# Handprint Hearts Garden
> Kids make green handprints or trace their hands on a long paper-covered table, then top the fingers with heart stickers to grow a Valentine garden of heart flowers. It is simple, sticker-loving art that doubles as a fine motor workout.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-art-hand-print-hearts-garden/
- Ages: 2–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium
- Time: prep 10 min, activity 30 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class
- Skills: fine-motor, sorting, creative-expression
- Cautions: ingestion-risk

## Materials (one batch)
- Long roll of white paper (butcher or craft paper)
- Painter's tape (household)
- Green paint
- 1 piece Shallow tray or plate for paint (household)
- Markers (including green)
- Foam heart stickers (assorted, some glitter)
- 1 piece Basket or bowl for stickers (optional) (household)
- Wipes or soap and water (household)

## Substitutions
- Instead of green paint: Green marker hand tracing (The kids did both tracing and printing. Tracing is a no-paint, lower-mess option.)

## Safety
- Use washable, non-toxic kids' paint, and wash hands after printing.
- Foam stickers and their peeled-off backings are small. Watch toddlers who mouth things, and gather up the backings as you go.
- Supervise painting at all times.

## Before you start
- Cover a long table with paper and tape it down.

## Steps
1. Cover a long table with paper and tape it down.
2. Set out green paint, markers and a basket of heart stickers.
3. Trace your hand with a green marker for a stem and leaves, and draw grass along the bottom.
4. Or paint your hand green and press it onto the paper to print a stem.
5. Wash the paint off your hands.
6. Sort the heart stickers and peel off the backs.
7. Stick hearts on top of the fingers to make flowers.
8. Put two hearts point to point for a butterfly and draw on antennae.
9. Draw faces on your heart flowers to finish the garden.

## Tips
- Offer both paint and markers. Our kids chose to do both the hand tracing and the hand prints.
- Peeling the sticker backs is a real fine motor workout.
- Expect tape everywhere. Our kids went crazy with the tape on the long table!
- Foam stickers were the children's favorite material. We bought a new set every season because the kids did cool things with them.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2014)

Make this adorable [**Valentine art**](https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-art-heart-stencils/) with just paint and stickers This is a simple Valentine art activity we did *last year*. Yes, last year! I remember the children being borderline obsessed with those foam stickers,(they still are) LAST year was insane - every time a new season rolled around we had to buy a new set. Well, I did buy them a bunch because the kids did cool things with it. The kids created numerous cards, designs and art. { all our [**art activities**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/art-projects/) here} This activity is one such we did as a family and I can't believe it has been one whole year! The idea is so simple. First I set up a long paper covered table as the canvas and supplied the kids with paint, markers and stickers and invited them to create a hearts garden scene with those heart stickers. The kids chose to do both the hand tracing and the hand prints.



On the long table ( notice that the kids had gone crazy with the tape! ha!) I set out the green paint and they printed their tiny hands with green paint to their hearts' content..  Then it was time to create a beautiful hearts garden with stickers. They sorted the stickers and peeled the backs {read [**fine motor workout**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/fine-motor-activities/)} to create a lovely garden of hearts. The Valentine art was coming along nicely and the children were having lots of fun with their favorite material - stickers.



Doesn't that butterfly and the cute face on the heart look darling?



More baby hand print flowers!





Our completed Valentine art with hearts stickers.







**Some highlights**

On to our Valentine's spirit

Check our collection of Valentine art and crafts

[](https://www.funlittles.com/10-valentines-day-crafts-and-art-activities-for-kids/)

For more Valentine Art stop by our [**Valentine art and crafts**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/holidays/valentines-day-holidays/) category