Get ready for a sweet and simple Valentine’s Day craft that kids will love making! This paper roll Valentine’s Day craft turns an ordinary cardboard tube into a cute heart decoration that’s perfect for spreading a little love. With just paint and a battery tea light, kids can create something festive that looks extra special when it lights up.
This easy, hands-on activity is great for classrooms, parties, or a cozy afternoon at home — and it’s a fun way to reuse recycled paper rolls. Little crafters will love shaping the heart and choosing their colours, and the finished decorations make adorable Valentine’s Day table decor or window displays.
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How to Make a Paper Roll “Love” Sign
Materials:
Equipment:
- Craft knife (optional)
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Draw the shapes
- You’ll need 1 paper roll for each letter and heart you’d like to make. Start by flattening the paper roll.
- Use a pencil to draw the letter outline on the paper roll. Here’s what the “L” looks like.
- To make the heart tealight holder you’ll want to draw a shape that almost looks like the number “2”.You’ll be drawing half a heart on the top 2/3 of the roll and then drawing a horizontal line to the right edge.
- Repeat, making the letters “O”, “V”, and “E”. Here’s what the paper rolls look like before being cut.
Step 3: Cut out the letters and heart
- Use scissors to cut out the letter and heart shapes.
- For the “O” you’ll also need an adult to use a craft knife to cut out the center.(If you only have scissors, an adult will need to poke them through. Or you can fold the paper roll across the center of the “O” and make a snip — then you can cut like normal.)
- Once you’ve cut out the first center of the “O”, trace the opening onto the other side of the paper roll. Then use the craft knife to cut it out.
- Here’s what all the letters look like cut out. You can see how your “2” shape becomes the heart!
Step 4: Paint the paper rolls
- Use acrylic paint to cover the outside and inside of the paper rolls. You can use a different colour, or shade of pink and red, for each letter.
- If you’d like to create an ombre effect, choose 2 colours. Add a generous amount of one colour near the top, and the other colour at the bottom of the heart.
- Spread the first colour down, clean your brush, and brush the second colour upwards. Clean your brush again and use the damp brush to spread the paint until it combines in the middle.Keep cleaning your brush and using the little bit of water to blend the colours in the middle. You can add a tiny bit more of each colour at the top and bottom to really emphasize the ombre effect.
- Here’s what our paper rolls looked like once the paint was dry.
- Your paper roll Valentine’s Day craft is complete! Add a battery operated tea light candle inside the heart and set them on display.
Helpful Tips:
- Have an adult cut the center of the “O.” A craft knife works best for this step, and these blades are really sharp. You can also carefully use scissors if that’s all you have.
- Mix up your colours! Using different shades of red, pink, and purple makes the “LOVE” letters look extra fun and festive.
What type of paper rolls do I need to make this Valentine’s Day craft?
Recycled toilet paper rolls work perfectly. You can also cut paper towel rolls and wrapping paper tubes into smaller sections.
If you don’t have enough recycled rolls, you can also buy craft tubes online.
What paint is best for making this paper roll Valentine’s Day craft?
Acrylic paint is a great choice because it has strong coverage and comes in tons of colours and shades.
For younger kids, washable craft paint is a good option, but it’s usually thinner — so you may need two coats to create a bright, even colour.
How do I paint an ombre effect on this paper roll love craft?
Ombre looks so pretty on these paper roll candle holders — and it’s super easy to do!
- Pick two colours that blend nicely (like red & light pink or pink & purple).
- Paint one colour near the top of the paper roll and the other colour near the bottom.
- Brush the top colour downward, then rinse your brush and brush the bottom colour upward.
- Blend where the colours meet in the middle. If the paint feels too thick to blend smoothly, dip your brush in a tiny bit of water to help soften it.
- Once you like the blend, add a bit more of each colour at the top and bottom to make the ombre effect really stand out.
And just like that, you’ve turned simple paper rolls into sweet Valentine’s Day decorations that really shine (literally!). This craft is such a fun reminder that recycled materials can become something special with a little creativity and some basic craft supplies.
Whether you spell out LOVE, make glowing heart candle holders, or mix and match both, these paper roll Valentine’s crafts add a cozy, handmade touch to your home or classroom. Set them on a table, line them up on a shelf, or gift one to someone special — they’re simple, heartfelt, and made with lots of love.
Here’s even more Valentine’s Day craft ideas:
“Watercolor” Painting with Markers
Now available
Low-Mess Crafts for Kids Book
72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada
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