Valentine’s Wreath Puzzle Craft
A fun Valentine’s Day craft for kids, this Easy Valentine’s Puzzle Wreath is the perfect way to put a puzzle to good use after some pieces inevitably go missing! It’s easy, costs nothing to make, and even your youngest crafters can make this craft independently!
Kids’ Valentine’s Day Wreath Craft
I used to think I liked puzzles, but after putting together one too many impossible puzzles only to figure out that key puzzle pieces were missing, I am now adding all of our puzzle pieces to our craft storage!
Inspired by Janis Joplin’s “Take Another Little Piece of my Heart,” I thought it would be cute to have the kids make hearts made up of puzzle pieces.
I wasn’t originally planning on having them make wreaths; I cut out cardboard hearts and planned for them to cover the hearts with puzzle pieces until the cardboard heart was completely covered and it looked like the entire structure was composed completely of puzzle pieces.
However, the amount of puzzle pieces that they would have to paint to cover the cardboard heart completely ended up being more than what most of them were able to do. To cover a small cardboard heart completely would have taken about 50 puzzle pieces – which was a surprise to me! 20-25 puzzle pieces ended up being the perfect amount to cover up a heart outline, so we switched gears and made puzzle heart wreaths instead.
This is also a great craft for encouraging fluency in kids – a test psychologists simply call “the alternative uses test.” A creative approach to everyday objects is a great way to build creative problem solving skills – so not only are kids making a cute craft, they are also building important life skills. They also had to creatively problem solve during the craft as they had to figure out that the paint stuck to the cardboard side of the puzzle pieces better than it did on the picture side.
More skills that this craft helps build are fine motor skills and dexterity, as they have to hold the puzzle piece with one hand as they carefully paint it with the other.
My daycare kids (and Ella) just thought this craft was fun! We split up the project over two days – painting the puzzle pieces one day and then assembling our wreaths the next.
Early writers can take this craft one step further and write their family members’ names on the puzzle pieces.
(And, it just goes to show you how much my best friend Stacey and I think alike that we are constantly coming up with the same ideas; she also made a super cute Puzzle Wreath and added a cute “Love You to Pieces” sign to take it up a notch!)
And, just in case you’re like me and now have a lot of puzzle pieces you’re looking to craft with, here are some other fun puzzle craft ideas:
- Puzzle Piece Picture Frame from Buggy and Buddy
- Puzzle Piece Jewelry
- Puzzle Piece Monogram from Project Nursery
- Word Puzzles from No Time for Flashcards
- Puzzle Piece Snowflakes from Red Ted Art
- Puzzle Piece Magnets from All Kids Network
- Puzzle Piece Earth from Free Kids Crafts
Materials to Make a Valentine’s Day Puzzle Wreath
- Puzzle pieces
- Paint
- Paintbrushes
- Cardboard or paper hearts
- Scissors <– these are the ones we have and they have lasted for years in our daycare, and unlike some other safety scissors – they actually cut things!
- Glue
- String or ribbon
Tip: I highly recommend grabbing a couple of these sturdy plastic lunch trays (we have one in the pictures in this post). I use these for almost all of our craft or kitchen activities, as well as in our Montessori practical life activities. Ours have lasted for over 6 years and are still going strong, plus they are so great for containing messes and allowing the kids to set a project to the side while it dries (or if you have to clear off the table for supper).
How to Make a Puzzle Wreath
Place paint in the paint tray and cover your work surface with newspaper or a plastic tablecloth.
Have the children put on their painting smocks or old t-shirts so you don’t have to worry about the mess.
Have the children paint 25 puzzle pieces. Try to let them figure out that the cardboard side absorbs paint better than the picture side.
Allow the puzzle pieces to dry.
Cut heart shapes out of cardboard – you can cut outlines for wreaths, or full hearts.
Have the children glue their dried puzzle pieces to the craft, layering them to cover up the cardboard.
Allow to dry before attaching any ribbon or string for hanging.
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Valentine's Wreath Puzzle Craft
A simple Valentine's Day craft for kids using puzzle pieces.
Materials
- Puzzle pieces
- Paint
- Cardboard or paper hearts
- Glue
- String or ribbon
Tools
- Scissors
- Paintbrushes
- Paint tray
Instructions
- Place paint in the paint tray and cover your work surface with newspaper or a plastic tablecloth.
- Have the children put on their painting smocks or old t-shirts so you don't have to worry about the mess.
- Have the children paint 25 puzzle pieces. Try to let them figure out that the cardboard side absorbs paint better than the picture side.
- Allow the puzzle pieces to dry.
- Cut heart shapes out of cardboard - you can cut outlines for wreaths, or full hearts.
- Have the children glue their dried puzzle pieces to the craft, layering them to cover up the cardboard.
- Allow to dry before attaching any ribbon or string for hanging.
Recommended Products
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New Star Foodservice 28010 6-Piece Fast Food Tray, 12 by 16-Inch, Assorted Colors -
Elmer's Liquid School Glue, White, Washable, 32 Ounces - Great for Making Slime
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Westcott Soft Handle Kids Scissors with Anti-Microbial Protection, Assorted Colors, 5" Pointed (14597-030)
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Apple Barrel PROMOABI Matte Finish Acrylic Craft Paint Set Designed for Beginners and Artists, Non-Toxic Formula that works on All Surfaces, Assorted Colors 1, 18 Count
This simple Valentine’s Day craft was a hit with my daycare kids and their parents loved having a craft that they knew the kids had made completely independently!
For more easy Valentine’s Day crafts for kids, check out our Secret Message Heart Necklace craft or our I Love You This Much Card.
