Make a paper heart spinner decoration that twirls in the breeze, or when you blow on it gently.

This is a fun STEM craft for Valentine’s Day and is easy enough for all age groups from around 6 and up.

Get the printable template here

Hearts are the prettiest shape to craft with, don’t you think?

We’ve made them even prettier with this patterned twirling heart spinner. This craft works in the same way that our spinning paper earth craft works.

The template includes the pre-designed patterns you see in these pictures, a colour-your-own version, and a blank heart so kids can design their own patterns.

The design-your own one is especially fun, and patterning is both soothing and relaxing and helpful for mathematical thinking. 

For our example we’re making the pre-designed full colour version because it’s so quick and easy.

How to make a paper heart spinner

You will need:

• The template printed onto white paper – light card stock works best for this craft but ordinary paper will also work
• Felt tip markers, pencils or crayons (if colouring or designing your own patterns)
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• String
• Wooden beads for weight – ours are 1cm in diameter
• Needle for threading onto string

How to:

1. Print the template onto light card stock – you will need 4 hearts
2. Score the fold line by holding a ruler against it and running a scoring tool or a blunt butter knife along the fold line to create an indent. This helps it to fold perfectly later on
3. Cut the hearts out and fold them along the lines you’ve scored
4. Glue the hearts together in a folded stack
5. Before gluing the final panel together to make a complete 3D spinner, sticky tape a piece of string into the centre to hold the heart in place when it spins
6. Glue the hearts together to make a 3D 4-panelled shape
7. Thread 4-5 beads onto the end of the string and tie a knot around the bottom one. You may need to use a needle for this task depending on the width of the centre hole in your beads.
8. Tie a loop in the top of the string for hanging and you’re done!

When you’re finished, hang the heart spinner somewhere where it can catch the breeze. You can also blow on it gently to make it spin.

You can get the template to make the spinning paper hearts in our printables store.

More Valentine’s Day crafts for kids

• Make a cute set of paper roll love bugs, each with their own unique personality
• Use recycled cardboard to make a paper heart necklace
• We have a printable set of colouring Valentine cards kids can make and hand out to friends
• Turn a paper roll into a sweet pair of lovebirds