Sharing all the details of how to make this adorable & fun DIY heart craft which is easy enough for toddlers & preschoolers to make in no time for just a few dollars!
You can easily hang this DIY heart craft from a tree or string it up as garland to decorate your fireplace mantel to decorate for Valentine’s Day.
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DIY Fun & Adorable Heart Craft
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We had a cold icy and rainy day in Philly on Sunday so I had this great idea my little girl & I would make homemade valentine hearts for a valentine tree on the living room fireplace mantel.
I keep picturing happy moments of creating with her…I even had a fire going in the fireplace just to set the mood… Lots of mommy daughter crafting time…Well it didn’t turn out quite the way I thought, ha!
The Pinterest recipes we tried were a total disaster!!!
A whole hour wasted… and some tears shed!
2 Pinterest Fail Heart Craft Recipe Ideas with Cornstarch, Baking Soda & Glue…
Total Pinterest fails!!!
After 2 attempts at Pinterest recipes which just didn’t work… so frustrating!
One heart craft recipe called for mixing baking soda & cornstarch, & the other one mixing glue and cornstarch.
Determined for this mommy daughter bounding time NOT to be wasted, my preschooler & went to our local craft store & bought some modeling dough instead.
Listen, save the frustration of making the dough for the hearts & buy it.
It’s only a few dollars a bag so you are not going to break the bank.
Supplies Needed for a DIY Heart Craft with Modeling Clay
I bought 2 Different Modeling Clays
- Crayola Model Magic (Crayola Air Dry Clay 2.5 Lb Bucket, White
)
- DAS (DAS Air Hardening Modeling Clay, 2.2 Pound Block, White (387500)
)
- Heart Cookie Cutter Shapes
- String or Yarn to Hang (I used white)
- Wax Paper or Oil Cloth to Keep Your Table Clean
- Rolling Pin
- One Chopstick
- Stamps & a Stamp (*optional for decorating)
)
)Step by Step Instructions for How to Make a Successful DIY Heart Craft
Step ONE – Roll out your Modeling Clay
I first laid down an oil cloth mat for Audrey & wax paper for me to keep our kitchen table clean.
We each rolled out our modeling clay with a rolling pin to about 1/4 inch thick.
Step TWO – *OPTIONAL Decorate Your Hearts
She decorated hers with some princess stamps & a stamp pad before cutting them out.
I left my hearts plain white.
Step THREE – Cut Out Your Heart Craft
Using different heart cookie cutter shapes, we cut out our DIY heart Crafts.
Step FOUR – Make a Hole in each Heart
We used some chopsticks to make a hole in the hearts before they dried.
Step FIVE – Hang Your DIY Heart Craft
To hang Audrey’s hearts, we strung some yarn through each heart & hung them behind our bed.
DIY Heart Garland
Thoughts on the 2 Different Modeling Clays
Crayola Modeling Clay – I like how white the Crayola dough stayed and it dried quickly.
It was also lighter in weight than the DAS modeling clay.
We strung hers up the next day and made some heart garland for her bed.
This dough definitely seemed more fragile than mine when we strung it up with some yarn a few hearts didn’t make it but no worries because Audrey had made plenty.
I think it looks really pretty and girly hanging over her bed.
For a girl that brings little ripped pieces of paper home from school because she doesn’t want to throw anything away I have a feeling the hearts will be up way passed the next holiday!
DAS Modeling Clay
I thought about getting red clay but decided to keep them white instead.
I have been decorating with a lot of white lately.
I just added a simple white ribbon and hung them on some branches left over from my Christmas dining room.
The DAS Clay has really held up year after year & looks as good as the day we made the heart craft.
It took a little longer to dry than the Crayola but was definitely worth it.
DIY Heart Craft Hanging from Branches for Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day Fireplace Mantel Decor
I put the hearts on my living room mantel along with some heart garland I had made out of card stock a few years ago.
I also love this heart warming pine I got on sale at Restoration Hardware.
They really help to get the fires started when Jason isn’t around.
Don’t you just love a real fire!!!
So cozy! I have my hot chocolate ready too!
The book page wreath I made a few years ago from an old paperback book. (see how to make one of your own HERE)
The wreath is just book pages folded lengthwise and then in half glued and pinned on a styrofoam wreath form.
I added a pink primrose to my Longaberger basket.
I need those glimpses of spring in the middle of winter.
Don’t you?
Love this little man and his dog!
In the kitchen I hung my red stained glass heart from Sturbridge Yankee workshop.
It gives me something pretty to look at as I load the dishwasher for the hundreth time this year, ha!
And lastly, my old chalkboard.
I love to change quotes monthly in hopes of memorizing a bible verse or inspirational saying… I thought this verse from Romans one would be a good one to challenge me to love :-).
I hope this inspires you to create a DIY Heart craft of your own to decorate with & enjoy this Valentine’s Day!!!
Especially if you are looking for a craft to do with a favorite toddler or preschooler in your life!
by Tara Lehman
I used my clay heart craft on our family room mantel this year.
And I even added one to our DIY – Pallet Wreath for our Valentine Décor Post :).
Don’t forget to pin my Heart Craft for Valentine’s Day!!!
Some More Valentine Ideas You Might Enjoy
LOVE YOUR ‘LOVE TREE’ –
Thanks so much Bess!
I like your ideas.
Thank you so much for stopping by Linda!
These are so cute! I think Miss Eva and I will be making them. I love that they are white too 🙂 So sorry the recipe didn’t work out, that’s so annoying!!!
Once I gave up on trying to make the recipe and just bought the clay we had a lot of fun making the Valentine hearts:). I hope you and Miss Eva will enjoy making them:).