When Valentine’s Day rolls around, kids always need cards to hand out in class. Little ones usually give Valentines to their friends in other activities and playgroups, too. Sure, the grocery store’s seasonal aisle is always filled with those cutout, ready-made cards. Store-brought Valentines are always an option whenever you’re short on time, but what if your kiddos don’t like any of the choices or want to make their own?
Thankfully, there are DIY Valentine’s Day cards for kids that are simple and inexpensive to make. Don’t worry if you’re not super crafty. We’ve got fun ideas for cute and easy Valentine’s Day cards you won’t have to stress about.
DIY Valentine’s Day cards for kids
If the thought of writing out 20 Valentines fills your kiddo with dread, head to the grocery store aisle and find a box that works. Filling in the to and from line will be enough of a chore. Some kids feel differently when Valentine’s Day is coming up on the calendar. Many kids absolutely love writing out Valentines and want to create their own individual ones for classmates. Here are do-it-yourself Valentines card ideas kids can have a blast putting together for their class for Valentine’s Day.
Paper red heart Valentines
For a low-stress Valentine, all you need is red construction paper, markers, and an assortment of stickers. Make a template for a small to medium-sized heart. With younger kids, trace and pre-cut the hearts. Older ones can trace and cut out their own. Kids can decorate one side with Valentine stickers and use the other side to write on.
Some teachers prefer kids to simply write who the Valentine is from, while others like the card addressed, too. A basic Valentine will have to and from along with the appropriate names. Kids can write Happy Valentine’s Day in marker on the front or use stickers. If you don’t mind a glitter mess, glitter markers can be used to put a festive touch on the handmade Valentines.
Hershey Kiss Valentines
This Valentines idea is quick and easy. All you need for these DIY Valentines for kids is a bag of Hershey Kisses and a plastic heart bag. You can find Valentines treat bags online or at your local dollar store. Some are self-seal treat bags, while others come with ties. Have your child fill each bag with a handful of Hershey Kisses.
Get medium-sized heart stickers and have your child print from and their name. If your kiddo isn’t writing yet, you or an older sibling can write out the hearts. Once each bag is filled and sealed, kids can put a from sticker on each. This DIY Valentine is a perfect pick for younger kids who aren’t writing yet or those who want to make their own, but don’t want something more crafty.
Cookie cutter Valentines
To make these DIY Valentines, you will need washable red paint, a cookie cutter, and white construction paper. Pink construction paper works, too. If you want to use thicker paper, cardstock is a good choice, but pricier. Fold and cut each paper in half until you have enough Valentines for the class, along with a few extra. Cover the table with a plastic, throwaway tablecloth or newspaper for an easy cleanup. Then, put red paint on a paper plate. Dip the heart-shaped cookie cutter into the paint and press onto the paper. It helps to have kids do a couple of practice ones first.
Kids can do one heart print in the center or get creative with the heart designs. Either will look great. Allow the heart prints to dry before addressing the cards. To and from can go under the heart or on the back. Since paint is involved, you may want to plan two sessions to complete these Valentines.
Lollipop Valentines
For these super-simple Valentines, get some red construction paper and a bag of lollipops. The Dum Dum Lollipops are always a hit, or you can use heart-shaped lollipops. Have kids pre-cut and trace small to medium-sized hearts using red construction paper. Then, address each heart to its recipient. Finally, kids can use scotch tape to attach a lollipop to each heart.
Another way is to fold the heart in half and use a hole punch to make a hole. The lollipop stick slides through the hole in the folded heart. To secure the stick, you can add a small piece of scotch tape to the back of the heart.
Watercolor Valentines
Kids love to paint, and watercolors are always a great choice because they don’t make a huge mess. To make watercolor Valentines, all you need is white paper and a watercolor paint set. Fold and cut white construction paper in half and then fold each half into a card. Set up a painting area with a plastic tablecloth from the dollar store you can toss or reuse.
Kids paint the front of the cards with the watercolors to make hearts or whatever they’d like to share with their classmates. Allow the cards to dry. On the inside, kids can write Happy Valentine’s Day and who the card is from. Another way is for kids to paint Happy Valentine’s Day on the inside after the front of the card is dry. When using paint, it’s always a great idea to plan days to complete the DIY Valentine’s Day cards.
Tips for creating DIY Valentines
Before choosing which do-it-yourself Valentine, think about which style will work best for your kiddo. Each child is different. Some will be excited at the prospect of creating homemade Valentines for classmates, while others won’t be. If your kiddo isn’t into it, store-brought ones or the Hershey Kiss Valentines bags are great options. Be sure to check with the teacher’s Valentines instructions first. Some teachers want kids to address and sign the Valentines, while others just want them signed to make delivery easier for small children.
Making and addressing Valentines for the entire class is a big job. So, don’t feel pressured to do it all in one night. Spread the project out over the week prior to February 14 or the weekend before it will be celebrated in school.
Don’t stress if the Valentines don’t come out perfect. Kids are always super excited to get Valentines in school. It’s always an energy-filled day where the kids go home happy.
Many of us have fond memories of receiving those boxed Valentines when we were in elementary school. It’s a fun way to celebrate February 14 with your classmates. Some kids, however, don’t like the boxed ones and want something different. My kiddos never did and tried finding hockey and soccer-related Valentines. The alternative is DIY Valentine’s Day cards for kids. These five options are simple and relatively inexpensive. Creating do-it-yourself Valentines with your kids is also a fun way to bond and enjoy some quality time together.
