No Mess Finger Painting Heart Craft For Toddlers
Looking for an easy Valentine’s Day craft for toddlers & preschoolers that is mess free? This no mess finger painting heart craft is a fun sensory art activity for little fingers and makes the most adorable Valentine’s Day decorations!

I have been so excited to do this Ziploc bag painting with my preschooler. We love Valentine’s Day crafts and after making our coffee filter heart sun catchers, secret message heart craft and these yummy heart handpies we jumped into this craft project.
This Ziploc bag painting method is a mess-free way for kids to enjoy crafting without the stress of cleanup. Plus, it is such a great sensory activity for little ones.
Watching the colors mix, mushing the paint together and the squishy feeling of paint on the plastic bag was so fun for my little one. It also was a great way to work on some simple fine motor skills with him!
This activity is a really fun way to talk about the process of color mixing. You could introduce the concept of the color wheel and why certain colors should or should not be mixed.
We loved this craft so much we decided to make a bunch of hearts and make them into a Valentine’s Day garland. The hearts are so bright and festive, we have them hanging in our window all February long.

Materials
- Ziplock bag
- Printer paper (or cardstock paper)
- Scissors
- Washable paint
- Ribbon (for the garland)
- Hole punch (optional)
Step By Step Instructions
Cut out a heart shape from your cardstock or printer paper
Add a few blobs of paint onto your heart and place into the Ziploc bag

Seal the bag tightly
Let your child squish and spread the paint around with their fingers- it is fun to see the colors mix!

Once finished carefully remove the heart and let it dry completely on a flat surface, we used our cookie sheet rack to do this
If you are going to use the same color combination you can repeat these steps with the same bag, if you want to vary the colors I’d recommend using a new Ziploc bag
How To Create Garland
Once your hearts are dry use the hole punch to put a hole at the top of each curve at the top of the heart (so 2 punches total on each heart)
Thread a string or ribbon through the holes to create your garland
Hang it on the mantel, in a doorway or window to decorate your space for Valentine’s Day!

Fun Variations & Ideas
- Glitter Touch: Add a sprinkle of glitter before sealing the bag.
- No Scissors? Let kids paint full sheets and cut the hearts after they dry.
- Personalized Messages: Write sweet Valentine’s notes on the back of each heart.
Other Fun Valentine’s Crafts & Activities
This is such an easy, no-mess craft that little ones will love this Valentine’s Day. If you try this craft we would love for you to share your creations on our socials linked above!
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