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As a mom, one of my favorite things to do is to create precious memories with my little one, especially during special occasions like Valentine’s Day. In today’s day in age, handmade Valentines are on the outs and store-bought Valentines are the majority. And while there is absolutely nothing wrong with that (hello busy mom life), handprint hearts are an adorable, easy toddler craft for you to create and share this Valentine’s Day.
I remember growing up and making all of my Valentine’s. We never bought any! My mom had a Valentine’s kit she would get out every year and we would spend an afternoon making a Valentine for each and every kid in the class. It was fun, personalized, and creative.
But seriously, what could be sweeter than seeing those chubby little fingers covered in paint, and eagerly stamping them in the middle of a heart? It’s a simple and fun craft that you can whip up in a jiffy and is sure to bring a smile to all.
Supplies needed for your Valentine’s Day craft:
- Red or pink construction paper
- Scissors
- Washable red or pink paint
- Large heart-shaped doilies (optional)
- Elmer’s Glue (optional)
Cut the Heart Shape
The size of the heart you need is going to depend on whether you’re using a doily or not. You’ll want to make sure you get large doilies and the heart inside is big enough for your toddler’s hands to fit. I used a 10-inch white heart-shaped doily and it was the perfect size for my toddler’s hands. I got my doilies at the Dollar Tree but you can also find them on Amazon here!
To cut out the exact size heart I needed, I cut the heart out of the middle of one of the doilies I wasn’t using. After that, I traced the heart on each pink piece of construction paper and then cut it out. Voila! Perfectly sized and shaped heart for the center of my doily.
If you are not using a doily for your craft, you can make the heart any size you would like. You could go on Microsoft Word or Google Docs and by using the shapes function, insert and customize the heart to whatever size your heart desires (LOL)!
Painting Time
Next up is the fun part for your toddler! Make sure you lay out all of your hearts in a row upside down. You want the palm of their hand to be towards the top of the heart with their fingers pointing downwards towards the point.
After I laid all of the hearts out in a row, I put some Crayola washable red paint into a small bowl and used a paintbrush to paint my daughter’s hands one at a time. I repainted her hand after stamping each heart. After we were done with her right hand, we washed up and went on to do the same with her left hand.
I had to be quick with the hand stamping part due to my toddler wanting to smear all the paint around! Once she laid her hand down I gave it a gentle press and then continued to the next one. She had so much fun with it and I had peace of mind knowing it was washable!
Once we filled the hearts with cute little handprints, we let them dry before completing the rest.
Combine all the Pieces
If you have decided to go the doily route, once your handprinted hearts are dry, it’s time to glue them together! I used Elmer’s school glue, but a glue stick would also work well. After applying the glue, I laid something flat on each of them to make sure they were stuck down tight, edges and all.
Once they were dry, using a fine-tipped marker, at the bottom of the heart I wrote my toddler’s name and the year along with Happy Valentine’s Day!
Ta-Da! Your handprint Valentine’s Day toddler craft is complete!
See, wasn’t that super easy?
Other Optional Add-Ons
Glitter
Who doesn’t love a little bit of glitter? Glamorize your handprint heart by adding some sparkle! It would be super cute to outline the heart in glitter.
Googly Eyes
Add some googly eyes to the palm of your toddler’s hands and draw on a smile below! This would be a cute, quirky way to decorate your handprint hearts!
Candy
Pair your handprint hearts with your toddler’s favorite candy. There are many different treats you could include this Valentine’s Day as I mention in my post Embracing Naturally Sweet Moments: Dye-Free Alternatives for Valentine’s Day. Here I mention some great alternatives to candy, but also dye-free candy options as well!
Laminate It
Want to ensure your handprint heart treasure lasts forever? Opt to laminate your masterpiece! Laminating your toddler’s crafts will help keep them safe so you and your loved ones can enjoy them for years to come. Having a laminator on hand comes in handy for lots of things- think birth certificate, social security card, your favorite recipe, etc. You get the point! Investing in a laminator is just a good idea for a mom.
In the midst of busy mom life, I love to create these adorable masterpieces along with my toddler. This toddler craft is easy, quick, and fun!
Each handprint is a precious reminder of my littles growth and the love we share. Some handprints were perfectly placed, while others were delightfully smudged, showcasing the innocence and spontaneity of childhood. As we worked together, I cherished every moment, knowing that these simple joys would become cherished memories to treasure in the years to come.
As we admired our masterpieces, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for these precious moments spent with my little one. In a world filled with distractions, taking the time to create something together was so special.
This Valentine’s Day, I encourage you to embark on your own crafting adventure with your little one. Whether it’s handprint hearts, homemade cards, or baking sweet treats together, the joy of creating and sharing love knows no bounds. So, embrace the mess, cherish the laughter, and celebrate the beauty of motherhood one craft at a time.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
XOXO,
Katie
