Craft on the King of Hearts

Make crafts using real playing cards.

The king of hearts is an iconic figure seen on hundreds of different types of playing cards. If you have access to a few packs of playing cards, then you have almost everything you need for crafting. Turn the old cards into a useful item, like a handbag or create a decorative item for your home. Or use the look of the king of hearts as the basis for an entertaining costume.

King of Hearts Costume

Find a rectangular box large enough that it fits over your upper body. Cut a small hole in the top of the box, which lets your head poke through and cut a hole in each side for your arms. Remove the bottom of the box so that your lower body hangs out. Spray paint the box white and paint a large K on the upper left hand corner. Turn the box and make a second large K, which sits upside down when you wear it, similar to how a real playing card looks. Decorate the front of the box with a red heart in the center. Repeat the process on the back of the box and let the paint dry.

Playing Card Purse

Arrange four rows of playing cards with each row holding six cards. Turn the cards face down. Use a small amount of glue on each card and press against the other cards, creating a large block. Repeat the process with another set of 24 cards. Set 12 king of hearts cards face down in a row and place a piece of duct tape along the back to hold the cards together. Lay the row of 12 flat, facing down. Cut a piece of duct tape the same length as the row and press against one edge, leaving half the duct tape hanging over the edge. Set one block of 24 cards beside the row of 12 and gently push the other half of the duct tape against the new block of cards, which forms a right angle from the two group of cards. Cut off a second piece of duct tape and attach to the second side of the 12-card row. Overhang the duct tape slightly and press the second block of 24 against the duct tape, forming the purse shape. Cut a small rectangle from the top of each side, which serves as the handles.

Wall Art

Remove the cardboard backing from an ordinary photo frame. Glue playing cards to the cardboard with the face side facing the cardboard. Apply a thin coat of decoupage glue to the back of each card and press against the cardboard. Arrange the cards in different ways, overlapping the edges and placing some cards at angles on the backing. If the cards do not sit even with the edges of the cardboard, then turn the cardboard over and trim along the edges with a utility knife. Coat the back of the king of hearts card with more decoupage glue and place in the center of the cardboard, which brings the focus on the card. Paint over the top with more decoupage glue and once it dries, slip the piece back inside the frame and hang on your wall.

Cover a Journal

Use decoupage glue and create a funky cover for a journal or ordinary notebook. Place three cards featuring the king of hearts in a row across the front of the journal or in a line down the center of the cover. Paint the back of each card with a thin layer of decoupage glue and press into place on the journal. Once you glue each one in place, go over the top with more decoupage glue. The glue keeps the cards firmly attached to the cover and stops the cards from peeling off. For a fun look, use a single card from three different sets of playing cards, each one with a different design.

References

• Activity TV: Playing Card Costume
• Artists Helping Children: Playing Card Crafts