Valentine’s Day Craft Ideas for Kids: 13 DIY Gifts and Decorations

It’s a great time to get involved with your kids in making handmade cards for their classmates and family members. Why not try making something handmade? These 13 creative Valentine’s Day craft ideas will help get you started. From simple gifts like personalized stationery and sweet treats to more elaborate projects like homemade photo frames and festive decorations, there’s sure to be something here to suit your needs. So gather the family together and get crafting! Your loved ones are sure to appreciate the effort.

Positive Impact of Making Valentine’s Day Craft with Kids

The positive impact of making Valentine’s Day craft with kids is that it allows them to express their love for others. It also helps in developing their creativity and imagination. Additionally, it teaches them the importance of being resourceful. 

Making DIY Valentine’s Day craft ideas also presents an opportunity for parents and teachers to spend some good quality time with kids. It gives them a chance to bond, express love, and teach children the significance of this holiday.

13 Best DIY Valentine’s Day Gift Craft and Decorations to Make With Kids

1. DIY Flamingo Valentine’s Day Craft Decoration

Materials needed: A pink and white feather boa, pink pipe cleaner, hot glue gun, scissors, and glue.

Instruction:

• Cut the feather boa into two equal halves.
• Cut the pipe cleaner into two equal halves.
• Twist one-half of the pipe cleaner around the top of the feather boa, and then glue it in place.
• Glue the other half of the pipe cleaner to the bottom of the feather boa.
• Bend the top of the pipe cleaner into a heart shape, and then glue it in place.
• Tie a piece of pink ribbon to the middle of the bottom part of the boa, and then tie a matching bow around it.

2. DIY Paper Heart Garland

Materials needed: Red construction paper, scissors, glue, ruler, pencil/pen, clear tape, or stapler.

Instruction:

• Draw one heart on every other piece of the red paper.
• Cut out each heart along the drawn line, cutting through both sides of the paper at once so that you get two identical halves of a heart for each cut you make.
• Turn your stack of half-hearts upside down and flatten them with your hand.
• Gather the half-hearts into a bunch, and then staple or tape them together at the top from one side to another, making sure that all hearts are facing in an upward direction before you connect them with your tape/stapler.
• Shape the paper heart garland into a circle by connecting both ends of the garland with tape or a staple.
• Hang your homemade Valentine’s heart garland in your school classroom, bedroom, or home to add some color and cheer! 

3. DIY Love Bug Friendship Necklaces

Materials needed: a sheet of foam paper (can be found in the floral section at craft stores), red pom balls, black marker/sharpie, scissors.

Instruction:

• Cut out a heart shape from the sheet of foam paper and draw antennae on it with the black marker/sharpie.
• Flatten the red pom ball in between your fingers and then roll it into a smooth ball.
• Place the red ball in the middle of your foam heart and glue both sides of the heart together by sticking them to each other. Your love bug is now ready!
• Cut a piece of string or twine about 12 inches long, and thread it through one end of the pom ball so you can tie a knot at the end of it.
• Cut a second piece of string or twine about 36 inches long and thread that through the other end of the pom ball to tie a knot at the other side.
• Glue your love bug friend onto one side of your friendship necklace so you can wear it around your neck.

4. DIY Valentine’s Day Craft Door Decoration

Materials needed: Construction paper, scissors, pencil/pen, stapler, glue stick, and pink tissue paper.

Instruction:

• Draw a heart shape on your construction paper and cut it out.
• Fold one end of the construction paper up to create a pocket.
• Cut long strips of pink tissue paper and fold them in half lengthwise, then glue the folded end to one end of your heart shape.
• Slide the folded tissue strip into the pocket you made with your construction paper heart, and open it up so that it creates beautiful folds decorated with glossy pink tissue paper when you hang it from your door.

5. DIY Valentine’s Boxes

Materials needed: Brown construction paper, scissors, pencil/pen,  ruler, stapler.

