Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and now is the perfect time to plan ahead and celebrate with students! I love these smaller holidays because they provide an opportunity to break up time spent on longer projects and enjoy a fun, one-day lesson. Everyone needs a break, and these Valentine’s Day art project ideas offer the perfect excuse to include something engaging and festive to celebrate the holiday.
Valentine’s Day Art Projects Ideas in Elementary Art
For elementary art students, celebrating Valentine’s Day is practically a requirement! The day is filled with excitement, from exchanging class Valentines to enjoying candy. Take the chance to make heart-themed art and have some fun with your students.
If You Have One Day:
For a quick yet meaningful Valentine’s Day art project ideas, do a things I love drawing. Have students learn to draw a heart or trace one onto a sheet of paper. The size can vary, but 8.5”x11” or larger is recommended. Once students have their hearts, they fill the inside with things they love.
Supplies:
- Pencil, eraser
- Colored pencils, markers, or crayons
- Heart template (optional)
Instructions:
- Collect supplies: pencil, coloring materials, and heart template (if using).
- If using a heart template, hold the edges down while tracing.
- If drawing freehand, follow heart drawing steps: draw two hills next to each other and connect them with a v or draw a V and connect the top with two hills.
- Fill up the heart with drawings of things they love.
- Encourage creativity with colors!
- Repeat lines, shapes, and colors to create patterns around the heart.
Valentine’s Day Art Project Ideas for Multiple Days:
For those with extra time, consider engaging students with a more detailed project such as a Scratch Foam Heart Print or a Marbleized Heart Pop-Up Card. For these projects you need at least 2 class periods, plan ahead so kids have time to take them home to celebrate the holiday. Both of these Valentine’s day art project ideas are fun for a wide range of art students.
Scratch Foam Heart Print
This printmaking project is ideal for elementary, middle, and even high school students. While younger students may need 2-3 class periods, older students can complete the project in one longer session. Older students can design and print in a single day but still plan to allow one extra day to fold the cards and write in them.
Supplies:
Drawing Activity:
- Scratch foam (4.5”x3” pieces)
- Dull pencils
Printing:
- Red block printing ink
- Acrylic sheet (8”x10”)
- Soft rubber brayer
- Scrap paper (6”x9”)
- White drawing paper (6”x9”)
- Paper towels
Implementation:
Day 1: Drawing for Print
- Introduce students to printmaking.
- Discuss Jim Dine’s heart artwork.
- Practice drawing heart designs.
- Transfer their chosen designs onto scratch foam using dull pencils.
Day 2: Complete Scratch Foam Drawing & Start Printmaking
- Discuss Robert Indiana’s LOVE design.
- Complete foam drawings.
- Start printing: roll ink onto the scratch foam and press onto paper.
- Teacher assists with the printing process, especially with elementary students.
Day 3: Finish Prints & Discuss Process
- Review the project and artist exemplars.
- Have students fold their cards and fill them out to a loved one.
Marbleized Heart Pop-Up Card
This fun and messy project teaches students about printmaking and turning 2D art into 3D forms. This project is also perfect for any age level, students in elementary, middle, and high school will have fun getting messy making marbelized prints.
Supplies:
- White paper (8.5”x11”)
- Scissors
- Decorating supplies
- Trays
- Shaving cream
- Liquid watercolors or food coloring
- Toothpicks
- Plastic rulers or paint stirrers
Implementation:
Day 1: Marbleized Monoprinting
- Spray shaving cream onto a tray.
- Add drops of liquid watercolor or food coloring.
- Swirl with a toothpick to create patterns.
- Press the paper onto the shaving cream.
- Scrape off excess shaving cream.
- Let the monoprints dry.
Day 2: Create the Pop-Up Card
- Fold the marbelized paper in half.
- Fold the paper in half again.
- Open up the card, on the fold line inside the card carefully cut an arc shape while the paper is folded in the opposite direction.
- Pop the cut edge up and refold the card.
- Watch a video on Instagram to see the steps.
- Add decoration to the card and a note to a loved one.
For a bonus Valentine’s day art project ideas with younger kiddos check out the handmade Valentines I made with my son when he was a toddler!
By planning ahead, these Valentine’s Day art project ideas can provide students with exciting and creative ways to celebrate the holiday. Whether it’s a quick one-day lesson or a multi-day endeavor, these projects allow students to express themselves and explore different art techniques while spreading love and creativity!
Thanks for checking out my post in Valentine’s Day art project ideas! Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and TikTok (I have a few tutorials of many of these projects already in my feeds) for weekly visual journal demos and other project ideas. Subscribe here to get freebies, project tutorials, and more straight to your inbox. Until next time!
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