Crafty card ideas to make with your child for Valentine’s Day

The month of February brings with it the spirit of love, when Cupid plucks his bow, propelling golden arrows capable of inspiring love.

On this Valentine’s Day, your child can play the part of the red-cheeked cherub by designing beautiful valentines to send to friends and family. We’ve put together some fun, unique crafting ideas to create one-of-a-kind cards. For each card, you will need a piece of paper, scissors, and glue.

Fun with foil

It’s likely you already have this kitchen essential on hand – foil.

1. Assist your child with cutting a sheet of foil into heart shapes
2. Instruct your child to use non-toxic acrylic paint (Craft Smart, Apple Barrel, Crayola washable) to paint a design overtop the foil heart cutout – try swirls, polka dots, or small hearts… Your child could also simply use a marker to accent the foil on the page
3. Once the paint on the foil hearts is dry, have your child glue the creation onto the front of a folder piece of paper that you’re using as the card
4. Encourage your child to write a message to a family member or friend inside the card

 Love for lace

For this craft, you will need a piece of ribbon or string and markers.

1. Draw a heart on a white piece of paper using a pink, purple, or red color marker
2. Cut out the heart and use a pencil to punch small holes around the edge of the heart shape
3. Show your child how to thread a piece of string or thread through the holes, either framing the heart or creating a crisscross pattern over the front of the shape
4. Have your child glue the heart to the front of the card and write a message inside the card

 A touch of tissue paper

Make your heart design stand out by using some carefully placed tissue paper.

1. Instruct your child to draw a big heart on the front of the card
2. It will be beneficial for your child to write the message in the card now before continuing to the next step
3. Help your child cut a piece of tissue paper into several small squares about 2 inches wide by 2 inches tall
4. Pinch the centers of the small squares so they look like little flower buds
5. Assist your child with gluing the pinched portion of the tissue paper to the inside of the heart drawing until it’s full

 Valentine’s Day card box

You can take this project a step further by helping your child design his or her own card catcher using an empty tissue box, coffee container, or cereal box.

1. Unless you’re using a tissue box, help your child cut a slit into the lid of the coffee container or side of the cereal box
2. Use glue or tape to affix construction paper to the box or container
3. Instruct your child to use markers, glitter, and/or sequins to decorate the construction paper