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L O V E Doorknob or Wall Hanging 

The hanging ends up about 2 feet long.

There are four different templates to choose from when you make this craft:

• Doves in a Heart
• Happy Valentine's Day
• Jesus Loves Me
• WWJD

This is a great craft to make in Sunday School at Valentine's Day.  The Happy Valentine's Day template also gives a non-religious option for public schools and such to use.

There are lots of options/modifications you can make to this craft to customize it a bit.  I've tried to add the ones I've thought up, but be creative! 

The more OPTIONS you use, the harder the craft will be.  If you're doing it with young kids, keep it basic.  If you're doing it with older kids, let them add some options.

I've also included some thoughts for making the craft a bit educational.

• Print out the template of choice (we have three different templates to choose from)
   
• Color (as necessary) and cut out the template pieces.  
  • An adult can cut out the pieces before hand. 
  • If you want the children to be able to color them after cutting them out, put a roll of masking tape on the back of each piece and tape it to a scrap of paper.  That way it won't slip around when the child is coloring
     
• OPTIONAL:  fill in each of the letters in L O V E with glitter glue or sparkles.  Kids love sparkles but my kitchen floor doesn't *grin*
   
• OPTIONAL:  cut out four circles of craft foam or cardstock/poster board.  You can trace circles using a cup or lid.  
  • Make sure the circles are a bit bigger than the L O V E hearts.
  • Glue each of the L O V E hearts to one of the circles.

• Glue each of the L O V E hearts onto the ribbon, keeping them spaced evenly (ish) -- try to get the kids to do them evenly and straight but try not to be a control freak *laugh*.  We started at the letter E and worked our way up the ribbon.
   
• You can use a strip of construction paper instead of a ribbon!
   

EDUCATIONAL THOUGHTS:

• the hearts have one letter on each so this is a perfect craft to use for letter identification with young children.  
  • Instead of handing them the hearts in order, set the four hearts out in front of them and ask them if they can find the Letter E...
  • glue it on and repeat for the other letters. 
  • If they can't find it, point it out to them.  You can also talk a bit about the sound the letters make and things that begin with that letter.
     
• For slightly older children who are starting to spell, you can have them arrange the hearts on the table to spell LOVE before they start gluing them onto the ribbon

• You may find the edges of the paper hearts curl a bit or that they don't stick to the ribbon as well as you'd hoped. 
   
• We resolved this by cutting a strip of thin cardboard, flipping the ribbon over and gluing it to the back of the heart. 
   
• This helps keep the heart flat and adds extra reinforcement to attach the heart to the ribbon (we had nice wide ribbon, so didn't really need the reinforcement... if you were using thin curling type ribbon you likely would).

• Glue the "top" image near the very top of the ribbon (I've provided a choice of Jesus Loves Me, two doves in a heart and a heart with Happy Valentine's Day as a message)
   

OPTIONS TO TEMPLATE TOPS:

Here are some thoughts for template tops you might like to make instead.

• Photo of child.  Glue to a paper doily.  Write the child's name and the date underneath and give to mom, dad, or grandparents as a Valentine's Day gift.
   
• Photo of child.  Glue to a paper doily.  Write the message, "Jesus Loves Me!" underneath.
     
• Small mirror or piece of tinfoil.  Glue the message "Jesus Loves You!" underneath (the person can then see themselves in the mirror when they read the message).
   
• Make a handprint dove and glue it to the top (to make a handprint dove, just spread thumb wide and keep other fingers together.  Draw a beak and eyes on the thumb).  See the unity craft if you're confused on how to make the dove.

• To finish the craft tie a bow of the string or raffia around the top of the ribbon (or glue/tape it on if you're using construction paper).  Make a loop big enough to fit over the doorknob and hang it up!  (or hang it from a pushpin on the wall)