Do you decorate your home for Valentine’s Day? As a homemaking and design blogger, it can sometimes seem like everyone redecorates monthly. So I asked this same question on my Facebook page last week, and was relieved to see that most of the responses were a resounding “No!”
But that doesn’t keep me from getting an itch to make at least one Valentine’s Day decor craft each year. The problem is that I’m am often too tired from the holidays to do anything about it.
Then, after posting a fun roundup of Valentine’s Day kids craft ideas last Thursday, I realized something. Why not get the kids involved in decorating for Valentine’s Day?
So I looked through my craft stash and found a few items that I knew would work together perfectly.
I started with this mini pallet that I bought from Target’s craft section last year and a bottle of Martha Steward gray chalkboard paint that has been in my craft stash for years. Since most of our decor is gray with blue undertones, and this is more of a greige, it went unused. But it’s the perfect shade for a pallet. And since it’s chalkboard paint, I can change it up throughout the year!
Next, the kids and I gathered some old craft paper and covered the white sides with loads of crayons.
T came up with the idea of rubbing the edges with crayons to create a dramatic edge.
T and I covered one sheet with words like “Love” and “Heart”, layered on a few hearts and then filled in the remaining white space with her special edge effect and with some more crayon rubbings. L did her own thing with an abstract pattern of scribbles. Even the baby got in on the action with a large heart-shaped crayon…that is until he tried to eat it.
Then, T and I cut out as many hearts as we could. Big, small, itty bitty, we were cutting hearts out for at least a half hour.
Finally, it was time to bring it all together. I hung the mini pallet a few inches above the ledge we use instead of a mantle and used tiny dots of Blu-Tac to apply the paper hearts in a heart shaped pattern.
The heart shape is definitely cute on its own, and I love how our coloring session peeks out on the sides of the hearts as you walk by. But we had so many extra hearts, that I couldn’t just stop there. A little trail of hearts on the wall and a double layer of hearts on my new galvanized steel vase was perfect.
I love that we’ve got a little Valentine’s Day vignette to spruce the house up in these bleak winter months. Don’t get me wrong, there’s not likely to be another Valentine’s Day decor craft going up this year. But at least we had a fun afternoon crafting, and I can actually say that I’m not just admiring other people’s decor anymore.
Tips for Involving the Kids in Home Decor Crafts
- Choose a simple decor concept. Clusters of the same shape are easy to make look good
- Keep the craft easy. From preparation to clean-up, don’t use too many materials or supplies. Coloring, freestyle paint projects, and cutting practice for older toddlers and kids are perfect ways to
- Embrace imperfection. Instead of worrying about making everything look exactly the same, I encouraged my girls to make messy scribbles and cut imperfect hearts. Honestly, that was a lot more fun and made the final result more unique.
- Be flexible. Sometimes a project doesn’t turn out the way you expect. Try looking at it a different way, or changing your plan a little bit.
- Mix in other decor elements. Adding in one or two printables and some greenery can take your decor from “Nice” to “Wow”!
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Your project is just darling. I love the way it turned out. My favorite projects are always the ones that involve the kids.
Thanks so much Tammy! There’s something so much sweeter about a project that your kids helped to make.
Super cute! Love how the hearts extend beyond the pallet. Sharing. Visiting from Tutorials and Tips party.
Thank you so much! And thanks for visiting!
OK, this looks super easy and something that I could indeed do with or without the kids help here. Oh and I don’t usually redecorate monthly either. But I will sometimes put out one or two pieces for an upcoming holiday, such as Valentine’s Day instead 😉
It’s definitely very easy. Afterward, I was thinking about how it would also look adorable on a white canvas if the mini pallets weren’t available anymore.
It turned out great. Good job! I love art projects that involve the little ones. I can’t wait until Peachy is big enough to enjoy doing something like this. #happynowlinkup
It is difficult when they’re very young, but before you know it, you’ll be covered in more artwork than you know what to do with!
This is adorable…and possibly something I could actually do!
If my 7-year-old can do it, so can you!
super duper cute!!! Can you come here and help me too =) Haha. #happynowlinkup
Haha! Only if you’re willing to take on several bins of unused craft supplies too!
Those hearts made me smile! thanks for sharing on the Pleasures of the NW’s DIY Party!
There’s nothing better than bringing a smile to someone’s face. Thanks so much for hosting, and for stopping by!
This is so adorable! I can’t wait to try it with my littles! #happynowlinkup
Let me know if you do try it with your littles! It was great to get everyone involved in one way or another.
I remember doing crafts with my kids when they were younger. I have seemed to lost my creativity since they have gotten older. The pallet board was such a cute and simple project. Love it!
I kind of think my husband hopes I’ll reduce my crafting obsession when the kids get older! Cute and simple is what I’m all about. Who has time for complicated anyway?
This is adorable! What a great idea, can you come decorate my house for me some day 🙂 Pinned!
Be careful what you wish for. The rest of the house doesn’t look half as cute.
Hi. Twochicksandamom chose your craft to feature from the Valentine’s Day Link Party. Thanks for participating!
http://twochicksandamom.blogspot.com/2017/02/valentines-day-link-party-features.html
Thank you so much!