valentines

Heart Doily Gnome Valentines

February 5, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky 4 Comments

_______

These adorable heart doily gnome valentines will add a major dose of cuteness to your holiday décor. Little learners can review shapes while you work on the project. And wouldn’t the valentine crafts look great displayed together on a classroom wall? To make the papercraft super easy, I’ve included a free printable for downloading below.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Supplies To Collect

For the gnome valentines, gather the following supplies:

4-inch red paper heart doilies
6-inch white paper heart doilies
red, white, and grey cardstock
cardstock in different flesh tones
valentine scrapbook paper
8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock or construction paper
heart paper punch
black felt pen
glue stick

_______

Making The Heart Doily Gnome Valentines

Steps to create an adorable heart doily gnome valentine.

_______

There’s a bit of cutting to do in order to set up this valentine gnome craft. The good news is that it can be completely made of paper, keeping the project low cost. If desired, download this free template for the shapes.

Heart gnome template to use to make adorable gnome valentines.

_______

Heart Gnome Valentine PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

_______

Tip: Construction paper or cardstock works best for the papercraft.

Cut an oval nose and two circle hands from flesh-colored paper, and punch or cut a small heart “pom pom” from white. Snip a heart valentine (the smallest one on the template) from red paper, and two oval shoes from grey. Finally, cut a curved, pointy hat from the scrapbook paper of choice.

Using a glue stick, adhere the red heart doily upside down near the bottom of an 8 ½ x 11-inch sheet of sturdy paper. This heart will be the lower body of the gnome.

Glue the large white heart right side up halfway over the red lacy one to serve as a beard.

Note: The heart doilies help make for an exquisite craft, but they can easily be substituted with paper ones. Included on the template are two heart shapes that can be used instead.

Center the flesh-colored oval in the middle of the top of the white heart for the nose.

Creating this huggable valentine gnome will be fun for the whole family. Free printable included for easy crafting.

_______

Paste on the scrapbook paper hat.

Write a message on the smaller red heart with a black felt pen. Then glue it to the white one.

Adhere the circles to serve as hands holding the valentine heart, and the white heart to the tip of the curved hat for a pom pom.

Glue the grey ovals on the bottom of the red doily heart to become shoes.

_______

Multicultural Heart Doily Gnome Valentines

Multicultural heart doily valentine gnomes that are fun for the whole family to make. Free printable included for easy crafting.

_______

The heart gnomes can be crafted in different flesh tones, making the project multicultural. And while putting together this craft with little learners, heart, circle, and oval shapes can be discussed.

Adorable multicultural gnome valentine with exquisite heart doilies taking center stage.

_______

Tip: Paint samples work well for the nose and hands, as they come in so many flesh tones.

_______

Sweet multicultural gnome valentine with exquisite heart doilies taking center stage.

_______

Six Gnome Facts

Gnome ornaments and crafts have been extremely popular in the last few years. If you are interested in finding out a little more about these mythical beings, here are a few facts:

Gnomes are legendary creatures originating in European stories.
They are small men with pointy hats and long, white beards.
These imaginative creatures live in dark, rural places such as forests or underground burrows.
Gnomes are considered to be industrious, kind, and wise.
Guarding the earth and wildlife is important to gnomes.
Garden gnomes originated in Germany in the mid-1800s and are prevalent today.

_______

You are going to love creating these huggable gnomes! Tag me on Instagram with your creations and I’ll share them in my stories!

_______

Multicultural heart doily gnome valentines that are fun for the whole family to make. Free printable included for easy crafting.

_______

More Valentine’s Day Activities

Valentine’s Day Light Table

Valentine’s Day Treasure Blocks

Valentine’s Day Water Play

Valentine’s Day Gingerbread Cookies

Valentine’s Day Musical Instruments

Valentine’s Day Playdough Activities

Valentine’s Day Jewelry on the Light Table

Valentine’s Day Sensory Tubes

Woolly Valentine’s Day Crafts

Valentine’s Day Process Art

Ladybug Wand Craft

Scissor Skill Heart Collage

Painting With Chocolate

_______

[Read more…]

Scissor Skill Heart Collage

February 10, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

A simple but effective activity to plan is a scissor skill heart collage invitation. Early learners will be able to explore luxurious craft supplies with unique properties and textures and complete a display-worthy project.

