Heart Lacing Crafts

Ribbon lacing makes a decorative accent on card stock.

Lacing cards and beads allows young children to practice the fine motor skills it takes to get a lace through a hole. Using these skills in crafts makes it more enjoyable and permanent than when the child uses it to thread and unthread large beads. Hearts offer a symbol children easily associate with love and gift giving and make them enthusiastic participants in the craft process.

Simple Heart Lacing

Glue decorative wrapping paper or scrapbook paper to a sheet of cardboard. Draw a large heart on the reverse side of the cardboard and cut it out. Use a paper hole punch to make holes 1/2 inch from the edge and about 2 inches apart. Give each child a length of cord, decorative yarn or narrow ribbon at least twice the distance around the heart. Have students lace around the card and tie a bow where the two ends meet. Add stickers, glitter or a written message to the interior of the heart. This craft is suitable for ages 4 through 8.

Heart Pocket

Cut out two identical hearts from file folders. Cover the top half of both hearts with attractive wrapping paper or fabric lace and glue into place. Flip one of the cards over and cover the bottom half of the card back with the same decorative choice. After the cards dry, place them so the decorative tops face and punch holes 2 inches apart and 1/2 inch from the edge, beginning at the widest edge down to the point and around to the same spot on the opposite card side. Lace the hearts together, leaving the ends free. Fold the top part of the card down on the card with the bottom decorated so the decorated tops are exposed. Punch a hole on each side of the folded top just above the center plunge. Insert the ends of your lace in the holes and tie a bow so the folded top stays in place. These work nicely for holding Valentine cards. This craft is suitable for ages 6 through 10.

Lacy Heart Card

Cover a heavy card stock heart with red fabric such as felt or a shiny knit. Punch small holes around the edge about 3/4 inch apart and 3/8 inch from the edge. Cut a length of white 2-inch gathered lace to go around the edge of the heart. Use a thin red ribbon and a craft needle to lace the white edging to the heart. Use a fabric pen to write a heart-felt message in the center. This craft is suitable for ages 6 and above.

Heart and Crystal Garland

Take 16-inch lengths of various colors of lace edging and lace a 17-inch length of thin wire through each piece of lace. Add crystal chips to the wire lace, if desired. Shape the wire so the lace forms a heart. Twist the ends of the wire together. Use a needle and thin filament line to link the hearts together through the widest segment and hang the garland. This craft is suitable for ages 9 and above.

References

• DLTK’s Growing Together: Heart Lacing Project