As parents, there’s nothing quite like a homemade Valentine’s card for mom, dad, or school friends. We’ve searched the web and carefully curated everything from Valentine’s Day crafts for toddlers to easy Valentine’s Day cards for school, and all of them are sweet as can be. Plus, all of them are actually doable, whether you’re a fan of Pinterest or not.
For more fun for the big day, these Valentine’s Day recipes will sweeten any Valentine’s Day plans, and these Valentine’s Day games will tucker them out.
Tips for Making Homemade Valentine’s Day Cards with Kids
Let’s be honest. If you’re going to make cards at home, you’ll need a plan. Here are some of my tips that’ll keep the whole thing easy for everyone.
Keep it simple.
Be real with yourself, your kids, and your crafting abilities. Do you have multiple Pinterest boards, a huge box of crafting supplies, and plenty of patience? Go wild, get creative, and of course, add some glitter to mix. If you’re more of a print-and-cut type of crafter, that’s awesome too. Knowing how much time and effort you’re willing to put in, as well as knowing how much enjoyment everyone will get out of the project, is important.
Get everything ready before you start.
If you’re familiar with the term “mise en place,” then you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. If you aren’t, it means “everything in its place,” and it’s a term used for restaurant kitchens. The same can apply to an art project: no one wants to be running around looking for the string or scissors while their kid has their hand in glue or glitter.
Know your kid.
Picking age-appropriate projects and projects that you know will interest your child is essential. Otherwise, you’ll be the one finishing that adorable handmade heart pendant.
Let them lead.
This isn’t about you, and it isn’t about creating something you might consider selling on Etsy. If that’s what you’re looking for, find time for your own craft. Let them decide what color, how many stickers, how to spell “love,” or any other imperfections that may pop up. That’s what makes homemade Valentine’s Day cards so special, after all.
Here are our favorite homemade cards for Valentine’s Day 2026.
1. Seed Paper Hearts
Who doesn’t love plants? This homemade Valentine’s card can grow! Follow the instructions to make a seed heart that can be planted. Grow plants like wildflowers, herbs, and small vegetables.
2. Hot Air Balloon Heart
Try out this adorable hot air balloon card that can easily serve as a decoration for February.
3. Embroidered Hearts
Kids can hone their skills with a needle and thread to make these cute homemade Valentine's Day cards from Hello, Wonderful.
4. Goldfish Snacks in a "Bowl"
How cute are these Goldfish-filled valentines from Backless Shirt? This candy-free idea doubles as a little afternoon snack, too.
5. Cutie Valentines
Our kids love mandarin oranges (aka cuties), and this easy homemade Valentine's card from It’s Always Autumn is the perfect way to use them. Buy a big bag at the grocery store and you’re halfway there.
6. LEGO My Valentine
Build super cute homemade Valentine's Day cards this year with this printable from The Resourceful Mama. The only other things you'll need are LEGO bricks and plastic bags.
Related: 12 Creative (& Easy) Valentine’s Day Card Box Ideas
7. Toy Plane Valentines
Your littles will soar to the top of the class with these awesome plane valentines from Crap I’ve Made. Snag toy planes on the cheap on Amazon or at a party store.
8. Rubber Duckie Valentines
We love a good pun, and this card from Simple Enchantments is definitely a winner.
9. Candy-Free Valentines
Since kids will be loading up on candy all day, we love this change of pace from Pretty Prudent. Pick from crayons, bubbles, glitter, or bandaids—all of which have their own clever puns.
10. Pirate Puns
Pirate-obsessed kids will love this clever valentine from MerMag. A pirate pun, a heart eye patch—it just doesn’t get much cuter than this.
11. Glow Stick Valentines
Check out this cute idea from Eighteen 25—with a few packs of glow sticks, it’s pretty easy to put together.
12. Kool-Aid Fun
If your little one is a Kool-Aid lover, they’ll get a kick out of these cute Valentine's Day card idea from My Name Is Snickerdoodle.
13. Star(burst) Cards
Fancy up your valentines this year with this idea from It’s Always Autumn. Crafty kids will enjoy decorating each card with a potato stamp.
14. Origami Cards
Whether you’re an origami expert or just a beginner, these easy DIY valentines from Omiyage Blogs will be a winner.
Related: 19 Sweet Valentine’s Day Recipes for Kids
15. Crayon Cards
If you want to get crafty for your Valentine this year, this idea from The Nerd’s Wife is an awesome option. Plus, you’ll get to put all your broken crayon stubs to good use.
16. Blow Pop Butterflies
We love this fun (but super easy) take on valentines from Skip to My Lou. The kids will love the sweetness and creativity of this one.
17. Cute Sheep Valentines
Crafty kids will love making this valentine—just print out the cards from Hello, Wonderful, and then let them glue on pom poms for the sheep’s “wool.”
18. Play-Doh Packages
Here’s another gift that keeps on giving: Play-Doh. Just add a fun label to the carton (Random Thoughts from a Supermom has a convenient printable), and the whole class will be sculpting hearts and flowers for their special someone.
19. Valentine "Cards"
We love the quirky character of these homemade Valentine's Day “cards” from My Paper Crane. The supplies are easy to round up, there's lots of room for kid participation, and the results are oh-so-cute.
Related: 55 Hilariously Sweet Valentine’s Day Jokes for Kids
20. Upcycled Valentines
You can’t help but love this idea from Art Bar Blog. With washi tape, alphabet stamps, and lots and lots of upcycled hearts, you can make gift bags for storing cards or holding other V-Day treats.
21. Joke Boxes
Brace yourselves, this idea from Delia Creates combines puns, Laffy Taffy, silly bands, and LEGO-inspired boxes. It sounds like a win-win to us.
22. Bear-y Cute Valentine
We can’t get over the cute factor of these Valentine's Day cards for school from Domestic Mommyhood. They’re easy as pie to print, cut, and distribute—and they also make excellent lunchbox love notes.
23. A Homemade Valentine’s Card for Tweens
Even big kids like getting Valentine’s Day cards, and this one is cute, to the point, and includes a fun beauty gift. Get the printable from All Things Thrifty.
