If you haven’t made a footprint project before, this footprint heart craft is definitely worth trying! It’s an incredibly easy idea that creates a lovely keepsake you can treasure for years to come!
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Create a Footprint Heart with Kids
Although this footprint heart is ideal for tiny baby or toddler feet, older children can enjoy making it too! Remember that you’ll need a bigger heart outline to cut around.
Taking footprints from a baby or toddler is simpler than you might imagine! I have several helpful suggestions that make the process easier. Check out our painting advice below.
Materials Required
- Conversation Hearts (you may also use pom poms, buttons, stickers, or gems to create the heart outline)
- Washable paint – I prefer washable tempera paint. It provides more coverage than ordinary washable children’s paint. Acrylic paint is another option, as long as it is non-toxic.
- Hot glue (an adult must assist)
- Heart pattern or oversized heart cookie cutter
Steps for Making a Footprint Heart
1. Begin by taking the footprints.
This is how we completed ours. We began by brushing a small amount of washable paint onto the baby’s foot.
Applying the paint with a brush helps cover every part of the foot. Dipping it directly into the paint becomes very messy, and some toes might not get covered!
Next, gently press the foot onto a piece of white cardstock. You might have to repeat this a few times until you’re satisfied with the footprint.
After creating a print you like, repeat the process on the opposite side. Tilt the second footprint slightly so the two prints create the pair of bumps inside the heart. Note – you need one footprint from each foot to form the heart, so begin with the left foot.
Painting Suggestions
- Don’t be concerned if the footprint does not transfer every bit of paint when you press it down. A paintbrush can be used to fill in a few areas.
- Let children sit in a chair while you paint their foot. For a baby footprint, another adult may need to help support the baby as you apply the paint.
- Put plenty of paint on the foot before pressing it down. Children can stand from the chair to place the footprint on the paper. With babies, hold them upright while guiding their foot onto the paper.
- Keep the foot level as you press it onto the paper, ensuring every toe touches the surface.
Raise the foot carefully once the print is made. - Clean the feet right away for simpler cleanup. I like placing a small bowl of dish soap and water nearby, then using a washcloth or baby wipe to clean the feet afterward.
2. Outline a heart around the footprints.
Now trace a heart shape around the footprints. We used a large heart-shaped cookie cutter to create an even heart. You can also download a heart pattern online, print it, and trace around it.
Another option is to sketch the heart by hand. Since conversation hearts will be placed on top, it doesn’t have to look flawless.
3. Trim out the footprints.
When the heart has been traced, cut it out and attach it to the background paper you prefer. We selected pink construction paper, though cardstock, scrapbook paper, or glitter paper work well too.
4. Create the heart edging.
Begin by choosing the color combination and design you would like. We picked pink, purple, and white conversation hearts.
Next, use hot glue to secure them in place (adults should handle this step), beginning at the top and continuing around the shape. At the uppermost section, notice that 2 conversation hearts are reversedto create the heart’s inner shape.
If conversation hearts aren’t your preferred border material, try using small pom poms, buttons, gems, or foam heart stickers instead.
This project is easy to make, yet it becomes a wonderful keepsake or present for Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day. You could even place it in a frame and preserve it for years!
Alternative ideas: if you prefer to skip the conversation hearts, pom poms or buttons can also be used to form an outline around the footprint heart.
Additional Valentine’s Day Crafts for Children
These heart handprintsalt dough ornaments make an ideal Valentine’s Day project!
You can also create a handprint Valentine card featuring your own special heart messages inside. We adore how simple this card is to make!