Cute Cupcake Valentine Craft for Kids

Cupcakes are one of the cutest, trendiest motifs in children's fashion right now, and you can use this sweet design to create adorable Valentines with this easy craft idea. Provide more options and materials for older children and keep it simple for toddlers.

Start with brightly colored craft card stock, especially in the classic Valentine reds, pinks, and whites. Look for background card stock in fun prints like polka-dots, stripes or damask. Give each child a six-inch square of craft card stock. Older children may want to layer four, five and six inch squares on top of each other for texture, depth and to create a border around their Valentine. Make sure they use the best background design for the smallest piece which will be on top and aim for solid colors or larger prints around the outside borders.

For toddler, provide a pre-cut cupcake base design cut from card stock. Use brown for a chocolate cupcake, or use any other solid color. Draw the full shape of the cupcake, including the base and the top domed-icing part. Glue the cupcake design to the center of the Valentine background.

Provide craft pom-poms, buttons or cotton balls. Help your young child glue a selection of these materials to cover the icing portion of the cupcake patterned cut-out. Add a single red button or craft pom to the top of the cupcake for the cherry.

Older children don't need the full cupcake pattern to fill in. Provide a variety of pictures of cupcake designs and let your older child draw their own cupcake base on chocolate colored felt or card stock. Glue the cake base to the background. Arrange craft poms or buttons around the top of the cake to appear like the domed-icing. Allow the "icing" to dry completely.

Decorate the cupcake further by adding "sprinkles" from stick-shaped seed beads, sequins or glitter. Show your child how to cut out a cherry or strawberry shape from red or pink felt and glue to the top of the icing dome. Add a cherry stem from beads or pipe cleaner.

Finally, include a sweet Valentine's Day message on your child's cupcake craft. Use this craft idea as the front of a folded card or tie on a message with ribbon and a gift tag.

Provide the materials at a Valentine's Day party for children and guests to make, or use this idea in an elementary school classroom or Sunday School class for a sweet holiday activity.