Easy Valentine Crafts Using Foam

Valentine's Day is the perfect holiday to make all kinds of fun crafts. This year, try making several easy Valentine's craft projects with foam. Craft foam has become incredibly popular over the last few years. You can buy plain foam sheets, sheets with sticky backs, foam cut into shapes like flowers and letters, and even buckets of foam pieces. Foam comes in every color imaginable. It's also an easy medium for children to work with.

For any craft project, follow common sense guidelines. Keep newspaper handy to protect work surfaces, and a roll of paper towels to quickly mop up spills or dry hands. Read package directions first for products you are unfamiliar with. Gather all the supplies you need beforehand so you can spend your time doing the fun stuff.

Foam Valentine Pins

Moms and grandmas especially love this valentine craft.

Supplies Needed

Several sheets of craft foam in red, pink, and white
Foam shapes such as hearts, flowers, and letters - optional
Markers, paint pens, or specialty foam paint
White glue
Low temp glue gun and glue sticks
Pin back (in jewelry section of craft store)
Pencil
Scissors

Directions

First, create a heart-shaped template from heavy cardstock or thin cardboard. If you are into scrap booking, you may already own a plastic template with a heart shape. Choose a size that can easily be worn as a pin. Using either of these templates, trace a heart onto foam using pencil. Cut out foam heart.

Flip heart over so that pencil marks do not show. Decorate heart as desired. Glue on pre-cut foam shapes such as hearts and flowers using white glue, or cut out your own shapes and use those. Draw designs using markers, paint pens, or foam paint. Write words on the decorated heart such as Love, Mom, Grandma, I Love You, Best Friends, and Be Mine. Let glue dry for at least two hours. Using low temp hot glue gun, glue pin back onto back of foam heart. White glue may not be strong enough to hold pin back securely. Let dry before use.

Foam Valentine Magnets

This valentine craft is great for teachers.

Supplies Needed

Several sheets of craft foam in red, pink, and white
Foam shapes such as hearts, flowers, and letters - optional
Markers, paint pens, or specialty foam paint
White glue
Low temp glue gun and glue sticks
Magnet sheet, strips, or dots
Pencil
Scissors

Directions

Follow all instructions for making the Foam Valentine Pins, but do not use the pin back. Instead, using low temp glue gun, glue magnet to back of heart. You may be able to find magnets strips or dots that already have a sticky back. Let dry before using.

Foam Valentine Pencil Toppers

School friends really like this fun valentine craft.

Supplies Needed

Craft foam in red, pink, and white
Markers, paint pens, or specialty foam paint
Pencil to draw with
Pencil to give as gift
Scissors
Craft knife

Directions

First, create a heart-shaped template from heavy cardstock or thin cardboard. If you are a scrap booker, you may already own a plastic template with a heart shape. Choose a size that can easily fit over the top of pencil. Cut out heart shape.

An adult needs to complete this step. Carefully cut two slits into heart, one above the other (not too close). Test the heart to see that it can easily, but snugly, fit over the top of a pencil by sliding pencil into slits. Once the foam heart fits correctly, decorate the heart using markers, paint pens, or specialty foam paint. Let all elements dry before placing on pencil.

More ideas

Instead of cutting out a heart template, you can easily use a heart-shaped cookie cutter. If it is metal, you can press it into the foam, which will mark the area you need to cut out. This eliminates the need for using a pencil to trace the heart.

For a nice finishing touch to your hearts, carefully color around the outside cut edge of your valentine foam hearts. Use a marker or a paint pen for this step.

Once you have made your foam heart, glue it onto folded cardstock and make a valentine card for your special someone.

Glue decorated foam hearts onto a cardboard box, and then keep all your valentines inside.

Carefully poke a hole near the top of your valentine foam heart, and string a thin ribbon through to create a necklace. Tie around neck.

Craft foam is fun and has so many uses. It's a wonderful material for both kids and adults to work with. This year, have fun making these Valentine's crafts using craft foam.