How to Layer Hearts to Make Your Own Beautiful Valentine Greeting Cards!

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to spread love with handmade cards—and these layered heart cards are super fun to make! With just a few pieces of colorful paper, you can create a 3D layered heart that jumps off the page and makes someone smile. Ready to get crafty?

What You’ll Need:

• White cardstock
• Red, pink, and white cardstock
• Scissors
• Glue stick, double-sided tape, liquid craft adhesive, or hot glue
• Pop-dots or follow the instructions below on how to make your own
• Valentine Hearts Template
• Optional: markers, stickers, glitter, or stamps for decorating

Let’s Make Valentine Greeting Cards:

1. Make Your Card Base
   Cut a piece of 8½” x 11” in half width-wise so you end up with two 5½” x 8½” pieces. Each sheet of cardstock makes two card bases. Score a center line parallel to the 5½” side. Fold on the score line to make your card base. You can orient your card either landscape (with the folded edge along the top) or portrait (with the folded edge along the left side).
   
   

2. Cut Out Hearts

   
   Print the Valentine Hearts Template, and cut out the shapes. Trace and cut out three hearts in different sizes—small, medium, and large—onto your colored cardstock. Use red, pink, and white paper to mix up the colors. Or, you can draw your own hearts without using the templates. Fold your paper in half and draw half a heart along the fold. Cut along the line and open it up—ta-da! A perfect heart. 

3. Making Your Own Version of Pop-dots
   

   Method One: Cut small squares (about ⅜”) from an old cardboard box or paper egg carton. These can be glued together to any thickness you desire. Since they’ll be hidden between heart layers, what they look like won’t matter.
   Method Two: Pipe a dollop of hot glue onto the center of the bottom heart. Let it set up completely. That dried dollop becomes your pop-dot. To add the next heart layer, pipe a tiny amount of hot glue on top of the dollop, and adhere the heart. Repeat these steps for each additional heart layer.
   These spacers add dimension to the layers on your card.

4. Layer the Hearts
   Stack the hearts from largest to smallest. Glue the medium heart onto the biggest heart, then glue the smallest heart to the medium heart.  Now your heart layers are ready to glue onto the front of your card. Experiment with different layouts and color combinations.
5. Use markers, stickers, or glitter to make it extra special. Write your sentiment on the inside of the card. Here are some suggestions:
   

   You’re my best friend!
   I hope your day is as awesome as you are!
   Sending you lots of hugs and smiles.
   You make me happy every day.
   I’m so lucky to have you!
   You make my heart smile.
   Forever my favorite person.
   My world is brighter with you.

6. Give Your Card to Someone You LoveHandmade cards are the best kind of Valentine! Give yours to a friend, teacher, parent, or sibling to brighten their day.
   

Crafting is a great way to show love and creativity—so grab your scissors and start snipping!