happy heart banner {a tutorial}

I wanted to think of some Valentine decorations that Levi could help me make his year. I came up with a watercolor heart banner that was inspired by these watercolor animal silhouettes. We will definitely have to make the animal silhouettes in the future...a little more boyish. But since it is February, we made heart silhouettes instead and strung them together to make a happy heart banner.

Here is what you need:

watercolors & paintbrush

white paper or cardstock

construction paper (for heart cutouts)

scissors/paper cutter

hole punch

bakers twine or string

tape

Before you call in your busy toddler, cut out the hearts and pennant shapes for the banner. But if your house is like mine, your busy toddler will notice and say, "What doin' Mama?". And then he will want to help. :)

If you need something to do with your leftover heart strips, check out these hanging heart charms. So fun and simple.

Now kiss all the hearts while your mama finishes getting everything ready.

Tape one heart onto each pennant shape. I used painters tape and it worked great. It stuck well enough that the hearts didn't move while we were painting, but came right off without tearing the paper when we were done.

Now paint away! We had some new paints, so I just took out the reds and pinks so that Levi would only use those colors.

Levi did really well until he decided he actually preferred painting with water and not paint. Lots of water.

And then he decided he needed to taste the water too. Nice red lips, dude.

He made it through three hearts and then he was done. The ones he got too much water on bled through a little and the heart shape wasn't as defined, but I love that because I know which ones are his! The colors are brighter and the heart is more defined the less water you use. Next time I will just give him some paper when he is done and he can paint with water to his little hearts content. Why didn't I think of that before??

I finished up the rest of the painting and then we left them on the table to dry.

When they are dry peel off the construction paper hearts and this is how they should look.

Punch holes in the top corners and string the hearts onto the twine. I used a small hole punch and strung the twine through with a crochet needle.

And now you have a happy heart banner...that even your toddler can help you make.

When Levi took his nap I couldn't help but paint a little more. You know, because I am well rested and have so much free time these days! This time I made a turquoise happy heart banner.

A certain little boy has been going through a very whiny stage lately. Oh man, it is hard to figure out how to teach kids not to whine...at least it is hard for me! We have been talking a lot about having a happy heart, not a whiny heart. That we need to be thankful and cheerful because God has blessed us SO much.

We are working on memorizing this verse while we eat breakfast in the mornings. Sometimes when Levi is in trouble he will repeat to himself, "Have a happy heart, have a happy heart." It is so sweet. But last week when I asked him if he was having a happy heart he told me that Ishama took it. (Ishama and Bobby are his two imaginary friends...that is a whole other blog post.) Ha, ha. Nice try, Levi. I hope you get your happy heart back soon!

We hung two of the banners in the kitchen for our cousin party next week and took one to the cemetery for Sissy. Now there are happy hearts hanging all around. And every time Levi walks through the kitchen he is reminded to have a happy heart...a good reminder for me too!

Have a happy weekend!