Holidays & Entertaining Holidays Valentine's Day 36 Creative Valentine's Crafts for Kids, Teens, and Adults Find many Valentine's kid crafts easy enough for kids to get hands-on, plus ideas for teens or adults to get crafty too. By Morgan Noll Morgan Noll Morgan Noll is a digital home editor for Real Simple covering home, real estate, and holidays. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on December 09, 2022 Close Photo: Philip Friedman Valentine's Day may only be celebrated for 24 hours, but nothing says you can't go all out for the day of love—especially if you have an itch to tackle Valentine's crafts. Crafts for kids are always great, but they don't have to be just for little ones. Nowadays, adults and kids alike can get in on the joys of crafting, especially around V-Day. Homemade Valentine's card ideas are one way to tap into your creative side but fun crafts—either as easy decorations or thoughtful homemade gifts—are another way to put your imagination to work. On February 14, in addition to (or instead of) Valentine's Day gifts for him, consider getting crafty. What are some good Valentine's crafts? This list of craft ideas (with supply lists and instructions) has Valentine's Day crafts for kids, teens, and adults—and many are good for all ages. (Do be sure little ones are supervised at all times while crafting.) For teens or tweens just getting into crafting, they'll love making these crafts as decor or affordable gifts for friends. Younger children will enjoy helping you or working on a few crafts by themselves. Involve little ones in decorating or stringing garlands; if they're attending a school party or you're hosting one at home, they'll love pitching in to get the party space Valentine-ready. Pick your craft, gather your crafting supplies, and get started! The 45 Cutest Valentine's Day Gifts for Kids of 2024 01 of 36 Gold Tone Box Philip Friedman Any time is a good time for color-blocking. Make a color-blocked box for a modern-looking gift that fits into even the most minimalist home. What You'll Need Rectangle box with hinged lidPlastic wrapGold spray paint Steps Cover a portion of the box in plastic wrap, ensuring it fits tightly. You can experiment with how you wrap the plastic—diagonally or straight—this will determine the gold-tone design.Spray paint the box. Remove the plastic wrap once the box is completely dry. Craft developed by Morgan Levine. 02 of 36 Conversation Heart Brooches Philip Friedman; Styling: Blake Ramsey Colorful enamel pins have once again become a go-to accessory. Create a fun version for Valentine's that will look right at home on a jean jacket or backpack. What You'll Need Natural wood heart shapesAcrylic paint in bright colorsPaintbrushMini alphabet stampsGlueSmall pin backs Steps Paint the heart shapes with bright acrylic paint, let dry, then add the phrase of your choice with mini alphabet stamps.To complete the craft, glue on small pin backs. 100 Love Quotes to Help You Express How You Feel—for Valentine's Day and Beyond 03 of 36 Candy Heart Balloons Philip Friedman Customize balloons for a more personalized set of decorations for your V-Day party. What You'll Need Inflated Mylar heart-shaped balloons (available at party supply stores)Vinyl stick-on letters (available at office supply and craft stores) Steps Purchase inflated heart-shaped balloons from your local party supply store.Attach stick-on letters to each balloon in phrases commonly found on conversation hearts. Craft developed by Blake Ramsey. 04 of 36 Glitter Box Philip Friedman We could all use more glitter in our lives. Use a durable box for your base for a long-lasting bit of sparkle. What You'll Need Small square box with lidGluePaintbrushChunky glitter Steps Apply a thick layer of glue on the top of the lid with a paintbrush.Sprinkle the glitter onto the lid. Let it dry completely.Apply another layer of glue and glitter onto the box. Craft developed by Morgan Levine. 05 of 36 Pop Up Heart Box Philip Friedman Bring your gift box to life with hearts that seem to fly off the lid. What You'll Need Cardboard rectangle jewelry box with lidScissorsPink, purple, and red construction paperGlue dots Steps Cut out heart shapes in assorted sizes. For a small box, you'll need about 30 shapes.Adhere the hearts to the box with glue dots, layering them on top of each other and in different directions. Craft developed by Morgan Levine. 06 of 36 Conversation Heart Key Ring Philip Friedman; Styling: Blake Ramsey Molding clay—and your favorite conversation heart phrases—are the key to this fun Valentine's craft. What You'll Need Molding clayHeart-shaped cookie cutterStamp with small letter stamps or cookie-cutter lettersHole punch or awlKeyrings Steps Roll out molding clay to approximately ¼-inch thick.Cut a heart using a heart-shaped cookie cutter. Stamp (being careful not to cut all the way through) a phrase. Use the hole punch or awl to make a hole in one corner for the key ring.Bake in the oven according to the clay's package instructions. Let cool completely before attaching the keyring. 