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Safety first: Always supervise little ones, and skip small parts for kids who still put things in their mouths. Please read our play safety notes before you start.
Key takeaways
- Pick by group: handprint, footprint, fingerprint or no paint.
- Use washable non-toxic paint and set up cleanup before you open the paint.
- Brush paint on the palm or foot instead of pressing into a pool.
- Ink pads and stickers are cleaner choices for fingerprint and no-paint crafts.
- Write the date and age on the back of each craft in pencil.
In this post23 sections
- Quick picks: which Valentines craft for which toddler
- How to do handprint and footprint crafts without a meltdown
- Handprint Valentines crafts for toddlers
- 1. Handprint heart card
- 2. Handprint love bug
- 3. Handprint flower bouquet
- 4. Handprint butterfly with heart wings
- 5. Handprint dinosaur valentine
- 6. Handprint keepsake card for dad
- Footprint Valentines crafts for babies and toddlers
- 7. Footprint heart keepsake
- 8. Footprint love fish
- 9. Footprint butterfly card
- Fingerprint and thumbprint Valentines crafts
- 10. Thumbprint heart balloons
- 11. Fingerprint heart tree
- No-paint Valentines crafts for toddlers
- 12. Contact paper heart suncatcher
- 13. Big sticker heart collage
- 14. Coffee filter heart
- 15. Tape-resist heart painting
- A 4 week Valentines craft plan
- FAQ
Quick picks: which Valentines craft for which toddler
These 15 toddler Valentines crafts are sorted into four groups: handprint, footprint, fingerprint and no paint. Every craft lists ages, prep time, mess level and supplies, so you can pick one for your child and your day. Some links on this page are Amazon links, and we may earn a small commission if you buy.
| Craft group | Best age | Prep | Mess |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handprint (5 crafts) | 12 months and up | 5 to 10 minutes | Medium |
| Footprint (3 crafts) | 6 months and up with help | 5 to 10 minutes | Medium |
| Fingerprint and thumbprint (2 crafts) | 18 months and up | 5 minutes | Low |
| No paint (4 crafts) | 18 months and up | 5 to 15 minutes | Low to medium |
How to do handprint and footprint crafts without a meltdown
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Step 1: Set up the clean-up first
Put a damp cloth, a towel and a bowl of warm water next to the paper before you open the paint.
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Step 2: Use a spoonful of paint
A thin layer in a muffin tin or on a foam plate is enough. Too much paint smears the print.
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Step 3: Paint the palm or foot with a brush
Brushing the paint on keeps the print crisp and is gentler than pressing a hand or foot into a pool.
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Step 4: Press and lift straight up
Press the hand flat from the palm to the fingers, then lift up without sliding. Help with a steady hand for babies.
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Step 5: Clean up right away
Wipe with a damp cloth first, then wash with soap and warm water. Date the back of the paper in pencil.
Handprint Valentines crafts for toddlers
1Handprint heart card
Press two red handprints with the thumbs together so the gap in the middle makes a heart. Fold the card in half and add a short message.
Ages: 12 months and up.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: white cardstock, red washable paint, brush, damp cloth.
- Safety: stay with your child while the paint is out and wipe hands before they touch their face.
Wipes off most hands and table tops.
2Handprint love bug
Print one red handprint with fingers pointing down. Add black fingerprint dots, draw antennae and a tiny heart. It works as a card or a fridge decoration.
Ages: 18 months and up.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: cardstock, red paint, black washable marker, brush.
- Safety: use a washable marker with the cap on until you are ready.
Wipes off most hands and table tops.
3Handprint flower bouquet
Print 3 to 5 handprints in pink and red and add green stems with a brush or marker. This one is a good gift for grandparents.
Ages: 12 months and up.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: white paper, pink, red and green paint, brush.
- Safety: one color at a time so your toddler does not mix paint into the wrong cup.
Wipes off most hands and table tops.
4Handprint butterfly with heart wings
Print two handprints in pink and purple with the thumbs at the center. Add a paper heart for the body and draw antennae.
Ages: 18 months and up.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: paper, pink and purple paint, a paper heart, glue stick.
- Safety: use a glue stick instead of liquid glue to cut the mess.
Wipes off most hands and table tops.
5Handprint dinosaur valentine
Turn a green handprint into a dinosaur: the thumb is the head and fingers are the spikes. Draw an eye and a smile, then glue a paper heart in its hands.
Ages: 2 years and up.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: cardstock, green paint, a paper heart, marker.
- Safety: keep scissors out of reach and cut the heart yourself.
Wipes off most hands and table tops.
6Handprint keepsake card for dad
Make one small handprint heart on the front of a folded card and keep the inside blank. Write the date and your child's age on the back in pencil.
Ages: 12 months and up.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: low to medium.
Supplies: folded card, red paint, brush, pencil.
- Safety: if your toddler tries to eat the paint, switch to a stamp pad.
Holds paint without curling.
Footprint Valentines crafts for babies and toddlers
7Footprint heart keepsake
Press two footprints heel to heel so the toes tilt out and the middle forms a heart. This is a favorite for baby's first Valentine's Day.