_______

Craft Supplies To Collect

Gather craft supplies that can be cut and glued in the color scheme of your choice. I feature traditional Valentine’s Day hues, but any color scheme would work beautifully. Cut the materials a little smaller if desired, but keep them large enough for little ones to trim some more.

Luxurious craft supply tray for heart collage crafts.

_______

Included in this first compartment tray are:

pipe cleaners
crepe paper
tin foil
metallic purple paper
foam strips
heart patterned ribbon strips
thin and thick ribbon strips
lace
paper doily pieces
white and red bead garland
heart garland
scissors

Red, pink, and white craft supply tray for heart collage projects.

_______

This second craft supply tray holds:

pink and white crepe paper
rose petals
foam pieces
Valentine’s envelopes
white yarn
cream lace
paper strips
red, gold, and white ribbon
white bead garland

_______

Making The Heart Collage Projects

Cut large hearts from fadeless construction paper.

_______

Divide up the craft supplies into small trays.

Set up stations with a craft supply tray, pair of scissors, paper heart, white glue, and glue paddle.

Invitation to cut and glue luxurious craft supplies to make a heart collage.

_______

Invite early learners to cut the supplies and glue them onto their hearts.

After the embellished hearts dry, hot glue a bow onto each one. Add loops of thin ribbon for hanging the crafts.

Scissor skill heart collage made by cutting and glueing luxurious craft supplies.

_______

This scissor skill heart collage project gives little ones a chance to strengthen their finger muscles while learning how to cut and glue a variety of craft supplies. And the collaged hearts are sure to be treasured by loved ones.

Scissor skill heart collage projects made by cutting and glueing luxurious craft supplies.

_______

[Read more…]

Woolly Valentine’s Day Crafts

February 6, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky 3 Comments

Soft and dreamy woolly sheep Valentine's Day crafts decked with hearts and pompoms. The crafts make heart-tugging keepsakes.

_______

Here are two, oh-so-cute woolly Valentine’s Day crafts your little learners will be excited to make, and loved ones will be elated to receive.

_______

Supplies To Collect

_______

purple, pink, red, and white pompoms
white glue and glue paddle
paper, foam, or sticker hearts
8 ½ x 11-inch white or cream cardstock paper
12-inch x 12-inch cardstock paper
sheep template
glue stick
scissors
hot glue gun

_______

Making The Woolly Valentine’s Day Crafts

Print the sheep template onto 8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock.

Cute sheep template for farm or holiday crafts.

_______

Sheep PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

_______

Set the template on a table and invite your early learners to add sticker, paper, or foam hearts to the sheep’s body. Then invite them to glue pompoms to the head. Your little charges will love the chance to use soft and showy pompoms in art.

Cute woolly sheep craft for Valentine's Day. Free printable included.

_______

Print this version to include the header “I Woolly Think You’re Special.”

Cute woolly sheep template for a Valentine's Day craft.

_______

Woolly Sheep PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

_______

Or cut the sheep out and have your little learners decorate one. Afterward, mount the sheep onto complementary pieces of 12-inch x 12-inch cardstock paper using a glue gun. Add a “woolly” Valentine’s Day saying of choice.

Soft and dreamy woolly sheep Valentine's Day craft.

_______

[Read more…]

Painting With Chocolate

February 8, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

You read it correctly: this blog post is about painting with chocolate. It’s easy, it’s fun, and your workspace will smell divine. The activities featured have a process art focus. A few embellishments will make the art display worthy or ready to give away.

Fingerpainting, ice cube painting, and brush painting with chocolate. The process art hearts can be turned into valentines to give away. Art and Science activities for all ages.

_______

Supplies To Collect

hot chocolate powder
cocoa powder
chocolate sprinkles
bowls and spoons
sturdy white paper
waterproof felt pen
ice cubes
tray for ice cubes
paintbrush
container of water
doily heart
decorative 12-inch x 12-inch cardstock
ribbon
plastic (or real) rose
small plastic pouch
chocolates

_______

Activity One: Painting With Chocolate And Ice Cubes

Freeze different sizes of ice cubes.

Cut a piece of sturdy paper into a large heart shape. Optional: Write the words “You and Me + Chocolate” on the heart with a waterproof felt pen.

Scoop hot chocolate powder and cocoa into bowls. Add spoons.

Set out a tray of slightly melted, very wet ice cubes along with the paper heart and bowls of chocolate ingredients.

Invitation to paint with ice cubes, cocoa, chocolate powder, and chocolate sprinkles. An all-ages art and science activity.

