# Tape Resist Valentine Hearts
> Kids tear masking tape and stick it along a heart outline on watercolor paper. They paint the whole sheet with liquid watercolors, then peel off the tape to reveal a bright resist heart.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-art-tape-resist-toddler-art/
- Ages: 2–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium
- Time: prep 15 min, activity 30 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class
- Skills: fine-motor, painting, color-exploration, resist-art

## Materials (one batch)
- 1 sheet Watercolor paper or heavy paper
- 1 piece Masking tape (household)
- Liquid watercolors
- 1 piece Paintbrushes
- Small bowls or cups for paint (household)
- 1 piece Pencil or marker (household)

## Substitutions
- Instead of watercolor paper: Heavy paper (Listed in the post as an alternative.)

## Safety
- Liquid watercolors can stain clothes, hands and surfaces. Cover the table and use smocks or old clothes.
- Supervise young children so paint and tape pieces stay out of mouths.

## Before you start
- Draw a heart outline on each sheet of watercolor paper.
- Set out masking tape and pour the liquid watercolors into small bowls.

## Steps
1. Tear off pieces of masking tape from the roll.
2. Stick the tape pieces on the paper, following the heart outline, until the whole heart is covered.
3. Pick your favorite liquid watercolors.
4. Paint the entire sheet, inside the heart and right over the tape.
5. Add a border in another color if you like.
6. Peel off the tape to reveal your heart.
7. Hang your art on the wall or mantle.

## Tips
- The masking tape resists the watercolors even if you paint on them, so let kids paint the whole sheet.
- Our 3-year-old enjoyed exploring and painting ON the masking tape for a really long time. She loved seeing the colors spread out on the tape.
- Peeling off the tape was the favorite part, another fine motor alert. Why does it feel so therapeutic?
- Our 5-year-old, a minimalist by nature, painted her whole sheet red and finished it with a blue border. Her little sister used more colors.
- The children love to see their work displayed around the house. These make a stunning wall art.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2014)

Today's [**Valentine Art**](https://www.funlittles.com/valentine-art-hand-print-hearts-garden/) is such a staple of all art activities for kids. Our mantle is already starting to look oh-so-pretty with all our Valentine art and crafts projects being mounted there. { Access all our [**Valentine art and crafts**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/holidays/valentines-day-holidays/) here } The children love to see their work being displayed around the house. **Materials**

- Masking Tape
- Water color paper/heavy paper
- LIquid water colors

On a crisp sheet of water color paper ( we love those for all our [**water color art activities**](https://www.funlittles.com/tag/liquid-water-colors/) and love this **[brand](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00251AIO0/?tag=blmemo-20).** ) I drew a heart outline and set out masking tape and water colors. The children's eyes lit up when they saw their favorite liquid water colors out on the art table. I showed them to tear off pieces of masking tape from the roll and they started pasting them on the paper following the heart outline. This exercise was a great [**fine motor practice**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/fine-motor-activities/). After the heart outline was completed, they went ahead and had a blast with the liquid water colors set out. My children are big fans of big bright colors and chose red, blue and magenta for their Valentine Art project. Here is big sister, 5 years old having a go at her heart. She paints the entire sheet of paper including the insides of the heart. The masking tape resists the water colors even if she paints on them! A minimalist by nature, she colored her entire sheet in one color ( red) and completed the art with a blue border. How beautiful!



Baby sister, 3 loves to use more colors in her art but is compelled to have at least one element in common with her sister's art. She just enjoyed exploring and painting ON the masking tape for a really long time. She loved seeing the colors spread out on the tape and tried hard to completely cover the tape with paint!



While she loved painting her heart with all the colors they chose at the beginning of this Valentine art project, she insisted that her art have a blue border as well.



Their completed hearts looked so bright and beautiful!



Then it was the favorite part of the art project - peeling off the tape, again { fine motor alert} Why does it feel so therapeutic?



All our "peeled off" art here.





They make for a stunning wall art





If you want to go for a different kind of resist art on canvas, try this [**resist art on canvas**](http://mamapapabubba.com/2014/01/21/simple-heart-resist-art/) by Mama.Papa.Bubba Blog- you will fall in love with her blog there.

[](http://mamapapabubba.com/2014/01/21/simple-heart-resist-art/)

Thanks for reading

More [**Valentine art**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/holidays/valentines-day-holidays/) on our category page

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