This heart person Valentine craft is such a fun way to combine coloring, cutting, and a little bit of imaginative play. Using a simple paper heart as the body, kids can create their own cheerful Valentine character — complete with crinkle arms and legs, tiny heart hands and feet, and a big happy smile.
This craft is part of our Valentine’s Day Crafts for Kids series here on Honeybee Homeschool, where we’re sharing simple, hands-on activities that feel doable with young children and encourage creativity along the way.
For more inspiration on letting kids explore and experiment with art, check out The Artful Parent’s guide to process-based art for young children which celebrates creativity over perfection.
Why We Love This Valentine’s Craft
Encourages creativity and self-expression
Great for fine motor skill development
Easy to adapt for different ages
Uses simple, everyday supplies
Combines art with gentle cutting practice
Activities like this heart person craft are perfect for little hands, and PBS Parents shares more about why art activities are important for toddlers and how they encourage creativity and early learning.
This one is especially fun because every heart person turns out completely unique. It pairs nicely with watercolor-style activities like our paper towel heart watercolor craft, which also focuses on open-ended creativity.
Supplies Needed
Printer paper
Scissors (or safety scissors for cutting practice — these plastic ones are great for younger toddlers)
Tempera paint sticks (colored pencils, crayons, or markers also work)
Tape (or a glue stick)
Googly eyes (optional — eyes can also be drawn on)
Black permanent marker
How to Make a Heart Person Valentine
1. Cut Out the Heart Body
Start by cutting a large heart shape from a piece of printer paper. This will be the body of your Valentine heart person. Your child can help with cutting if they’re ready, or you can prep this step ahead of time.
2. Decorate the Heart
Invite your child to color in the heart using tempera paint sticks. These are great for bold color and easy coverage, but crayons, markers, or colored pencils work just as well.
Set the heart aside to dry for a minute if needed.
3. Make the Arms and Legs
Cut four strips of paper — two slightly shorter strips for the arms and two longer strips for the legs. Fold each strip back and forth, square by square, to create crinkle-style arms and legs.
This folding step is wonderful for fine motor practice and hand-eye coordination.
4. Create the Heart Hands and Feet
Cut out four small heart shapes. Your child can decorate these with paint sticks as well. These will become the hands and feet for your heart person.
5. Assemble the Heart Person
Using tape (or a glue stick), attach the arms and legs to the back or sides of the heart body. Then tape the small heart shapes onto the ends of each arm and leg as hands and feet.
Add googly eyes using a small piece of tape, or draw eyes directly onto the heart. Finish by drawing on a smile with a black permanent marker.
If you’re looking for more ideas, our easy DIY Valentine’s garland craft is another favorite for decorating together.
Tips for Success
Safety scissors are a great option if you’d like to incorporate simple shape-cutting practice
Let kids decide where arms and legs go — there’s no wrong way
Tape works well for quick assembly, especially with younger kids
Older children may enjoy adding extra details like hair, patterns, or accessories
This heart person Valentine craft is such a sweet way to celebrate Valentine’s Day while building fine motor skills and creativity. It’s simple, cheerful, and perfect for displaying on the fridge or sharing with someone special.
Be sure to check back for more easy Valentine’s Day crafts for kids — each one is designed to be cozy, creative, and fun to make together.
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