Our Intertwined Hearts is our most popular Kids Craft of all time! These super cute string hearts are the perfect sensory activity for little hands and can be modified for every season.
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Now that my children are getting a pinch older, I am surprised by how excited they get over holidays. Every holiday brings it’s own special kind of excitement, especially a holiday like Valentine’s Day!
Since Valentine’s Day is approaching, I decided to go see what sort of decorations we had stored down in the basement. Unfortunately, my search proved fruitless and I was quite disappointed with my utter lack of Valentine’s Day crafts and decorations.
When I came back upstairs, I asked my daughter why she was looking forward to Cupid’s special day. I was expecting something along the lines of getting to eat candy. Instead, my adorable daughter told me:
“Because it’s for loving. We get to tell each other how much we love each other.”
The next morning, she sat at the table feverishly cutting out paper hearts. As I watched her, I realized that I was excited too and I wanted to come up with a “keeper” craft for Valentine’s Day. You know, something she could pull out of a box and hang up each and every “Love Day.”
So, I went spelunking in my pantry to see what I could find. The contents were a bit slim and promptly reminded me that I needed to go shopping.
But, as I reached farther back into the depths of the pantry, I found one really big roll of twine. I stared at it for a moment trying to decide what we could do with it. I looked back at all of her paper hearts and the idea hit me. We would make string hearts! Better yet, what about a string heart garland? (Or, should I be calling them twine hearts since they’re made from twine? Oh, well.)
When we were finished, we could hang our string hearts garland from the fireplace mantle so she could see it every time she watched tv!
How To Make String Hearts For Valentine’s Day
String Hearts (Twine Hearts) Materials:
- Twine
- Tin foil
- Flour
- Water
- Red acrylic paint
String Hearts (Twine Hearts) Directions:
Step 1: Make a heart mold out of tinfoil. Take an 8-inch by 12-inch sheet of tinfoil. Fold into a strip 1 inch wide. Once you have your strip, fold over again to a half inch strip. Sharply crease your strip. Shape into a heart shape. Tape open ends together. Place on a tin foil covered cookie sheet.
Step 2: Mix up your paper mâché paste. Mix equal parts water with flour. I used 1 cup flour, 1 cup water. This was enough for 6 string hearts. Mix well. Add 2 tablespoons red acrylic paint.
Step 3: Cut your twine. I measured out two 3 foot lengths for each twine heart. Dip into paper mache paste and thoroughly coat. Squeeze excess glue off the twine. Lay into heart molds.
Step 4: After all of your hearts are filled up put the cookie sheet into the oven at 200 degrees for 1 hour. After 1 hour, turn off oven and let sit for another hour.
Step 5: Un-mold from hearts. Cut tinfoil mold with scissors and unwrap from the heart.
Step 6: String piece of twine through the hearts to make an intertwined heart garland.
Thanks for reading!
Daniele
Superb ๐ lovely!
Siska, the metal cookie cutters would work great! Anything that contains the goop!
Love your hearts! What a great idea!
This is lovely! I’d like to make the garland with different shapes, is it ok to use metal cookie cutters?
Thanks so much!
Oh my gosh…what a cute idea! And I love that it uses items I already have around the house!
This Grammy loves this idea! thanks!
SO Fabulous!
Hi Sofia! 200 degrees fahrenheit, if they still feel a little goopy leave them in longer and check every ten minutes.
Daniele
That’s 93.33 degrees Celsius for other Europeans like us… ๐
Hi, I’m from Holland. I can’t wait to try this out! The garland is wonderfull.
Just one question, do you mean 200 degrees fahrenheit or Celsius for the oven?
very cool! your banner is beautiful!!
Going to make these tonight, going at some red checkered fabric scraps in between each heart ๐
Thank you all for your comments, we really love comments! When we were all cleaned up my daughter turned to me and said, “I never knew I could have so much fun with string and goop!”
Daniele
Love the idea! Great for colored Easter egg shapes too! Or or or…..so many other shapes come to mind. Thank you for the great inspiration!
Hmmm… Would be real cool with silver or gold paint (or yellow) for Christmas – shaped like stars – for the windows…
fabulous idea for the kids!
What a terrific idea,and so cute when finished! Brilliant! Thanks for sharing.
Soooo doing this for our Love-day decorations!
I think our 2 yr old is going to LOVE making this for Grandma and Papa!!
Heck, I’m almost 50, and I am going to LOVE making these for MYSELF and for small gifts…. ๐
What a cute and easy idea!