The story behind it
By TurkeyMom · January 2016
Ages4–8 yrs
Prep10 min
Activity30 min
Leveleasy
MessMedium
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class
Draw a big heart on a dollar store mirror, then cover everything around it with cut-up glitter foam squares stuck on with water or diluted tacky glue. The finished mirror is a homemade Valentine's gift that frames the person looking in it inside a heart.
⚠️ Safety first
- Mirrors are glass. An adult should check each mirror for sharp edges or cracks before handing it out, and kids should keep it flat on the table while they work.
- Supervise scissor use. Give younger kids child-safe scissors.
- Permanent marker doesn't wash out. An adult can draw the heart, or supervise kids closely.
- Tacky glue and small foam bits are not for mouths. Supervise younger children and wash hands after.
Before the kids arrive
- Pick up a mirror for each child. Choose sizes to suit each child's patience and interest level.
- Check each mirror for sharp edges or cracks.
Steps
Draw a big heart in the middle of the mirror with a permanent marker.
Cut the glitter foam sheets into small squares or any shapes you like.
Brush a tiny bit of water on the back of a foam bit.
Stick the foam bit onto the mirror, outside the heart.
For a gift that lasts, brush diluted tacky glue on the back of the foam bits instead of water.
Keep adding foam bits until the mirror is covered all around the heart. Leave the inside of the heart clear.
Let the finished mirror dry flat.
Wrap the mirror in heart wrapping paper and add a message.
Tips
- Choose the mirror size based on your child's (or your) patience and interest level, because covering it takes a lot of fine motor work.from the author
- Did you know that foam sheets stick to glass with just a little bit of water? Yes they do! But some will fall off after a day and leave gaps.from the author
- If you want a more permanent Valentine gift, brush diluted tacky glue on the back of the foam bits.from the author
- We used glitter foam sheets because the kids loved the shine and shimmer of the bright fuchsia sheets.from the author
- Wouldn't your loved ones be so thrilled to see themselves inside a nice big heart on a homemade Valentine's day gift?from the author
Make it your own
- Use multi-colored cut-up shapes instead of sticking to one color.
- Use pre-cut colored paper squares instead of foam.
- Add a message to the wrapped gift, such as "Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who is my favorite person of them all".
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