07 of 36 Fringed Box Philip Friedman If you're passing out goodies—store-bought or homemade, it doesn't matter—help dress them up a bit with a homemade (and reusable) container. What You'll Need Round tin box with lidColored tissue paperScissorsGlue stick Steps Cut ¾-inch wide strips of tissue paper.Fringe the strips horizontally, making each fringe about ¼-inch apart.Glue the strips onto the lid of the box, starting from the bottom of the lid and layering each strip upwards.Trim any excess tissue paper from around the lid. Craft developed by Morgan Levine. 08 of 36 Heart Tote Bag Philip Friedman; Styling: Blake Ramsey Take conversation hearts a little further by embellishing a plain canvas bag with bold pop art that looks like the popular heart-shaped candy. What You'll Need Plain canvas tote bagHeart stencilAdhesive lettersPaintFoam brush Steps Tape a heart stencil to the bag, spell out your message using adhesive letters in the center of the heart, and then paint over the letters to fill the heart shape.To create clean lines, use a foam brush and dab with up and down strokes rather than side-to-side swipes. 09 of 36 Etched Glass Emily Kinni Kids can be involved in the stencil-making step of this craft, creating whatever design or image they like. To make this a gift for them, stencil their initials or name. What You'll Need Craft knifeContact paperTapePlain glassPaintbrushGlass etcher Steps Make a stencil using a craft knife and contact paper. The design can be your initials, a heart, or another Valentine's Day symbol.Adhere the contact paper stencil to the glass cup.Using a paintbrush, apply glass etcher to the inside of the stencil, directly on the glass.Remove the contact paper. The etcher will have eaten away at the glass, and you'll be left with a beautiful design! Craft developed by Morgan Levine. 10 of 36 Heart Top Truffle Box Philip Friedman Gift homemade chocolate truffles in a homemade box—what could be more apt? What You'll Need Cardstock Box template {PDF} Scissors Glue stick Steps Print and cut out the box template. Trace and cut out from the cardstock.Assemble the box, folding the paper where the single lines appear on the template. Cut slits where the bold line appears on the template—this will help you fasten the heart top together. Secure the sides of the box with a glue stick. Craft developed by Morgan Levine. 11 of 36 Conversation Heart Crayons Philip Friedman; Styling: Blake Ramsey Making crayons may sound like a difficult and dangerous project, but with a bit of adult supervision, it's a great way to recycle those broken nubs you have floating around in the craft bin. What You'll Need Round or heart-shaped baking trayExtra or broken crayonsStamp with small letter stamps or cookie-cutter letters Steps Remove wrappers from the crayons, break them into small enough pieces to fit in the tray, and fill to the top (use multiple colors to create a fun marbled effect).Use the stamp or cookie cutters to add your favorite conversation heart phrases.Bake at 300 F for approximately 15 minutes. Once cool, remove the crayons from the mold. 12 of 36 Washi Tape Box Philip Friedman Make good use of playful washi tape patterns with this easy Valentine's Day craft. What You'll Need Small box with lid (can be rectangle or square)Assorted rolls of washi tape Steps Use the washi tape to create designs on the lid and the base of the box. Get creative with the design and color combinations—try a grid or diagonal pattern. Craft developed by Morgan Levine. 13 of 36 Emoji Box Philip Friedman Group-chat buddies and kids alike will love getting some treats in a box topped with their favorite emoji. What You'll Need Round tin box with lidYellow, pink, and black construction paperScissorsGlue or double-stick tape Steps Trace the lid of the box onto the yellow paper. Cut out.Cut out two hearts from the pink paper and a "smile" shape from the black paper.Place the yellow circle onto the lid and secure it with double-stick tape or glue. Attach the heart eyes and smile onto the lid to create a face. Craft developed by Morgan Levine. 14 of 36 Conversation Heart Gift Boxes Philip Friedman; Styling: Blake Ramsey If you've already picked out an amazing gift for your Valentine, get creative with the wrapping. Transform a regular heart-shaped box into something reminiscent of the flavors in a box of conversation hearts with a layer of brightly colored paint—white, mint, pink, orange, yellow, and purple. What You'll Need Plain heart-shaped boxPaint brushesPaintStampsRed inkPermanent marker Steps Paint boxes (inside and out). Allow to dry fully.Once dry, use stamps and red ink or red permanent marker to add your own sweet messages to the lids. 15 of 36 Handmade Valentine's Day Party Invite Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Morgan Levine Even a low-key get-together should be unforgettable. Call on the kids to help create this hands-on Valentine's party invitation, which, we admit, may get a little messy. What You'll Need Paper Envelopes Invite (download template) {PDF} Newspaper Washable hand paint Steps Download and print the invite.Place newspaper on a flat surface. Let your child dip their hands into the paint, pressing handprints on the invite. Set aside to dry.Fill in party details. 