Homemade Valentine Cards - Fun Project for Kids

Valentines Day holds special memories for me because my mom always spent time helping me make my own Valentines when I was a child. She taught me all of the techniques her own mother taught her. I never handed out store bought cards.

Not only did I get to spend special time with my mother, but I also had a lot of fun creating the beautiful cards. When I took the cards to school to share with my friends and classmates, my colorful cards always stood out from the flimsy, store bought valentines.

To make this time consuming project go smoothly, be sure to gather your supplies ahead of time. If you have leftover hearts, cards, or other supplies, simply store everything away for next year's cards.

You will want to make a lot of these before you start making the cards. Make them in different sizes - small, large, long, short, fat, skinny - and different colors. Your children can help you cut the hearts out as long as you have child-friendly scissors for them (and they will have fun doing it).

First, fold your paper because you will want to work along a crease. Unless you want a huge heart, don't fold an entire piece of paper in half. Fold it so it will be a good width for half of a heart.

Next, starting at the crease, draw half of a heart. Then, keeping the paper folded, cut along the line you just drew. Unfold your heart.

To make your hearts a little more fun, you can even fold them in half and cut smaller hearts out of them.

As you practice this, you will find you don't even need to draw the heart before cutting.

How to Make Base Cards

Making the base cards is really easy. Basically, choose the size you want to make, and cut them out.

For a bigger card, fold your paper in half lengthwise (so the shorter ends meet each other). Unfold and cut along the crease. Then, fold each half lengthwise to create your card.

If you want a smaller card, fold the paper in half lengthwise. Instead of cutting, though, you will want to fold it again, so the paper is creased into four rectangles.

Now, cut along the creases. You will have four rectangles. Fold these into cards.

Here are some tips on creasing paper.

The Traditional Cards

I’m calling these the traditional cards because they are the most basic ones I made as a child.

Supplies:

• Base cards
• Cutout hearts
• Glue
• Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
• Decorations (buttons, ribbon, lacy paper, etc.)

Assembly:

Decorate each card with cutout hearts and other decorations. Write a little note and/or draw a picture inside each card.

You can also cut a heart out of the fold in one if the base cards. Set the heart aside, but glue the cut card inside of a card of another color. When you open the card, you will see a heart. To fancy it up, glue a piece of lacy paper between the two cards, so you will have a lacy heart.

Flower Heart Cards

These adorable cards are super easy to make, and way too cute.

Supplies:

• 4 cutout, cardstock hearts for each card
• 1 hole puncher
• Glue
• Lollipop

Assembly:

Stack the hearts together, then punch a hole about ¼” from the bottom. Now, position the hearts so they look like flower petals, lining the holes up. Glue the petals together around the holes. After the glue is dry, insert the lollipop through the hole. Write your Valentine message on the heart petals.

A Handful of Valentines

These sweet cards will definitely be unique no matter who makes them!

Supplies:

• Colorful construction paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Markers
• Decorations (like ribbon, candies, cutout hearts)

Assembly:

Trace the little hands onto the construction paper, and then cut them out. Simply decorate the cards by drawing and gluing on fun stuff.

It might seem like quite a project, but making these cards is worth it. You will be creating unique cards, and making wonderful family memories. Plus, you will encourage your children to be more creative and imaginative.

When you help your kids make these cards, I bet you will start feeling more like a kid too! Let this project help you get into the Valentine frame of mind.