How to Make a Paper Heart

Paper hearts are useful for all kinds of crafts, including Valentine's, Mother’s Day cards, love notes and more. The simplest way to make a basic paper heart is to fold a piece of paper in half and draw one, but you can also make paper hearts by folding a piece of paper or by piecing circles and a triangle of paper together. If you want a basic paper heart but you don’t want to have to draw one, you can also download a free paper heart template using the link in the Resource section below.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue (optional)
• Flat work surface

Instructions

Make a Basic Paper Heart

1. Fold a piece of paper in half.

2. Draw a half heart with the point at the bottom and the point in the center of the curved top touching the fold.

3. Cut along the pencil line.

4. Unfold the paper to see the heart.

5. Smooth out the crease in the paper heart.

Make a Folded Paper Heart

1. Start with a square of paper. Fold the square in half diagonally to make a triangle.

2. Unfold the paper and cut along the center crease to make two triangles. Set aside one of the triangles. (You can use it to make a second paper heart if you wish.)

3. Fold one triangle in half, then unfold it. Place the triangle with the long edge toward you.

4. Fold the top point of the triangle down, about 2/3 of the way toward the long edge of the triangle.

5. Fold each of the side points of the triangle upward, so that edges line up with the center crease. The paper should look like a diamond with a slit in the middle.

6. Turn the paper over. Fold each of the two top points down and to the side to make the top look like a heart shape.

7. Make small folds on the tops and sides of the heart to make it less pointed and more rounded (optional).

8. Glue the flaps of the heart together, if desired.

Make a Pieced Paper Heart

1. Draw two circles, both the same size, or trace a round object that’s about half as big as you want the top of the heart.

2. Cut out the circles. Overlap the two circles slightly and glue them together.

3. Place the circles on the piece of paper.

4. Draw a triangle with a top edge that’s as wide as the two circles put together. Cut out the triangle.

5. Glue the two circles to the top of the triangle to complete the paper heart.

Tips & Warnings

• You may want to use red or pink paper to make the heart, or decorate it with markers or crayons.

• Supervise children when working with scissors.

Resources

• Here is a free heart pattern you can print, cut out and trace.