VALENTINE CRAFT FOR KIDS (ADULTS TOO)

EASY, LARGE SIZE (24") PAPER MACHE VALENTINE FOR FRONT DOOR OR WHEREVER NEEDED.  THIS IS AN ESPECIALLY FUN PROJECT TO DO WITH 2 OR 3 KIDS AS THEY CAN EACH PAINT THEIR OWN SECTION AND IT ALWAYS WORKS AS COLOR CHOICES ARE LIMITED. 

MATERIALS ~

LARGE PIECE OF CARDBOARD, PURCHASED IN SHEETS FROM ART SUPPLY/FRAMER/JANITORIAL SUPPLY OR A LARGE BOX AT LEAST 24" ACROSS.

A HEART PATTERN, 24" ACROSS.  EASIEST WAY TO MAKE PATTERNS IS WITH NEWSPAPER.  FOLD, DRAW, AND CUT.  TRACE ON CARDBOARD.

LIQUID STARCH OR ANOTHER PAPER MACHE MEDIUM.  I PREFER STARCH AND YOU CAN FIND IT AT SMART AND FINAL OR LARGE MARKETS.  TORN NEWSPAPER STRIPS.

GESSO OR ANOTHER WHITE ACRYLIC PAINT FOR BASE.

ASSORTED ACRYLIC PAINTS, RED, AND OTHER COLORS YOU CHOOSE SUCH AS PINK, MAGENTA, PURPLE, YELLOW, WHITE, AND ORANGE.

WIRE FOR HANGING, AND CLEAR GLOSS ACRYLIC SPRAY OR LIQUID FOR A SHINY TOP COAT.

MARK AND CUT HEART PATTERN.  WE MADE OURS 24" ACROSS BUT ANY SIZE WILL WORK.  TRACE PATTERN ON TO YOUR CARDBOARD AND CUT.  A KNIFE WORKS BEST BUT BE REALLY CAREFUL.  COVER WITH A LAYER OF PAPER MACHE, NEWSPAPER STRIPS DIPPED IN LIQUID STARCH,  SET IT TO DRY ON WAX PAPER AS IT WILL BE EASY TO REMOVE WHEN DRY.  MAKE SURE YOU PUT SOME WEIGHTS ON YOUR HEART HERE AND THERE SO IT WILL NOT CURL.  AS HEART IS DRYING, MOVE THE WEIGHTS AROUND NOW AND THEN.  FRUIT, ROCKS, CANS ALL WORK WELL.

WHEN HEART IS DRY, PAINT WHITE.  YOU CAN PAINT DIRECTLY ON THE NEWSPAPER BUT I FIND COLORS ARE BRIGHTER WHEN PAPER MACHE IS PAINTED WHITE.  I PREFER GESSO FOR THE WAY IT COVERS BUT A WHITE ACRYLIC WILL DO OR EVEN WHITE HOUSE PAINT, WATER BASE.

AT THIS POINT YOU CAN EITHER PAINT YOUR HEART ONE COLOR, SUCH AS RED, AS I DID OR YOU CAN PAINT IT ANY WAY YOU CHOOSE.  FOR THE KIDS I FELT A RED BACKGROUND WAS A GOOD PLACE TO START AS I KNEW IT WOULD TIE EVERYTHING TOGETHER AND IT WOULD MAKE IT EASY FOR THEM TO ADD THEIR OWN DESIGNS.

PUT AN ASSORTMENT OF COLORS ON A FEW PAPER PLATES, YOU WON'T NEED A LOT.  I USE THE ACRYLIC CRAFT PAINTS IN THE SMALL 2 OUNCE BOTTLES SOLD AT CRAFT STORES.  I CHOSE PURPLE, ORANGE, MAGENTA, WHITE, AND YELLOW AS I THINK THEY WORK WELL TOGETHER ON RED. I TOLD THE KIDS THEY EACH HAD 1/3 OF THE HEART TO PAINT THEIR OWN DESIGN AND I SUGGESTED, DOTS, HEARTS, "LOVE", LINES, ANY DESIGN OR PATTERN THEY WANTED.  WITH KIDS, JUST A FEW SUGGESTIONS HELPS THEM GET STARTED AND THEY ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO A LITTLE HELP.

AFTER HEART IS DRY, ADD THE SHINY TOP COAT AND HANGING WIRE.