Instruction: 

• Draw half of a heart shape onto the brown construction paper and cut it out along with the folded edge of the paper to make it easier for you.
• Draw another heart shape on the other side of the folded construction paper, cut it out along with the folded edge of the paper again to make two identical halves of your first heart shape, and then unfold your paper to reveal your two matching halves.
• Glue one half of your heart onto one side of a piece of red construction paper, then glue the matching half of your heart onto another piece of red construction paper so you have two matching halves stuck together as one.
• Staple each of these pairs onto another red heart to create a Valentine’s Day card, or glue them together if you don’t have a stapler with you.

6. DIY Valentine’s Jar Handmade Gift

Materials needed: White paper,  scissors, pins/tacks, glue sticks.

Instruction:

• Draw a heart shape on your white paper and cut it out so you have one heart to work with.
• Fold one edge of the white paper up at about ½ inch from the bottom, then fold that same edge up again at about 1 inch from the bottom, and pin a tack to it at its peak. Unfold your paper and you should have a white heart shape with a triangular fold on one of its sides.
• Trace this same shape onto another piece of white paper, cut it out along with the folded edge of the paper so you have another identical white heart shape, and then unfold your paper to reveal two matching halves.
• Glue one half of the first heart onto one side of a piece of red construction paper, then glue the second matching half onto another piece of red construction paper so you have two matching halves stuck together as one.
• Staple each of these pairs onto another red heart to create a Valentine’s Day card, or glue them together if you don’t have a stapler with you.

7. DIY Valentine’s Day Craft Tree

Materials needed: Brown construction paper, scissors, ruler, pencil/pen, glue stick.

Instruction: 

• Draw and cut out three-leaf clover shapes onto your brown construction paper to create one large clover shape.
• Draw and cut out three hearts shapes onto your brown construction paper, then position the heart shapes into the spots of the clover shape where the leaves would be attached to it. Now fold each of the heart shapes in half downwards so you have six smaller hearts instead of three larger ones positioned in the plates of the clover.
• Glue each half heart onto its matching plate so you have six clovers, each with three hearts attached to it.

8. DIY Valentine’s Day Gift Pencil Holder

Materials needed: Pink construction paper or cardstock, scissors, binder clips (you can also use clothespins), glue sticks.

Instruction: 

• Cut out your pink construction paper or cardstock into a heart shape, then cut the other side of the heart out along with its inside to make two matching halves of that same heart shape.
• Unfold your construction paper or cardstock, and glue one half of it onto the back of another piece of pink construction paper or cardstock, then fold that other heart over and glue it shut.
• Open the binder clip or clothespin to reveal a heart shape sticking out of each end, and glue one of them to the front side of your paper to create a Valentine’s Day pencil holder you can hang up with.

9. DIY Valentine’s Day Craft  Bookmark

Materials needed: Brown construction paper, scissors, pencil/pen.

Instruction: 

• Draw and cut out a heart shape onto your brown construction paper and then trace the same shape onto another piece of brown construction paper so you have two matching halves stuck together as one.
• Unfold and fold your first and second heart shapes in half downwards so you have six smaller hearts instead of two larger ones.
• Close glue your final six smaller hearts shut so you have one heart shape with seven hearts attached to it, creating Valentine’s Day bookmark for bookworms in the family.

10. DIY Valentine’s Day Craft  Fishbowl 

Materials needed: Red construction paper, scissors, pencil/pen, glue stick, cellophane bag filled with candy.

Instruction: 

• Draw and cut out a heart shape onto your red construction paper, then draw and cut out another heart-shaped glass or fishbowl shape on the other side of that initial heart you drew/cut out. 
• Unfold your first heart shape to reveal three smaller hearts on each of its sides, and unfold your second heart-shaped glass/fishbowl to reveal the same three smaller hearts on each of its sides as well.
• Glue those two matching halves together so you have one whole Valentine’s Day fishbowl with six small hearts attached to it, and then place some candy inside that bowl before presenting it to your loved one.

11. DIY Valentine’s Lockets

Materials needed: White construction paper, scissors, 1 small heart-shaped candy box (in the baking section of the grocery store), 1 square piece of red construction paper and 1 square piece of black construction paper for each locket made, pencil/pen.

