uniquely personal.
32. Painted Bean Mosaic Heart Valentines
Turn an ordinary pantry item into vibrant, textured pieces of art with these painted bean mosaic heart valentines – a fun exploration of textures and colors.
33. Heart Bouquet Card
Gift a garden of love with these Mary Blair storybook-style heart bouquet cards. Blooming with creative collage possibilities, kids will love turning their craft supplies into a heart-shaped card and stunning visual bouquet.
34. A 3D Heart Card
Love leaps off the page with these 3D heart cards. A perfect project for kids fascinated by pop-up art, this Valentine’s paper craft offers a surprising three-dimensional twist on the traditional card.
35. Spinning Heart Valentine’s Day Card
Send hearts spinning with these interactive Valentine’s Day cards. Grab the construction paper to create your own playful Valentine!
36. You’re a Gem Heart Valentines
Add glitz and glam to your day with these sparkling “You’re A Gem” valentines. ART CAMP’s tutorial includes lots of ideas to help personalize this fun heart project – ensuring your little artists will be beaming over their dazzling creations.
37. Valentine’s Day Heart Popup Card
Surprise and delight with these pop-up heart cards. With its surprising pop-up element, this card craft is perfect for kids who want to add an element of surprise to their Valentine’s messages.
38. Secret Message Conversation Hearts
For kids who love to play secret agent…add a hidden message in these conversation heart notes for a fun surprise and interesting scientific process!
39. Woven Yarn Heart Cards
Blend the art of weaving with card-making in these woven yarn heart cards, where patterns and colors intertwine to create a tactile symbol of Valentine’s Day.
40. Watercolor Heart Gift Tags
Personalize your gifts with these beautiful, handmade heart tags. Ideal for kids who love to paint, these Valentine’s Day tags add a personal, artistic touch to any gift.
Heart-Themed STEM Activities for Kids
Merge love and learning with these educational STEM-inspired heart activities. This set of Valentine’s Day challenges and hands-on explorations is perfect for curious minds who love to question, experiment, and discover.
41. Grow Crystal Hearts
Watch chemistry in action as you grow your own crystal hearts. Perfect for aspiring chemists, this activity teaches about crystal formation and results in a beautiful, sparkly heart.
42. A Balancing Heart Toy
Young physicists in the making can explore the principles of balance and stability this heart-themed DIY toy that turns Valentine’s Day crafting into a fun, hands-on learning opportunity.
43. Coding Heart Bracelets
These innovative heart bracelets weave together the fundamentals of coding with the art of jewelry-making, offering a hands-on approach to understanding technology in a tangible, creative (and oh-so-fashionable) way.
44. Jelly Bean Hearts STEM Building Challenge
Transform a treat into a feat of engineering with a Valentine’s Day structure-building challenge. With a blend of confectionery and construction, it invites budding engineers to use their problem-solving skills and creativity to construct sturdy, heart-shaped structures from colorful jelly beans.