22 Creative Homemade Valentine Card Ideas 16 of 36 Valentine's Day Party Cup Stickers Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Morgan Levine Every festive occasion needs a signature drink. Whether serving chocolate milk or apple juice, turn paper cups into adorable party props with these custom stick-on labels. What You'll Need Cups Customized labels (download) {PDF} Blank labels Steps Download the labels and print them on sticker paper. (The labels will come with printing instructions.)Pop onto cups or let kids pick their own. 17 of 36 Blooming Cupcake Liners Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Morgan Levine Roses are red, violets are blue—your little Romeo is ready to woo. How can they prove that their love is for keeps? Start with a handmade bud that will stand the test of time. (Pro tip: It's best to keep this flower out of water.) What You'll Need Cupcake liners (in assorted colors)Craft knifePipe cleaners (in green)Craft glue or hot glue Steps Pile 5 to 6 cupcake liners on top of one another. Using a craft knife, poke a hole through the center of the stack.Take one pipe cleaner and apply a dab of hot glue to one end. Then secure one cupcake liner to the glue. Set aside to dry.Once the glue has dried, scrunch the liner closed to create the look of a flower bud.Repeat step 2 with the additional liners, sliding them onto the same pipe cleaner, securing them with glue, and scrunching them together.Wrap the pipe cleaner around the base of the bloom, and bend the pipe cleaner to create a leaf shape. How to Choose Valentine's Day Flowers for Every Personality 18 of 36 Pixie Stick Hearts Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Morgan Levine Cupid has some cute competition. Make an assortment of mini hearts and let the kids give them to friends, classmates, and family members. What You'll Need Construction paper or colorful paper stockScissors (you could also use pinking shears or fancy-edged scissors)Metallic ink pensPixie sticksCraft glue Steps Cut out an assortment of hearts from the paper. Fold the hearts in half and make a small circle in the middle (this is where the pixie stick will slide through).Ask kids to design their hearts with drawings or lovable phrases.Slide the pixie sticks through the hearts.On a separate piece of paper, draw and cut out arrowheads and backs. Attach the top and ends of the bows with glue. Set aside to dry. 19 of 36 X and O Treats Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Morgan Levine Snacktime just got mushy. With these festive-shaped treats, it'll be love at first bite on Valentine's. What You'll Need Ingredients for making treats (marshmallows, rice cereal, butter)Food coloring (if you wish)Wax paperValentine-themed cookie cutters Steps Follow the recipe for making the treats (this can be found on the back of the cereal box). Add food coloring to the mixture, if so desired.Cover a flat surface with wax paper. Transport the mixture onto wax paper and flatten it out. Create designs using cookie cutters.Set wax paper on a tray and pop it into the fridge. 28 Valentine's Day Desserts You'll Love at First Bite 20 of 36 Sweetheart Hair Pin Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Morgan Levine Surprise your little one with a new accessory that coordinates with the party theme. What You'll Need Adhesive felt sheets (in pink, red, and white)Scissors (you can also use pinking shears or fancy-edged scissors)Craft glueMetal single-prong hair clipScrapbooking bows (These are small, pre-made, adhesive-backed. Available at your local craft store) Steps Cut out heart shapes from felt. Make an assortment in two sizes.Remove the adhesive backing and layer the smaller-sized heart on top of the larger-sized one. For extra security, dab a bit of craft glue.Once dry, flip over (small heart facing down) and attach the larger heart to the metal clip. Secure and set aside to dry.Finish off by popping the bow on top. 21 of 36 Pasta Valentines Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Morgan Levine Playing with food is strongly encouraged for this crafting session. Let kids create homemade and heartfelt sentiments from uncooked, heart-shaped pasta (or any noodle that catches your fancy). What You'll Need NewspaperConstruction paper or colorful paper stockCrayon or colored pencilWhite craft gluePaintbrushHeart-shaped pastaSpaghetti (to make the stem) Steps Cover a flat surface with newspaper. Ask kids to write (or draw) their messages on colored paper.Brush glue on one side of the pasta hearts with the paintbrush. Using the line drawings as a guide, attach uncooked pieces to the paper. Set aside to dry. 22 of 36 Heart-Sewn Valentines Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Morgan Levine There's sew much love that goes into making this pint-size paper heart. (It's quite simple if you download our easy-to-print template—promise.) You can set this craft up and kids can do the sewing themselves. What You'll Need Heart template {PDF} Colorful paper stock Scissors Screw punch (awl or thumbtack will also work) Large blunt needle Yarn Steps Download and print the heart template.Using a screw punch, follow the pre-made heart shape and pierce holes over each dot in the paper stock.With a large blunt needle, sew yarn through the holes. 