Instruction: 

• Draw and cut out a heart shape onto your white construction paper, then draw and cut one half of the same heart shape onto another piece of white construction paper so you have two matching halves stuck together as one. 
• Unfold both pieces of paper to reveal three smaller hearts on each of their sides. 
• Cut open the front (or top) of the heart-shaped candy box, then close it back up with glue so you have a matching Valentine’s Day locket for your sweetheart.
• Draw and cut out a square piece of red construction paper to fit inside one half of that same locket, and do the same thing with a square piece of black construction paper fitting inside the other half of that same locket.
• Once you’ve got your red and black construction paper pieces cut out, next you’ll want to glue them both inside the matching locket so it looks like a heart with two smaller hearts stuck together as one, which opens up to reveal its contents.

12. DIY Valentine’s Day Craft Photo Holder

Materials needed: Red construction paper, pencil/pen, glue stick, black construction paper, and photo to fit within the smaller heart shape.

Instruction: 

• Draw and cut out a heart shape onto your red construction paper, and then draw and cut one half of the same heart shape onto another piece of red construction paper so you have two matching halves stuck together as one. 
• Unfold both pieces of paper to reveal three smaller hearts on each of their sides. 
• Draw and cut out a 1×1-inch (2 ½ x 2 ½ cm) heart shape onto black construction paper, then close that piece of paper back up again with glue so you have a small heart-shaped photo holder.
• Draw and cut out a square piece of red construction paper to fit inside one half of that same locket, and do the same thing with a square piece of black construction paper fitting inside the other half of that same locket.
• Once you’ve got your red and black construction paper pieces cut out, next you’ll want to glue them both inside the matching locket so it looks like a heart with two smaller hearts stuck together as one, and which opens up to reveal its contents.

13. DIY Valentine’s Day Craft Glitter Jar

Materials needed: Red construction paper, pencil/pen, clear tape or coat hanger wire for each necklace made, glue stick, glitter in a jar with a wiggle lid (or old baby food jar).

Instruction: 

• Draw and cut out a heart shape onto your red construction paper, then draw and cut one half of the same heart shape onto another piece of red construction paper so you have two matching halves stuck together as one. Unfold both pieces of paper to reveal three smaller hearts on each of their sides. 
• Cut open the front (or top) of the heart-shaped candy box, then close it back up with glue so you have a matching Valentine’s Day locket for your sweetheart. 
• Draw and cut out a square piece of red construction paper to fit inside one half of that same locket, and do the same thing with a square piece of black construction paper fitting inside the other half of that same locket. 
• Once you’ve got your red and black construction paper pieces cut out, next you’ll want to glue them both inside the matching locket so it looks like a heart with two smaller hearts stuck together as one, and which opens up to reveal its contents.

Tips To Get Kids Involved in Making DIY Valentine’s Day Gift Craft 

Here are a few tips to get your kids involved in making their own DIY Valentine’s gifts this year:

• Let them choose the heart-shaped template they want to use for their project.
• Help them cut out the pieces of construction paper needed, and let them glue them together.
• Encourage them to decorate their gift however they want, with glitter, stickers, sequins, etc.
• If you’re making a locket or necklace, let them choose the photos or drawings to put inside.
• Let them choose the contents of their DIY Valentine’s Day jar.
• If you’re using a valentine box, let your child design the outside of the box, decorate it with stickers or glitters, then fill it with candy or other treats.
• If you’re making DIY Valentine’s Day cards, let your child design their own cards, then write their names on them.
• Let them choose the photos or drawings they want to put inside their DIY Valentine’s Day locket.

Conclusion

The examples of DIY Valentine’s Day gifts given in this article are perfect for kids who want to get involved in the crafting process. Not only are they easy and fun to make, but your child will love being able to give a handmade gift from the heart that is unique and special just for them. Let them choose the project they want to do, then help them follow the instructions so they can create a one-of-a-kind gift for their friends or family members this year.

Our article 6 Special Mother’s Day Gifts For Every Mother has some gift ideas you can look into. If you are thinking of gift crafts for kids on Christmas, check out this article.