_______

Start the activity off by saying that the powders are “mystery paints.” Ask your child to guess what the paints might be. Smelling the powders will give the answer away pretty quickly.

Invite your child to scatter hot chocolate powder and cocoa on the heart-shaped paper. (Chocolate sprinkles can be added later.)

Painting activity using ice cubes to swish around cocoa, hot chocolate powder, and chocolate sprinkles.

_______

Cocoa and hot chocolate added to a heart shape. Ice cubes can be used to swish the powders around.

_______

Ask your child to swish the powders around the heart with ice cubes, which will make spreadable chocolaty paint.

Offer a paper towel to dab on wet spots if desired. The pattern on the paper towel will add texture to the heart painting.

_______

Heart painting made by swishing ice cubes through cocoa and hot chocolate powder.

_______

Optional: Near the end, your child can add chocolate sprinkles to the heart. This will lead to a discovery that they make it harder to move the ice cubes around.

_______

Activity Two: Brush Painting With Chocolate

Painting with cocoa and hot chocolate powder. The powders are moved around with a paintbrush dipped in water.

_______

Brush painting is a less messy option if there isn’t much time for cleanup.

Invite your child to scatter hot chocolate and cocoa on a paper heart.

Offer a container of water and a paintbrush. Encourage your child to add water to the dry ingredients and paint the heart.

A paper towel can be used to soak up excess liquid.

Gorgeous chocolate heart paintings made with water and hot chocolate and cocoa. — Swoon-worthy hearts painted by preschoolers.

_______

Activity Three: Fingerpainting With Chocolate

The ice cube painting project and brush painting activity can both be turned into fingerpainting experiences. Mixing a higher concentration of cocoa and a little less water results in a fingerpaint-friendly paste that is luscious to spread around. Chocolate sprinkles can be added to enhance the sensory experience.

Fingerpainting with water added to hot chocolate powder and cocoa. Chocolate sprinkles can be included in the mix.

_______

Painted Heart Valentine

Adding a few embellishments will turn a chocolaty heart into a valentine to give away or art piece for display.

The brush-painted version is my favorite for turning into a keepsake. Any extra dry powder can be scraped off with a kitchen scrubber before the heart is added to a craft valentine.

Write the words: You And Me + Chocolate on a doily heart.

Use a glue gun to attach the doily to the painted heart.

Mount the heart on a 12-inch x 12-inch piece of decorative paper.

Add a bow and a real or crafted rose.

Chocolate heart painting added to a valentine to give away.

_______

Or add a bow and small pouch with chocolates.

_______

Art, Science, and sensory learning come together in these easy-to-do painting with chocolate activities. Your early learner will certainly be excited to try them.

_______

[Read more…]

Valentine’s Day Heart Art

January 21, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

This Valentine’s Day heart art project features an oversized valentine with a very personal touch. Lipstick in “notice me” colors adds to the excitement of making the picture.

_______

For this post, I purchased low-cost lipstick in as many hues as I could find. If you already have lipstick in a variety of colors, you will save in preparation time.

_______

Supplies To Collect

lipstick colors in a few different shades
large white circle or heart-shaped doily
foam sticker hearts
adhesive gems
glue stick
sharpie felt pen
two sheets of 12-inch by 12-inch cardstock (in colors that complement each other)

_______

Lipstick shades used for a Valentine's Day paper craft. Lipstick prints are the highlight of the oversized valentine.

_______

Making The Valentine’s Day Heart Art Picture

Help your child apply lipstick and make lip prints on the doily. You can suggest a different color for the top and bottom lips for added fun.

Invite your child to decorate the doily picture with foam sticker hearts and adhesive gems.

Write some loving words on the doily, or have your child do so.

Assist your child in gluing the doily heart onto the cardstock square of choice.

_______

As an alternative, you can use a heart-shaped doily. Have your child make lipstick prints on it and follow the rest of the instructions above.

Or the cardstock with the decorated doily could be cut into a heart shape and then glued onto a complimentary piece of sturdy paper.

_______

Purple, reds, and pinks are prominent in these arty valentines. Choose materials that go with the lipstick hues you have available. Colors like turquoise and/or gold for lips and complimentary art supplies can be showcased wonderfully in this craft.

To view lipsticks that come in unexpected colors, browse through a post from allure.com. Experimenting with unusual shades or making rainbow lipstick prints will add dramatic flair to this valentine’s keepsake.

_______

[Read more…]