5 Instant Valentine Card Designs to Print

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hobby Lobby. All opinions are 100% mine.

Unleash Creativity: Five Unique DIY Printable Valentine’s Day Cards for Elementary Kids

As the air fills with the sweet promise of love and friendship, Valentine’s Day approaches, bringing with it the cherished tradition of classroom card exchanges. For parents, this often means searching for creative, unique, and often non-candy options that will delight elementary school-aged children. Forget the last-minute scramble for generic store-bought cards; this year, let’s infuse some handmade charm and a personal touch into your child’s Valentine’s celebration!

Today, I’m thrilled to share five absolutely adorable and genuinely unique Valentine’s Day card ideas that are not only printable and easy to assemble but also come with fun, coordinating toys. These aren’t just cards; they’re mini gifts and engaging activities that kids will truly love receiving. With five completely different themes, there’s truly something to capture every child’s imagination, whether they dream of soaring through the skies, crafting friendly monsters, or embracing the latest fidget craze.

The best part? I sourced all of the delightful Valentine’s Day themed toys and supplies from Hobby Lobby, a veritable treasure trove for all things crafty and festive. I was genuinely impressed by their extensive selection of Valentine’s Day supplies for kids, including a fantastic array of card kits, craft materials, and even specialized box kits for collecting those precious Valentines. If you have an elementary school child, Hobby Lobby is an absolute must-visit for inspiration and supplies. And here’s a pro tip: I found everything at an amazing 40% off, making these projects both fun and budget-friendly. What a score!

I’ve carefully curated five fantastic items that perfectly complement our printable card designs, ensuring each Valentine is a memorable and exciting treat. These non-food options are perfect for schools with allergy restrictions or simply for providing a delightful alternative to sugary sweets.

Essential Materials for Your DIY Valentine’s Cards

Before we dive into the creative assembly of each card, let’s gather all the necessary components. The beauty of these projects lies in their simplicity, requiring just a few key items readily available at your local craft store like Hobby Lobby.

Featured Toys and Crafts from Hobby Lobby:

• Plastic/Paper Glider Planes: These classic toys promise hours of fun and are perfectly paired with our “flying high” themed cards. Lightweight and easy to attach, they make for an exciting, interactive Valentine.
• Glitter Heart Glasses: Who doesn’t love a touch of sparkle? These festive heart glasses are not only stylish but also cleverly integrate into one of our card designs, making for an unforgettable accessory.
• Monster Foam Sticker Kit: Unleash your child’s inner artist with these engaging monster craft kits. Each kit provides the pieces to create multiple adorable monsters, fostering creativity and fine motor skills.
• Krazy Heart Straws: Add a whimsical touch to any drink with these fun heart-shaped straws. They’re a playful and practical gift that brings a smile to any face, perfect for a milk-themed Valentine.
• Heart Fidget Toy Mini Backpack Clips: Capitalize on the popular fidget toy trend with these delightful heart-shaped pop-its. Their mini size and backpack clip feature make them a highly desirable and portable gift.

General Crafting Supplies You’ll Need:

• White 8.5″ x 11″ Cardstock: Essential for printing your Valentines. Using sturdy cardstock ensures durability and a professional finish, preventing rips and tears during transport and handling.
• Paper Trimmer: For clean, straight cuts that will give your cards a polished look. A trimmer significantly speeds up the cutting process, especially when making multiple cards.
• Craft Blade: Perfect for precise cuts like slits for the glasses or straws. Always use with a cutting mat and adult supervision.
• Washi Tape: Not just for decoration, washi tape adds a charming visual element and helps secure items. Choose festive patterns to enhance the Valentine’s theme.
• Stapler: For quick and secure attachment of plastic bags or other elements to your cards.
• Snack Sized Zip Plastic Bags: Ideal for neatly packaging small craft pieces or toys, keeping everything together and organized for distribution.

Now that we have all our materials laid out, let’s embark on the fun journey of assembling each unique Valentine’s Day card. I’ll guide you through each design, offering tips and tricks to make the process enjoyable and stress-free.

