Valentine's Day Craft Project

Valentine's Day Paper Tree Project

A few years back I worked with children and young adults with autism, I provided them with fun and interesting projects during their art sessions. The activities had to be relevant to their IEPs, learning and physical capabilities, which was always a challenge. What I found to be most beneficial was art projects that had lots of pieces to glue on such as a collage. Here is a project that all of the students and teachers loved. This tree is filled with lots of love hearts and looks even better when you add more and more hearts.

Pink Heart Tree

You'll need a few simple materials to make this project. One of which is 3D foam squares that makes the tree literally pop from the page. If you don't have foam squares then you could just use small strips or pieces of cardboard to raise your tree up. I think this is such a great way to present artwork.

Materials:

• Colored cardstock
• Patterend cardstock or paper
• Glue
• Heart shaped paper punches
• 3D foam squares

Directions:

Step 1. The white tree itself I cut out using my Cricut, but you don't have to do this. I think a tree made from strips of paper or torn paper would look fantastic. Have the kids put the tree together using glue before adhering it to the background.

Step 2. Using a craft punch cut hearts from solid and patterned paper, adhere the hearts to the tree.

Step 3. If you'd like, add a ground to your background paper, you can paint one with a textured roller or glue on tissue paper squares.

Step 4. Adhere 3D foam squares to the back of the tree. Then adhere the tree to your background.

Purple Heart Tree

Remember to add your own personal touches to a project like this, there are so many creative options and kids really love getting creative!