A Valentine's Day Heart Art Project Your Kids Will LOVE Making - Free Printable Included!
The process of creating this heart art project is just as magical as the end result! This swirled paint heart art uses my free printable heart outline (or you can simply draw one yourself!) to create Valentine's Day art that my kids absolutely LOVE making.
Whether you need an activity for a Valentine's Day classroom party or just want a festive at-home craft, this heart art project requires hardly any setup while creating a colorful and vibrant piece of art!
Why You'll Love This Heart Art Project for Kids
The Science Behind Why Kids Love Swirling Paint
Kids are naturally drawn to cause-and-effect activities, and this heart art project delivers instant visual feedback! When they pull and swirl their paintbrush through the colors, they see immediate results as the colors mix! The paint swirling and blending taps into sensory exploration. Plus, the glitter glue adds another layer of sensory interest - because what kid doesn't love glitter? This Valentine's Day craft keeps kids engaged because they're genuinely fascinated by the process.
Perfect for Multiple Ages and Skill Levels
Whether you have a toddler who just discovered paintbrushes or an elementary schooler who loves to creating detailed art, this heart art project works beautifully for any age. Younger kids can focus on placing colorful dots and doing simple swirls. Older children can experiment with color mixing, creating intentional patterns and learning how colors blend. For Valentine's Day parties, playdates, or family activities, everyone can participate and create unique results.
Supplies You Need for this Swirled Paint Valentine's Day Heart Art Project
- Cardstock paper (can use for the Free Printable Heart - download link below!)
- Acrylic paint in multiple colors (try to have at least 3-4 colors, but I typically use up to 6!)
- Glitter glue (1 color is fine but feel free to add more!)
- Paintbrush
- Optional: Tray or table cover to protect your project surface from the paint
Why Acrylic Paint Works Best
I've tried this heart art project with watercolors, washable paint, and acrylics, and acrylic paint definitely works the best! Acrylic paint has the perfect consistency for swirling - thick enough to hold its shape but fluid enough to blend beautifully. For Valentine's Day, I love setting out pink, purple, red, white, and a touch of gold or silver acrylic paint!
Step-by-Step Instructions for Your Heart Art Project
- On cardstock, either print the Free Heart Outline Printable or draw a large outline of a heart with black marker or Sharpie.
- Have your child squirt small dots of paint and glitter glue within the heart outline.
- Brush and mix the paint and glitter glue with a paint brush. Encourage your child to stay within the heart outline.
- Voila! Let dry and then hang up their masterpiece! They can put it in a frame, on the fridge, or even cut it out.
Tip to Avoid Muddy Colors: Do not over-swirl or mix the paint!
Educational Benefits Mixed in with the Fun
Fine Motor Skills Development
This heart art project is a fine motor skills workout! When kids place individual dots of acrylic paint and glitter glue, they're strengthening their squeezing and gripping muscles. The swirling motion builds wrist rotation and grip strength - essential skills for writing. Using the paintbrush requires the same tripod grasp that children use for pencils. For Valentine's Day crafting that also supports development, this heart art project is perfect!
Color Mixing and Prediction Skills
As children swirl and mix the acrylic paint during this heart art project, they're conducting real-time science experiments. They observe what happens when red meets yellow, or when yellow meets blue. This cause-and-effect learning is powerful and exciting for kids to see! The glitter glue adds another variable where the glitter gets distributed through the paint and can even change the consistency of the paint when mixed in.
Download your Free Heart Outline Valentine's Day Printable
Click the button below to get your FREE Valentine's Day Heart Outline Printable. Since this heart art project uses paint and glue, I recommend printing on cardstock or thicker paper if you have it.
Be sure to check out my other Valentine's Day blog posts for other activities that use this printables!
Your Turn to Play!
The best part about this Valentine's Day heart art project is that it's about the experience, not just the end result! The free printable template means you can do this activity again and again - next week for Valentine's Day, next month just because, or next year to see how their technique has evolved!
Another thing that I love about this heart art project is that every single one turns out differently. Even if you use the same colors and the same free printable, your child's creative decisions leads to a one-of-a-kind piece of art each time. That's the magic of process art - it's not about following a template, it's about exploration and discovery and the joy of creating something beautiful!
So grab that free printable, set out some acrylic paint and glitter glue, and let your child create their Valentine's Day masterpiece!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. All recommendations are based on items I personally use and love with my own children.
Written by Brittany, Stay at Home Activity Mom
Brittany is a former elementary school teacher turned stay-at-home mom of three. Passionate about children learning through play, she began sharing her simple, hands-on, and education activities on her Instagram @stayathomeactivitymom so that other parents could see how fun this type of at-home learning can be.
