Cute & Fun Salt Painted Hearts (Easy Valentine Craft)
Looking for a Valentine’s Day activity that’s fun, easy, and doesn’t make a giant mess? These salt-painted hearts are the perfect craft for kids—and bonus, they’re super budget-friendly too!
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Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to get a little creative with the kids, and these salt-painted hearts are such a fun way to celebrate! With just a few simple supplies like glue, salt, and watercolors, your little ones can make beautiful, textured hearts that look like mini works of art.
The best part? It’s inexpensive, super easy to set up, and keeps kids happily busy. Whether you’re planning a classroom activity or a cozy afternoon craft at home, this project is a sweet way to enjoy some creative time together.
Other activities your little may enjoy are our Free Printable Kids Valentine Cootie Catcher (Jokes + Blanks), Valentine’s Day Memory Matching Game for Kids (Free), and Cute & Fun Valentine’s Day I Spy Printable.
❤️Don’t Leave Before You Check Out These Seasonal Ideas!❤️
📌What You’ll Need
White Cardstock Paper – it holds up better than regular paper. Construction paper could also be used if you already have that in your craft stash.
Watercolor Paints – this set is super cheap and you can use it for so many fun projects.
Glue – regular white Elmer’s glue or clear glue can be used.
Paintbrush – you will want one small enough so that the paint stays on the salt and doesn’t run off.
Small bowl and water – to rinse the brush and to activate the paint
Salt – regular table salt is perfect.
Heart Cookie Cutters – this helps to get the best heart shape, but if you don’t have them you can just freehand the hearts.
Pencil – for tracing the cookie cutter.
✨How to Make Salt Painted Hearts
On the white card stock, use a pencil to trace the heart cookie cutters.
Gently squeeze the glue on the heart outlines.
Cover the glue hearts with lots of salt.
Set the project aside to dry.
Once they have dried, shake off the excess salt, but not to hard so that it doesn’t come off the hearts.
Dip your paintbrush into water, then into the color paint you would like.
As you add the watercolors, you will see it seep into the salt.
Continue painting until all of the salt hearts are covered.
Once you are finished, leave the artwork to dry then display anywhere you would like!
👇Common Salt Painting FAQs
💡Helpful Tips
- Use Thick Paper: White cardstock is ideal because it’s sturdy enough to hold the weight of the glue and salt without warping. Avoid regular printer paper, which may buckle.
- Contain the Mess: Place a tray or large baking sheet under your project to catch any excess salt or paint spills. It makes cleanup a breeze!
- Go Easy on the Glue: A steady hand is key here—too much glue can cause the salt to clump, while too little won’t hold the salt properly. A thin, even line works best.
- Shake Gently: When removing excess salt, do this over a trash can or back into the container of salt for reuse (for other craft projects). Handle the page with care to keep your heart designs intact.
- Experiment with Colors: Encourage kids to blend watercolor paints to create fun effects, like ombre hearts or multicolored patterns.
- Dry Fully: Allow the artwork to dry completely before displaying to avoid smudging or flaking. You can speed up the drying process by placing it in a sunny spot.
🎯Favorite Printable Supplies
Here are some of our favorite materials and supplies we use so we get the best quality out of our printables!
These salt-painted hearts aren’t just a craft—they’re a chance to spend quality time with your kids while making something special for Valentine’s Day. It’s simple, fun, and the results are so pretty you’ll want to display them all over the house.
👍You May Also Like These Free Printables + Valentine Ideas
Valentine Salt Painted Hearts
Create these salt painted hearts using cheap supplies, all while kids have a great time! The perfect easy Valentine's day craft that is super cute!
Materials
- White Card Stock Paper
- Glue
- Heart Cookie Cutters
- Pencil
- Bowl and Water
- Watercolor Paints
- Paintbrush
- Salt
Instructions
- Trace the cookie cutter with a pencil to make each heart outline.
- Apply a little glue to each one.
- Cover the hearts with salt.
- Set it aside to dry.
- Shake off the excess salt.
- Dip the brush into water then into the paints of choice.
- Gently paint each salt heart.
- When finished, let the hearts dry overnight, then display.
Notes
- Pick thick paper like cardstock to avoid it bending or tearing.
- Work on a tray or sheet pan to catch salt and paint drips.
- Make even glue lines so the salt sticks smoothly without clumps.
- Tilt the paper slowly to avoid knocking off the design when shaking off the excess salt.
- Ensure the art is completely dry before moving or displaying it.