Soar High with Airplane Valentines

These airplane Valentines are truly a labor of love and a personal favorite! I poured my creativity into drawing the charming airplane and the adorable panda bear pilot myself. Thanks to an iPad and the amazing Procreate App, which I’ve been happily learning since Christmas, bringing these designs to life has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I believe the resulting cards are not just cute, but absolutely darling, and the accompanying glider airplanes add a fantastic element of interactive fun that kids will adore.

1. Print the Design: Begin by printing the airplane card design onto white 8.5″ x 11″ cardstock. Using cardstock is crucial here as it provides the necessary sturdiness to support the attached airplane and withstand handling.
2. Cut the Cards: The design is thoughtfully laid out to yield four cards per sheet. Use a paper trimmer to make precise, even cuts. You’ll only need to make three straight cuts per sheet to separate all four cards efficiently. This method ensures crisp edges, giving your Valentines a professional finish.
3. Attach the Airplane: Secure a glider plane toy to the back of each card. For a robust hold, I recommend starting with a small piece of clear tape to firmly attach the glider’s body. Then, for an extra touch of flair and added security, layer a piece of decorative washi tape over the clear tape. While washi tape is beautiful, it sometimes lacks the strong adhesive needed for a toy, so this combination offers the best of both worlds: strong attachment and a cute aesthetic.

These airplane Valentines are perfect for children who love adventure and hands-on play. The message, “You Make My Heart Soar,” beautifully ties into the glider plane gift, making it a cohesive and memorable Valentine.

Crafty Monster Valentines

These foam monster sticker kits offer a wonderful opportunity for a mini craft activity! Each kit typically makes about 12 unique monsters, making them ideal for classroom exchanges. To prepare these for distribution, I simply separated out the individual foam pieces required to construct each monster, referring to the image on the packaging for guidance. Each set of monster pieces was then neatly placed into its own snack-sized plastic bag, creating a delightful “craft kit” for each recipient.

1. Print Monster Cards: Print the monster-themed cards onto white 8.5″ x 11″ cardstock. The vibrant colors and playful monsters on these cards are sure to capture attention.
2. Prepare Monster Kits: Carefully separate the foam sticker pieces needed to build each individual monster. It’s helpful to refer to the finished monster image on the original packaging to ensure you include all the correct eyes, arms, and body parts for a complete craft. Place each set of pieces into a small, sandwich-sized plastic zip bag.
3. Cut and Fold Cards: Using a paper trimmer, cut the monster cards along their solid outer lines. Then, gently fold each card along the indicated dotted line. This creates a neat, folded topper for your monster craft bag.
4. Assemble the Valentine: Once each baggy is filled and zipped securely, position the folded card over the top of the bag, sandwiching the plastic bag’s seal between the two halves of the card. Use a stapler to firmly secure the card to the bag. This method not only keeps the craft kit tidy but also creates an attractive presentation for your “You Are a MONSTER-ific Friend” Valentine.

These monster Valentines are fantastic because they offer a creative outlet, encouraging kids to build and play. It’s a non-candy option that provides an engaging activity, making it a truly unique and thoughtful classroom Valentine.

Foxy Heart Glasses Valentines

Oh man, I absolutely adore this one! The fox design, another creation from my iPad and Procreate adventures, turned out incredibly cute. What could be more charming than a clever fox wearing stylish heart glasses? It’s just too fun and brings a smile to my face every time I look at it. These cards print two per sheet and are slightly larger than your typical Valentine, a design choice made specifically to ensure the heart-shaped glasses fit perfectly onto the fox’s face, making for a truly integrated and whimsical look.

1. Print Fox Cards: Print the fox card designs onto white 8.5″ x 11″ cardstock. Each page will yield two of these delightful “I’m Foxy About You” cards.
2. Cut Slits for Glasses: This step requires precision. Using a craft blade (with careful adult supervision, please!), cut two small slits on either side of the fox’s face where the arms of the glasses would naturally rest. Refer to the photo above for the exact placement of these slits – they should be discreet but long enough to thread the glasses through.
3. Insert the Glasses: Carefully slip the arms of the glitter heart glasses through the slits you’ve created. Once threaded, fold the arms down so that the heart-shaped lenses sit flat and securely on the fox’s face, making it appear as though the fox is playfully wearing them.

