Easy Valentine’s Day Decorations

I often get to the end of January andrealize that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and we didn’t do anything fun to decorate. Not this year! Valentine’s Day decorations are going to get 3 weeks instead of their usual 1! lol

When it comes to crafts and decorations with the kids, I am all for simple, cute, and I don’t have to keep it for next year. Paper crafts fill my needs perfectly! Here are some easy paper Valentine’s Day decorations that my kids enjoyed helping me make and when Valentine’s Day is over, you will most likely find these in the garbage. We will have fun making them again next year!

 You can probably figure these out by looking at the pictures, but just in case….here you go!

Project #1: Heart Fan

What You Need:

• At least 12 sheets of scrapbook paper (if you use solid colored sheets or card stock you only need at least 6)
• Stapler
• Hole puncher
• Scissors
• String to hang it. (I used floss)

Directions:

Step 1:This is really simple. It is 12 sheets of scrapbook paper stacked together. Make sure that every two sheets of paper is facing pattern side out (so the first 2 hearts’ white sides are facing each other, and 3rd and 4th hearts’ white sides are facing each other, etc.). If you are using solid paper or card stock, do not worry about how the paper is facing. =)

Step 2: Cut one large heart and use it for the stencil for cutting the other hearts. Cut all the hearts and pile them back together

Step 3: Fold the first heart in half (so you know where the middle is).  Staple the whole stack together down that line. Then fold your sheets out (white sides together) to spread the hearts apart. Keep folding them out until you get the look you want.

Step 4: Then tie a string to it to hang. Use a hole puncher to create holes to tie the string to.

Step 5: Hang and enjoy!

Project # 2: Heart Wreath

What You Need:

• Paper (Scrapbook paper is fun, but leaves a white inside)
• Scissors or paper cutter
• Stapler (optional – I use it because it is easier)
• Glue
• Paper clips or clothes pins (if you are not using the stapler)
• String

Directions:

Step 1: Cut your paper into strips 1 – 1.5 inches wide and 6 – 8 inches in length. The longer your strips of paper the larger your finished heart is. Once you choose your width and length, keep it the same.

Step 2:The large heart is made of mini hearts made from 2 strips of your cut paper. Take a strip of paper and touch the edges together (see below) anddo the same with the 2nd strip. Bring all your ends together to create a “mini heart” and staple it together OR glue it together and use a clothes pin to hold it together until it is dry. I use the stapler because it is quicker and easier for my little helpers.

Step 3: Continue on making all your “mini hearts”  – about 8 hearts per side (depends on the size you want your final heart to be). Once all the mini hearts are finished, attach them together (see picture below) to create 2 strips of mini hearts. If your hearts are not too small a stapler works fine here, too, otherwise glue away! This is why a stapler is easier…there is a lot of time waiting for the glue to dry!

Step 4: Connect these two strips together at the bottom with the stapler. See picture in Step 5.

Step 5: Create a strip of 2 “mini hearts”. This strip will help attach the 2 long strips together. See the arrow below in the picture.

Step 6: Bring the top ends of each strip in (if it is not long enough, add more “mini hearts”). Then attach using the small strip. I found it easiest on the small strip of 2 hearts to fold the heart ends and insert one side into each heart coming in (so the right side of the heart went into the middle of the right side’s top “mini heart” and the left did the same on the left strip’s side) If you look closely at the picture where the arrow is, you can see it. I tried stapling everything together at this point, but found glue much more effective. Use paper clips or clothes pins to hold everything together.

Step 7: Tie with string and hang!

ENJOY!!!