Easy 3D Heart Paper Craft for Kids

Need a simple Valentine craft that will appeal to upper elementary kids? This 3D heart paper craft is the perfect project!

Image of a 3D cutout paper heart in various shades of pink.

As soon as my daughter saw this cute 3D heart valentine craft, she was excited to make it. Part of the appeal is that it looks more “advanced” than typical cut-and-paste paper crafts—and that’s important to a 9-year-old, right?

The best part, though, is that it requires only basic craft supplies that most homeschool families already have on hand. No need to brave the weather to visit the craft store!

You may also like: Cute Frog Valentine Paper Craft

Image of two 3D paper hearts, one in shades of pink and the other in shades of red, both on a light wooden background.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we will receive a small commission. See our Disclosure Policy for more information.

What You’ll Need to Make a 3D Heart Paper Craft

Colored cardstock: various shades of red and pink
Pencil
Craft glue
X-ACTO knife
Craft foam sheet
Scissors
Printable template

How to Make a 3D Heart Paper Craft

Step 1

Note: Children will need adult help for this step.

Select several shades of pink or red cardstock. (If you don’t have cardstock, you can use thick craft paper; light craft papers aren’t suitable for this project.)

Use a pencil to trace around the template patterns onto the selected cardstock, using a different shade of paper for each piece. Use an X-ACTO knife to carefully cut out the traced pattern.

Image of 4 pink squares of paper with various sizes of hearts cut out of the center.

Step 2

Use scissors to cut some narrow strips from a craft foam sheet (see photo below). The foam strips will be attached to the edges to lift up each layer of the 3D heart.

Beginning with the layer with the smallest heart, use craft glue to attach the foam strips near the edge of the paper on any 2 opposite sides.

Image of a pink square of paper with a small heart cut out of the center.

Step 3

Apply glue along the top surface of the attached foam strips. Place the next smallest heart layer on top of the foam strips, aligning the edges of the 2 layers.

Image of 2 shades of pink paper stacked together, with hearts cut out from the center to make a 3D shape.

Step 4

Use craft glue to attach 2 more foam strips to the top of the second layer, alternating their position from the ones in the previous layer. (On one layer the strips will be vertical, on the next they will be horizontal, and so on.)

Image of 2 layers of a 3D heart in shades of pink, with white foam strips on the edges to attach a third layer.

Step 5

Apply glue along the top surface of the attached foam strips. Place the next smallest heart layer on top of the foam strips, aligning the edges with the previous layers.

Using craft glue, attach 2 more foam strips to the top of the third layer, alternating their position from the ones in the previous layer.

Image of a partially assembled 3D heart papercraft in shades of pink on a white background.

Step 6

Apply glue along the top surface of the attached foam strips. Place the final heart layer on top of the foam strips, aligning the edges with the previous layers.

Image of a cutout 3D heart made of various shades of pink construction paper.

Step 7

Cut a square of paper for the base layer.

Use craft glue to attach 2 foam strips to the back of the 3D heart (the first layer).

Image of a small square of pink paper along with a partially assembled 3D cutout heart.

Step 8

Apply glue along the top surface of the attached foam strips. Place the base layer on top of the foam strips, aligning the edges with the previous layers.

Flip the 3D heart over and enjoy the finished project!

Image of completed 3D cutout heart in shades of pink on a white background.

More Valentine’s Day Paper Crafts

Don’t miss these other fun Valentine paper crafts!