This interactive Valentine is a definite showstopper. The combination of a cute character and a wearable accessory makes it a memorable gift that kids can enjoy long after Valentine’s Day. It’s a creative way to gift a pair of fun, festive glasses!

Trendy Pop It Valentines

If you have an elementary school-aged child, you know that “pop it” fidget toys are absolutely all the rage! These sensory toys provide endless entertainment and a satisfying tactile experience. I must admit, even I find them quite fun to fidget with! These particular heart-shaped pop-its are extra special because they come with a mini backpack clip, allowing kids to attach their new favorite toy to their bags, pencil cases, or keys, making them portable and always accessible for a quick pop. Our card design perfectly captures the essence of these popular toys with a playful “You Make My Heart POP!” message.

1. Print the Cards: Print these fun and modern cards onto white 8.5″ x 11″ cardstock. Each sheet will efficiently print four individual cards, maximizing your output and making the process faster.
2. Cut the Cards Apart: Using your paper trimmer, separate the four cards. Just like the airplane cards, these are designed for easy cutting, requiring only three simple cuts per sheet to get four perfectly sized Valentines.
3. Attach the Fidget Toy: There are a few creative ways to attach the heart fidget toy to the card, depending on your preference and available supplies:
   • Tape: Simply use a strong adhesive tape (clear or decorative) to secure the back of the heart fidget toy to the back of the card.
   • Envelope: Place both the card and the fidget toy into a small envelope for a neat presentation.
   • Bag & Staple: For a more visible display, place the heart fidget toy into a clear plastic baggie and then staple the bag to the card, creating a unified package.

These trendy pop-it Valentines are guaranteed to be a hit. They’re a fantastic non-candy option that appeals to current kid interests, providing a fun, calming sensory experience in a cute, Valentine-themed package.

Whimsical Crazy Straw Valentines

These crazy straw Valentines always bring a nostalgic smile to my face! They remind me fondly of my mom, who always made delicious pink milk on Valentine’s Day – a cherished tradition that made the day feel extra special. These cards capture that same playful, joyful spirit, and I had an absolute blast drawing them myself. It’s safe to say my newest craft obsession (drawing on the iPad!) is still going strong, and I love seeing these whimsical milk bottles come to life!

1. Print the Cards: Print these long and skinny “You’re the Straw-Some-est!” cards onto white 8.5″ x 11″ cardstock. The design is optimized to print three cards per page, making efficient use of your paper.
2. Cut Milk Bottles: Use your paper trimmer to carefully cut the three individual milk bottle cards apart. Their unique shape adds to their charm and stands out from traditional rectangular Valentines.
3. Cut Slits for Straws: With a craft blade (and a cutting mat underneath, always with adult supervision), carefully make three small, parallel slits on the cardstock where the straw will be inserted. These slits should be just wide enough to thread the crazy straw through without tearing the card. Position them appropriately on the milk bottle design to make it look like the straw is emerging from the bottle. Thread the crazy straw through these slits, allowing it to weave through the card, creating a fun, interactive display.

These crazy straw Valentines are brimming with personality and fun. They’re a perfect non-food gift that encourages kids to enjoy their drinks in a more playful way, adding a touch of whimsy to any beverage. It’s a simple yet impactful Valentine that’s sure to be a favorite.

So, there you have it – five unique, engaging, and utterly darling printable Valentine’s Day cards, each paired with a fun toy, perfect for your elementary school kids! From soaring planes to crafty monsters, interactive glasses, trendy fidgets, and whimsical straws, there’s a creative option for every personality. Which one is your favorite? I genuinely can’t choose just one!

Ready to bring these adorable Valentines to life? Download the printable files and start crafting today!

Note: Many businesses and schools block access to Google Drive. If you’re having a hard time downloading the files, please try again from a home network or on an unrestricted computer for seamless access. Happy crafting!