Valentine’s Day is this Friday. When I was a kid in elementary school I used to love this week.
Every year the teachers would put aside the reading, writing, and arithmetic to allow time to make Valentine’s Day crafts. We would make cards to give our family and classmates and a mailbox out of paper and cardboard to tape to our desks to hold all the cards we would receive on Valentine’s Day.
Give me some construction paper, doilies, glue, and glitter and I excelled. It was the only time I did and it felt good when the teacher would hold up whatever I had made to use as an example of what the rest of the class should make.
These fond memories always have me gathering any red, white, and pink crafting supply I own in early February to come up with a way to not only decorate, but to wrap Valentine goodies to give to my family and friends.
This year is no different. When my daughters were little, Ed and I used to give them lots of little surprises. We still do, but have to mail them. I gathered my stash of supplies and created a few initial heart gift tags and a Valentine banner for the kitchen.
I created an alphabet of heart shapes for you to download and cut out to use in a variety of ways. Gift tags, banners, and cards are only a few ideas.
I cut scrapbook paper in colors that I liked to the size of 8 1/2″ x 11″ so I could use the paper in my printer to print out the initial heart printables. To download the .pdfs – see the end of this post.
You can cut inside or outside the line around the hearts depending on the look you like. I cut outside the line on the hearts for this banner.
How to Make a Doily Heart Banner
Use a hole punch to make two holes in a doily. String ribbon through the holes. Glue the initial hearts onto the doily with a glue stick. Hang with tacks or as I did by placing the ribbon in the corners of a cabinet door.
I also made gift tags out of paper straws and doilies.
To make the straw starburst gift tag, I cut paper straws in half and then hot glued them onto a doily. Then placed another doily on top . Glue an intial heart on the top doily. I cut a piece of scrapbook paper into a heart shape to place under the top doily to add some color and pattern.
For the other tags, I just glued the cut-out hearts onto doilies and tied or glued them onto the gifts.
Do you have fond Valentine’s Day memories?
To download the free printable initial hearts, click on the link below each image.
Valentine Free Printable Heart Initial Gift Tags page 1
Valentine Free Printable Heart Initialgift tags page 2
Valentine Free Printable Heart Initial Gift Tags page 3
Carrie says
01/24/2019 at 4:34 pmI really like the heart starburst. I think it would be a great gift tag using other straw colors. And now with the push to use glass and metal straws, what a great use for the plastic.
Sheryll & Critters. says
05/29/2014 at 10:43 amI missed this post till just now.
And I for one so very appreciate the how to’s for these gorgeous crafts, without using an expensive machine. I am jealous that I don’t have one, so I admit it, but since I can’t afford such… well ya know.
Ce El says
02/15/2014 at 4:19 pmThank you for these printables! Though I missed this blog pre-Valentines, I’ve placed a page in my Valentine paper box for next year, along with doilies, stickers and such. My granddaughter and I made Swedish and other hearts this year.
Thanks too, for reminding me about my Mom. Ever the “Room Mother” she made lovely mailboxes for our class cards. At the end of the school day Feb 14th, we’d open our cards and have punch and candy! Fond memories of the 1950s. Oh and yes, those heart people with the pleated limbs were part of the fun. Thanks, as always, for sharing this.
Jeanine says
02/12/2014 at 10:17 amDiane, thank you ever so much for these gorgeous simple initial printouts! I am actually going to get my daughter to watercolor paint these & attach to the front of each child’s handmade valentine card this year. Each will feel extra special having their very own initial on their card |D So many thanks! Happy Valentines!
Kim says
02/11/2014 at 2:14 pmDiane, my favorite part of elementary school valentine decorating was the infamous shoe box turned into a “mailbox”. I loved decorating it with doilies and crepe paper. My kids favorite were the story boards I made for them from candy bars, “Mr. MARS SKITTLEd to MILKY WAY….” etc.
Such a fun holiday!
P.S. I’m curious why you didn’t use your Silhouette cutting machine to make these.
Diane Henkler says
02/11/2014 at 10:34 pmHi Kim – The mailbox was my favorite, too. Good question about the Silhouette. I didn’t use it because, I started the project just by gathering all the pink and red papers, ribbon, and doilies I had without even thinking. Before I knew it, I was cutting out the hearts by hand. :) Old fashioned hearts done the old-fashioned way XO
Lisa says
02/11/2014 at 8:08 amDiane,
I was looking to play around with fonts etc. for my valentine crafting. Now I don’t have to. Thank you for making my crafting a lot easier! Love your display.
Vikki says
02/11/2014 at 8:03 amDiane,
I’m not making any of these adorable crafts but I must tell you that I just love looking at all of your tutorials. Your staging (is that the term) is so pretty. Even the step-by-step pictures are “put together.” I love how you used straws to decorate the package and how you put different papers and elements together. You even used anaglyptic paper on one gift. Who else would have thought to do that? Thanks for the Valentine “eye candy.”
Carrie says
02/11/2014 at 1:09 amThanks for the cute printables!
When I was in elementary school, I always loved making the Valentine heart character with accordion folded arms and legs. I just might make one with my kids this week!
Diane Henkler says
02/11/2014 at 11:11 amHi Carrie – You just brought back a fond memory! I remember making them, too – with heart faces. What fun! Enjoy crafting with your kids this week.
Bobbi says
02/10/2014 at 11:53 amHow sweet! Thank you for the free printables Diane.
Ive already made several copies. Those printables will make a special treat for my kids. I also have a secret sister. The printables will add a lovely touch to the gift that I’m going to make her.
~ Have a Beautiful week.
Christina Makri says
02/10/2014 at 1:52 amOh Diane, they are so cute!!! Thank you for the free printables :)