23 of 36 Glittery Snow Globes Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Morgan Levine Turn an empty household jar into a memorable Valentine's Day keepsake in a few simple steps. What You'll Need Empty jar (for this project, almost any size will work: olive, baby food, pickle)Craft glueFloral foam in thin brick size (available at craft stores)Pipe cleanersGlitter Steps Glue floral foam to the jar's lid. Set aside to dry.Create heart-shaped designs out of pipe cleaners. Once work is finished, stick them into the foam strip.Fill the jar almost to the top with water. Add glitter.Attach the lid to the jar; shake it up. 24 of 36 Decorated Cookies for Valentine's Day Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Morgan Levine Traditional party fare with a twist: Before digging into those sugar cookies, let your mini Picasso do a little drawing (or scribbling) with food-safe markers. What You'll Need Wax paperCookiesFood-safe markers or pens Steps Place wax paper on a cool, dry counter, or tray. Place cookies on top.Using the special food-safe marker, let kids design their own cookie creations. 5 Easy Steps to Make Chocolate-Covered Strawberries 25 of 36 "I Like You a Latte" Mug Emily Kinni To involve kids in this craft, let them handle the mug decoration: Less refined (aka more scribbly) designs will let them show off their artistic sides. What You'll Need Plain white mugRubbing alcoholRed sharpieRag Steps Clean the exterior of the mug with rubbing alcohol.Using a Sharpie, write, "I love you a latte" on the front.Let the mug sit for 24 hours.Put it in a cold oven and set it to 450 F. Once the oven reaches temperature, bake for 45 minutes.After 45 minutes, turn off the oven, but leave the mug inside until it has completely cooled. Craft developed by Morgan Levine. 26 of 36 Felt Heart Dish Emily Kinni Big kids might be able to pitch in with this craft; for little ones, have them sit this one out. They'll love it as a keepsake either way. What You'll Need Double-sided fusible interfacingIronFelt (in at least two different colors)Fabric scissorsPaperScalloped scissorsNeedle and thread Steps Iron a piece of double-sided fusible interfacing onto a piece of felt and cut out a heart—this heart will be the inside of the dish. Be sure to consult the fusible interfacing instruction manual.Cut out a paper circle.Peel the backing of the fusible interfacing off of the smaller heart, place the paper circle in the center of the heart, and iron the entire shape onto a contrasting felt piece.Cut around the smaller heart leaving a small border. Use scalloped scissors to create a scalloped edge.Cut darts at the top and bottom of the heart.Stitch the edges of both darted areas together with a needle and thread. Craft developed by Morgan Levine. 27 of 36 Valentine's Necklaces Emily Kinni Let little ones decorate these necklaces as they like; they'll love handing them out at their Valentine's Day party. What You'll Need Small wooden heartsJewelry chainsPaint pensDremel Steps Purchase small wooden hearts and jewelry chains at your local craft store.Use paint pens to decorate the hearts—you can use our designs as inspiration, but feel free to personalize them for your Valentine.Then, use a Dremel to drill a hole in the top of the heart and insert the chain through. Craft developed by Morgan Levine. 28 of 36 Coffee Filter Garland Philip Friedman Make a simple garland from items you probably already have around the house for a subtle festive flair on Valentine's Day. What You'll Need Large glass bowlAcrylic paintLarge commercial coffee filtersWax paperSmall glass bowlPaintbrushScissorsHole punchColorful baker's twine Steps In a glass bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of paint into 2 cups of water.Dip the entire coffee filter into the paint mixture, and then lay it flat on wax paper.Add more paint to a small glass bowl. Dip the paintbrush into the paint, dripping, splattering, or brushing onto the wet filter to create a unique design. Allow to dry on the wax paper, about 2 hours.Fold the coffee filter in half and, starting at the folded edge, cut out a half-heart shape. Unfold.Punch out two holes at the top of the heart, one on each side. Thread hearts onto twine. Craft developed by Blake Ramsey. 