Painting with stencils is a fun way to engage kids in a creative art process. You can easily make a heart shape cardboard stencil for a Valentine painting activity. You'll engage fine motor skills along with creative play.

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Valentine's Day is one of our favorite times of year for crafting. The colors and textures of craft materials are so amazing - pink, red, frilly, lacy - that they provide an instant invitation for kids to engage in art projects. 

A painting activity with heart shape stencils is a perfect go-to activity for a Valentine theme. Kids will love discovering the picture that appears when they lift the stencil off the paper!

Stencils provide a ready-made pattern for transferring heart shapes to paper. They're are easy to make, and fun to use. 

Share homemade cards with family and friends, or make decorations for the home or classroom, to celebrate this special day.

Painting with stencils

1. Make a heart shape template.

Fold a piece of cardstock in half.

Cut out half a heart shape on the fold.

Cut out the center of the heart shape, leaving up to a 1 inch (2.5 cm) border.

If kids are cutting out the stencil, draw two lines before hand with a marker or crayon to guide their scissors.

Unfold the heart shape to reveal a stencil template.

2. Paint with the stencils.

Roll small pieces of tape to place under the edges of the heart stencil, to secure it to a sheet of plain paper. 

Paint inside the stencil - and outside if preferred.

Lift the stencil - carefully! - to reveal the beautiful heart shape!

Make a Valentine collage with various sizes of stencils.

Shake a bit of glitter over the design before the paint dries to make the hearts sparkle.

When the paint is dry, gently brush fingers over the glitter to feel the texture of the painting.

Hang up your paintings to decorate for Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day Pinterest board.

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