With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, all the big kids are making their Valentines at school. Mommies and daddies are writing love notes. Preschoolers don’t want to be left out. Here are 4 easy art projects & free printables to help you and your little ones spread the love.

One of Camdyn’s favorite things to do is make pictures for the people she loves. She is always busily working on a new masterpiece. I keep a well stocked pint sized art table, so Cami Grace can create new pieces any time the mood strikes. It is our belief that art is an excellent way to improve her mobile skills. Plus it keeps her busy during cold winter months when outdoor play is limited.

For Valentine’s Day we like to do something special, though. I am bringing out the craft paints, markers, and nice paper to create personal pieces for our loved ones. Join us!

Valentine Handprint Projects 

These hand-made expressions of love would be cute as framed artwork gifts or would be lovely gracing the front of a card. Follow the 3 easy steps which apply for both of the 2 projects below.

Love Handprint Heart

I Corinthians 13:7-8 Handprint Heart

Supplies Needed

• 8.5 x 11 Paper
• Printer
• Craft Paint (We used pink, red, & white)
• A Black Sharpe
• 3 Brushes
• Baby Wipes
• Bib
• Highchair

Step 1. Print Lettering

• Print our free hand-painted calligraphy printouts “L_VE” or “I Corinthians 13:7-8” on white or cream paper. PDF files below:

LovePrintout

ICor13Printout

Step 2. Handprint Heart (Side A)

• (Have your baby wipes ready, craft paint is permanent on clothing) First, hold your preschooler’s hand palm up, and put a small amount of craft paint in the center of their hand.
• Then evenly spread the paint over their entire palm.
• Next, angling the printout in front of your preschooler on their highchair tray, carefully plant their hand between the L and the V or above the Bible verse. Push gently but firmly to get good contact.
• Quickly wipe excess paint from your preschooler’s hand.

Step 3. Handprint Heart (Side B)

• Paint your preschooler’s OTHER hand in a coordinating color.
• Angle your printout in the opposite direction and repeat Step 2 over-lapping the thumbs. This will create a heart made of cubby little handprints where the letter “O” in LOVE should be. If you are making the I Cor. 13:7-8 verse, the heart should fit snuggly beside the word Love at the top of the verse.
• Wipe little hand.
• Using your black Sharpe to trace around your preschooler’s handprints makes the heart shape more pronounced.
• You could add glitter or ribbon if you were feeling extra artsy.
• Always remember to sign his or her name to the back of their art to give your preschooler the credit for all their hard work. Also, document the year and your child’s current age. This will help the Valentines receiver to fully appreciate this art piece for years to come.

Valentine Swirl Projects

Preschoolers are great abstract artists when given freedom to paint on their own. A swirly art piece makes a beautiful backdrop for these 2 unique love notes.

Supplies Needed

• 8.5 x 11 Paper
• Printer
• Craft Paint (We used pink, red, & white)
• 1 Brush
• Baby Wipes
• Bib
• Highchair

Step 1. Paint Freestyle

• Set a blank 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper on your preschooler’s highchair tray.
• Add dots of paint all over the paper in 3 colors.
• Hand your lil one a brush and let them go. Encourage them to use swirling motions for well spread coverage.
• Keep a close eye and ready baby wipes for the “Jackson Pollock” in your preschooler.
• Let the painting completely dry and test entire piece for any hidden wet spots before putting your preschooler’s picture through the printer.

Step 2. Print Lettering

• Now make your preschooler’s masterpiece into polished Valentine cards by adding these lovey messages.
• Align either one or both of our free hand-painted calligraphy printouts “My Love” or “Love Never Fails” to print directly over your preschooler’s perfectly dry painting.
• Print using black ink on a high opacity setting. Click the links below for the PDF’s:

MyLovePrintout

LoveNeverFailsPrintout

Step 3. Card Refining

• Fold and crease paper in half to accommodate one or both lovey messages.
• Trim any excess paper around the lettering carefully cutting your card to the desired size.
• Your preschooler has done the hard part of creating a unique art piece, now you can fill the card with heart-felt words to your Valentines. Remember: “We Love because He first Loved us,” so say something to share that love with those around you.
• Sign your preschooler’s name to the back of the card and give them credit for all of their hard work. Also, add the year and his or her current age. This will help the cards receiver to fully appreciate their Valentine for years to come.

Hope you enjoyed creating these 4 projects with your littlest loves. Let us know how your projects turned out or share a fond Valentine’s Day memory in the comments section below. We Love hearing from you!

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