19 Garland Ideas for Decorating Your Mantel Every Day of the Year 29 of 36 Doily Candle Hurricane Philip Friedman Making gorgeous, festive hurricane glasses is an easy, fun way to pass a few hours—and if it fits into your home's decor, you can keep them on display year-round. What You'll Need Glass hurricaneHeart doiliesDouble stick tapeScissorsWax or parchment paper Steps Attach doilies to the bottom half of glass hurricanes using double stick tape. You can play with the design by overlapping or trimming as desired.Use scissors to cut wax or parchment paper to fit the outer surface of the hurricane. Wrap around and secure with double stick tape. Craft developed by Blake Ramsey. 30 of 36 Cork Coasters Philip Friedman For a Valentine's craft that's both pretty and functional, try these DIY coasters. What You'll Need CardstockScissors4-inch cork squares (available at office supply and craft stores)PencilCraft knifeThin masking tape (or stickers)Acrylic paint in 4 colorsPaintbrush Steps Draw a heart shape onto the cardstock (make sure your heart is less than 4 inches in size) and cut it out.Place the cardstock heart onto each cork square and use a pencil to trace the shape. Use a craft knife to cut out each heart. (Tip: Use a cutting mat or a thick towel underneath the cork to protect your work surface.)Lay 2 pieces of thin masking tape across the cork heart to create a unique pattern.Paint each resulting section with a different color of paint.Allow the paint to dry, about 1 hour, and remove the tape. Tip: To create hearts (or other shapes) skip the masking tape and adhere stickers to the cork board instead. Then paint the entire cork square with one color of paint. Once dry (about 1 hour), remove the stickers to reveal your design. Craft developed by Blake Ramsey. 31 of 36 Cupcake Toppers Philip Friedman Dress up tasty cupcakes with this simple DIY. What You'll Need Pink cardstockBlack cardstockScissorsGlueToothpicks Steps Cut out heart shapes from the pink cardstock.Cut out two small circles and one small half-moon shape from the black cardstock.Glue eyes and mouth onto the heart. Let dry (about 5 minutes).Glue a toothpick onto the back of the heart. Let dry (about 5 minutes). Craft developed by Blake Ramsey. 32 of 36 Decorative Flower Vase Dyad Photography, Stylist: Kristine Trevino Same old pink stems? Not this year. This bunch of roses is arriving in a creative container. What You'll Need VaseDecorative paperScissorsDouble-sided tapeRibbon Steps Wrap the paper around the vase and cut to the necessary size. Adhere paper to the vase with tape.Get creative and layer ribbon for an extra special touch. Then add flowers. 33 of 36 Frame with Chalkboard Paint Dyad Photography, Stylist: Kristine Trevino Doodles today, "I love you!" tomorrow. This is the perfect Valentine's Day craft for someone who likes to change things up daily. What You'll Need FrameNewspaperChalkboard paintPaintbrushChalk Steps Place the frame on the newspaper in a well-ventilated area. Paint the frame and let it dry.Pop in a favorite photo. Using the chalk, write your special Valentine's Day message. 34 of 36 Paper Garland Strands Dyad Photography, Stylist: Kristine Trevino The kids might be sick of making paper snowflakes, but they're sure to rally behind these new shapes and colors. What You'll Need Assorted paperScissorsNeedle and thread2" scalloped-shaped hole punch Steps Fold 3" to 6" paper squares in half and cut a half heart from the fold.Thread the needle and string hearts together through the top center of the folded paper hearts.Using the scalloped hole punch, make shapes from paper. Thread the needle and string through the opposite sides of each scalloped paper.Add as many hearts and scallops as it takes to reach your desired length. 35 of 36 Mix and Match Votives Dyad Photography, Stylist: Kristine Trevino Give those scraps of paper headed to the recycling bin a second shot to shine. This idea works with all kinds of paper—even your kids' artwork. What You'll Need VotivesAssorted paperScissorsDouble-sided tapeWashi tapeRibbon Steps Wrap paper around the votive for sizing; cut to the necessary length. Adhere strips of paper to the votive with double-sided tape.Be creative and have some fun. Wrap some with just paper and layer others with ribbon and washi tape. 36 of 36 Paper Flower Wreath Dyad Photography, Stylist: Kristine Trevino Think tissue paper is only destined for gift boxes? Think again: This winter, we're putting it on display. What You'll Need ScissorsTissue paperFloral wireStyrofoam wreathHot glue gun Steps Cut tissue paper into 8"x 5" rectangles. Placing the lighter colors on top, stack 4 to 6 pieces of tissue paper on top of one another. Make ½" to 1" accordion folds, creasing with each fold.Fold floral wire and put it over the center of folded tissue and twist.With scissors, trim the ends of the tissue into rounded or pointy shapes. Separate layers one at a time. Hot glue tissue flowers onto a styrofoam wreath. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit