DLTK's Holiday Crafts for Kids
Valentine's Tree Paper Craft

I think this simple little cut and paste Valentine's Day craft turned out very cute! It's great scissor skills practice as the shapes you are cutting out are simple and repetitive.

There are a variety of versions to the craft to add complexity for older children.

The craft is simple enough for young kids to contribute but still fun for even mom to make. I like doing the tissue paper version but it's tough for preschoolers to make -- the templates are more appropriate for them.

There are a number of variations on this craft depending on which templates you print:

Template Version (younger children): print the trunk template and the hearts template and paste them together. If you want a very well covered tree, print two copies of the Hearts template.
Tissue Paper Version (older children): cut 1.5 inch squares of tissue paper, wrap around the eraser end of a pencil and glue to the trunk template.

Rather than using the Trunk template, you can decorate a "homemade" trunk (to make the trunk, trace your child's arm from the elbow up, including the fingers)

Materials:

printer,
paper,
scissors,
glue,
something to colour with.

Craft Instructions:

Print out the Valentine's Day template of choice.
Colour pieces, as necessary. (For a change of pace, try using different mediums than you typically do, such as paints or pastels).
Cut out the pieces. This step may require adult assistance. Don't worry too much about getting the tree branches cut out perfectly.
Glue the hearts all over the tree to decorate.
You can glue the entire tree to a decorated background (blue construction paper, with green tissue paper for grass and white cotton balls for clouds works very nicely!).

Craft Templates:

Close template window when done printing to return to this screen.
Set page margins to zero if you have trouble fitting the template on one page (FILE, PAGE SETUP or FILE, PRINTER SETUP in most browsers).

Red and White Hearts (color) or (B&W)

Pink and Purple Hearts (color) or (B&W)

Trunk Template (color) or (B&W)

Printable version of these instructions