Homemade Valentines! Toddler-Style

Because I <3 art projects, and I <3 Valentines Day, two simple painted valentines your toddler will enjoy!

Valentine 1: Marbled Heart

It's not original, but it's construction paper. It's kludge-y. And so cute!

Supplies:

Construction Paper in Valentines-y colors

Scissors

Sharpie

Small-medium sized Box

Acrylic Paint

3 Marbles

Foil or Wax Paper

Step 1: Cut construction paper into a bunch of rectangles by halving the paper until you have your desired size and amount of cards.

Step 2: With a sharpie, draw hearts in the middle of the rectangle. They don't have to be perfect!

Step 3: Have child place the card in the box, then squirt some dollops of paint in the box around the card.

Step 4: Allow child to wiggle the box back and forth, running the marbles through the paint, then back onto the card.

Step 5: Take shirts off because you can see by how they are starting to paint their fingers that this is going to go south quickly!

Step 6: Step back and enjoy the full on finger and tummy painting session! (I mean, you can't get a more washable paint than acrylic! So don't fret too much!)

Step 7: Since the backsides of the cards are bound to get some sort of paint on them, I recommend placing them on foil or wax paper to dry so that they do not stick to your counter. After they've dried you can add a note in sharpie and sign their name. ^_^

Valentine 2: Sponged Hearts

This one takes more time per card, so is perfect for that special someone...in our case, DADDY!!!

Supplies:

Construction Paper (preferably white)
Scissors

Easel or Window

Tape

Paper Plates

Acrylic Paint in various valentines-y colors

BIBS!

Sponges

Puffy Paint (acrylic, but pen style)

Step 1: Fold your construction paper in half and cut out half a heart on the seam so that it opens into a full one.

Step 2: Tape to an easel or window, somewhere paint will wash off easily when it doesn't quite make it to the card.

Step 3: Arrange different colors around the circumference of a paper plate as a mock pallet.

Step 4: BIB THOSE BABIES!!!

Step 5: Hand them a sponge and their pallet and let them go to town!

Step 6: Paint usually makes it on the front of the card so it is safe to rest on the counter to dry. At this point, write a cute note and sign their name with the puffy paint, and allow to dry.

I recommend the easel/window placement, versus a table top because it's a different angle to improve the hand-eye coordination, and also works on the supinating wrist motion!

So it's not the most creative card, but kids love sponges, and bonus activity at the end is washing out the sponge and watching all the paint disappear down the drain.