15 Valentine's Day Crafts That'll Make Their Heart Swell With Joy

The Beat Goes On

What makes these hearts so awesome? They have two chambers of surprise treats inside!

1. Fill a pair of reusable Easter eggs with mini toys or candy.
2. Stick them together with a dot of hot glue, wrap crepe paper around them a few times, and tuck a V of rolled-up crepe paper into the bottom for the point. Then keep wrapping, adding flat goodies like stickers as you go.
3. Secure the tail with tape, and it's ready to rock and (un)roll.

Flower Pin

Give that "someone sent me flowers!" thrill to ladies and gents of all ages with blooms that never wilt. These fabric boutonnières come together in three steps, so you can give someone a whole bouquet or pin one on everybody at brunch.

1. Use the flower template to trace and cut 16 petals out of fabric. Layer them in a stack in an asterisk or flower shape.
2. Stitch floss through the center of petals—front to back, then back through. Repeat with a new strand of floss to make a cross. Knot the ends of the two strands together.
3. Cut out a circle of felt. Sew a pin onto it, then use the ends of the floss to stitch the flower onto the circle. Fluff and twist petals in opposite directions to shape the flower.

Wooden Hearts

Spread the love on February 14 or any special occasion: Tuck a few of these wooden hearts into unsuspecting lunch boxes or coat pockets, or dangle one from a doorknob or rearview mirror.

Folding Envelope Hearts

Wrapped in pretty paper, these folded envelopes (sealed with a heart sticker) are sure to send a romantic message to your valentine.

1. Cut a wide heart from paper that has a white side and a patterned side—wrapping paper works well.
2. Lay the heart with the patterned side down. Fold in sides as shown.
3. Fold the top down just above the middle.
4. Turn envelope so flap is at the top, write a message and seal with a sticker.

A Touch of TLC

It's a tall order to make kids' winter accessories entirely from scratch, but it's a snap to add a little sweetener to ones that are already crafted. Warm their hearts (and hands) by sewing a trio of buttons onto each mitten. Stitch pom-poms along the edge of a scarf or follow the weave of a knit hat to overstitch a heart, initial, or any other shape.

Needle-Felted Heart Mug Cozy

Greet someone "Good morning!" with a heart on this adorable cup sleeve. It will protect fingers from piping-hot coffee or tea.

Crayon Hearts

Create a curtain of glowing hearts to adorn a sunny window. These translucent hanging hearts are easy to make from waxed paper and crayons.

Folded Paper Hearts

Show your affection with every pleat of these hearts. The trick to our ruffled valentines is to cut the paper into a capsule shape first. Then fold them accordion-style, pinch them in half, and secure with tape. We made this blushing array from vellum, crepe paper, and pages from a drawing pad. Add a few strokes and splatters of paint, and seal each one with a kiss. Then, set your love notes aflutter.

Painted Bangles

These chic cuffs are so easy and inexpensive to make you can give someone a whole arm's worth. And because they're hand-painted in pretty sunset colors—salmon, blush pink, coral—she'll pile them on all year.

1. Using a flat paintbrush, cover lightweight wooden bangles (purchased at a craft store) of different widths and shapes in a thin coat of satin acrylic craft paint.
2. Working slowly and evenly, brush each in one direction vertically, not horizontally, then set it down on a surface covered in plastic wrap to dry. (To ensure a foolproof application, put your fingers through the cuff to support it and paint the outside first. Then, after it's dry, hold the outer rim to do the inside.)
3. For contrast, paint the interior a lighter color. Give them all a shiny finish by topping the paint with clear high-gloss varnish.

Heart Bookmark

This practical Valentine befits your favorite bookworm.

1. Create a template of a heart, about 1 1/2 inches wide.
2. Cut out with a utility knife, and trace onto heavy card stock.
3. Copy it at 80 percent, cut out, and trace onto decorative paper, such as wrapping or origami paper.
4. Cut out both hearts, and use a glue stick to secure smaller patterned heart to center of the larger one; let dry.
5. Finally, trace bottom half of inner heart with a utility knife, cutting through card stock beneath. Then your valentine can slip pages between the hearts.
   

Felt Coffee Cup Sleeve

Give a new meaning to "wearing your heart on your sleeve." A reusable coffee cup sleeve will protect fingers from piping-hot joe—and the environment from yet another discarded cardboard java jacket. All it takes is felt, pinking shears, and a quick seam.

1. Cut felt with fabric scissors, wrap it around a coffee cup, pin it in place, and slide the cup out.
2. Machine-sew the sleeve closed; trim its seam with pinking shears, leaving 1/4-inch excess.
3. Cut out hearts with scissors; glue to the sleeve.

Floating Heart

This "floating" heart makes for the perfect Valentine's Day craft. It features pale shades of easily obtainable blossoms, such as carnations, mums, and hyacinths. 

1. Using a variety of flowers adds textural interest. Arrange five spiky flower frogs into an approximate heart shape, affixing them to the bottom of an empty shallow bowl with floral adhesive (or use floral foam cut into a heart).
2. Cut the stems of 12 to 18 assorted flowers to the same height as the rim of the bowl. Fill the bowl partially with water and insert flowers, following the heart shape.

Heart-Shaped Pot Holders

Creating heart-shaped pot holders is a charming way to add whimsy and color to your beloved's kitchen's décor.

Stuffed Hearts

Deliver pillowy treats made from pink and orange tissue paper and white parchment (yes, the kind you bake with) and stuffed with your favorite candies and a secret message.

Heart Doilies

Dress up a sweet tea party with handmade doilies in rosy hues—the secret material? Paper napkins!

1. Position a prefolded square paper napkin so that the closed corner faces you.
2. Fold right corner toward left corner and flatten, forming a triangle.
3. Fold left corner toward triangle's longest side and flatten, forming a narrower triangle.
4. Using scissors, cut a convex arc from triangle to create top of half a heart.
5. Cut off bottom of triangle from left to right to create lower heart half, leaving at least 1/4 inch intact on right edge. (Left side of triangle will be center of a heart.) Unfold.
6. Repeat with napkins in several colors, varying position of cuts to create doilies in different sizes.