Ages: 6 months and up with help.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: cardstock, red washable paint, foam brush, baby wipes.
- Safety: have a second adult help hold the foot steady and wipe paint off right away.
Wipes off most hands and table tops.
8Footprint love fish
Print a footprint with toes pointing to the side, add an eye and a tail, and surround the fish with paper hearts as bubbles.
Ages: 12 months and up.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: medium to high.
Supplies: blue paper, pink and orange paint, paper hearts.
- Safety: do this on a towel or in the bathtub area for easy cleanup.
Wipes off most hands and table tops.
9Footprint butterfly card
Print two pink footprints with the heels together and draw a simple body and antennae with a marker.
Ages: 6 months and up with help.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: folded card, pink paint, marker.
- Safety: keep the paint off the card edges so the card folds cleanly.
Wipes off most hands and table tops.
Fingerprint and thumbprint Valentines crafts
10Thumbprint heart balloons
Press two thumbprints side by side and tilt them to form a heart. Draw a string for each heart and a bunch of strings tied together.
Ages: 18 months and up.
Prep: 5 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: cardstock, washable ink pad, marker.
- Safety: a washable ink pad is easier on small hands than wet paint.
Cleaner than paint for fingerprint crafts.
11Fingerprint heart tree
Draw a tree with a trunk and branches, then have your child add fingerprints for leaves. It makes a good wall decoration.
Ages: 2 years and up.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: cardstock, ink pad, black marker.
- Safety: draw the tree trunk yourself and let your child do the fingerprints.
Cleaner than paint for fingerprint crafts.
No-paint Valentines crafts for toddlers
12Contact paper heart suncatcher
Tape a sheet of contact paper sticky side out on the window. Cut a heart outline from the center and let your child press large torn tissue paper pieces onto the sticky side.
Ages: 18 months and up.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low.
Supplies: clear contact paper, tissue paper, tape, scissors.
- Safety: use large tissue pieces only, no small sequins or beads.
Sticky on both sides so a window works as a canvas.
13Big sticker heart collage
Draw a big heart on a sheet of paper. Hand your child a sheet of large dot stickers to fill the inside.
Ages: 18 months and up.
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: none.
Supplies: paper, large dot stickers, marker.
- Safety: pick large stickers that are not a choking hazard and stay near.
Easy to peel for small fingers.
14Coffee filter heart
Color a flat coffee filter with washable markers, mist it with water so the colors bleed, let it dry, then cut a heart from it.
Ages: 2 years and up.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: low to medium.
Supplies: coffee filters, washable markers, water spray bottle.
- Safety: an adult sprays the water and cuts the heart shape.
Soaks up color and dries flat.
15Tape-resist heart painting
Tape a heart shape on paper with painter's tape. Your child paints over it in any color. Peel the tape when dry to see a white heart.
Ages: 2 years and up.
Prep: 10 minutes.
Mess: medium.
Supplies: paper, painter's tape, washable paint, chunky brush.
- Safety: an adult places the tape and peels it off.
Peels off without tearing the paper.
A 4 week Valentines craft plan
You do not need to do all 15 in one week. Spread them over four weeks before February 14, with one craft a day, two days a week.
| Week | Craft focus | Crafts to pick |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Fingerprint and thumbprint | Thumbprint balloons, heart tree |
| Week 2 | No paint | Sticker heart, coffee filter heart |
| Week 3 | Handprint and footprint | Handprint heart card, footprint heart |
| Week 4 | Gifts for family | Dad card, flower bouquet, butterfly |
Valentines craft shopping list
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Washable non-toxic paint
Typically $6 to $14
Wipes off most hands and table tops.
Check price on Amazon for Washable non-toxic paint -
White cardstock
Typically $8 to $14
A sturdy base for prints.
Check price on Amazon for White cardstock -
Washable ink pad
Typically $6 to $12
A cleaner option for fingerprints.
Check price on Amazon for Washable ink pad -
Clear contact paper
Typically $6 to $12
Window suncatchers and sticky art.
Check price on Amazon for Clear contact paper -
Large dot stickers
Typically $4 to $8
Easy for small fingers.
Check price on Amazon for Large dot stickers -
Baby wipes
Typically $5 to $10
Quick cleanup after prints.
Check price on Amazon for Baby wipes
More ideas for February? See Valentine sensory bin ideas for toddlers, easy Valentines crafts for kids and handprint Christmas crafts for more keepsakes.
Frequently asked questions
What Valentine crafts can toddlers do?
Handprint hearts, footprint butterflies, thumbprint balloons, sticker heart collages, contact paper suncatchers and coffee filter hearts all suit toddlers, with an adult doing the cutting.
How do you make a handprint heart?
Brush red paint on both palms, press them side by side with the thumbs together and lift straight up. The gap between the hands forms a heart shape.
What paint is safe for toddlers?
Choose washable paint labeled non-toxic and stay close. Wipe hands and feet right away, and use an ink pad if your toddler tries to taste paint.
When should I start Valentines crafts?
Plan them for January and early February. Four weeks before February 14 gives you time for one craft a day, twice a week.
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