Heartcatcher DIY

As soon as the new year has come and gone, I start to get really excited for Valentine’s Day. It’s funny: I appreciate V-Day much more now that I’m married with four kids than I ever did when it was all about romance. Hot dates and jewelry be damned, I’ll take a good excuse to use hot pink paint and eat conversation hearts with my kids (Nathan, don’t misinterpret: I’ll always love a LITTLE something on the 14th!).

We made these over the weekend, when I needed a craft that I could break up and we could do around meals, nap times, etc. Though the older monkeys are at an age where they can really get into a project, I’m still limited to about 20 minutes at a time before they ask what’s next (and I am the one left immersed and interested with the baby neglected and chewing on a marker at my feet).

These heartcatchers (I totally just coined that word) make great decorations around the house, over a door knob, or as a little V-Day trinket for teachers and the loves in your life.

MATERIALS:
Watercolor paper
Watercolors + brush
Stapler
Scissors
Glue
Yarn/ String
Beads, feathers (or anything that’s fun to hang)

1. Paint! I like water colors for this project, because they dry quickly and you can make lots of fun effects using a limited color palette. Also, it’s hard for kids to mess up watercolors: they always look great. Let the watercolor dry completely (this can be expedited with a hairdryer if you want to speed things up).

2. Cut the paper into 1” strips vertically. Kids can do this too – it’s ok if they’re not perfect.

3.Fold the strips in half, with the painted side in

4. Make a hanger out of a piece of yarn by tying a knot in the ends of a 5-6” length. Use another length to string beads, feathers, etc. Secure them to the string with a dab of glue. Glue an I love you circle above the decorations.

5. Fold the knot of the hanger into the center of a strip and staple it to secure.

6. Pull the loose ends of the V around to meet at the bottom and match the crease of another paper strip to the bottom where they meet. Staple.

7. Pull the loose ends around again and secure the yarn above the circle where they meet at the bottom. Staple. Trim the yarn and add a dab of glue at the point of the heart over the yarn so it doesn’t come out.

8. Hang anywhere, or give away to make someone’s heart beat a bit faster.

We used sea salt to make our watercolors a bit crazier. If you sprinkle it on the color collects around the salt. Let it dry then brush it away for a mottled/ marbled effect. It’s tactile (and super cool according to Ella).