I’m kind of melting over these little paper bag heart purses for Valentine’s Day that you can definitely rock all year long.  I really want to make one in canvas next with my girls.  They are just so freaking cute and when I say easy to make, I mean EASY TO MAKE.  I teamed up with some fab blogging friends this month to bring you a bunch of playful heart ideas for Valentine’s day.  Keep reading to see how we made these purses and how you can turn them into a whole playful activity with your kids.

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You really only need three things for this activity – a paper bag, scissor and a stapler

We decorated ours too but how you do it is totally up to you, and your kids.  We used jumbo chalks, oil pastels, and my favorite paint set and the results were so beautiful.

The first step is to cut a big rectangle out of a recycled paper bag and fold it in half.  Draw a half heart on the seam like the pic above and cut it out out.  Unfold and you have a symmetrical heart.  Doing it in half is way easier to make an even heart on both sides.  If you double the rectangle you can cut two hearts at once so you have the front and the back.

*Save the handles on the bag for the handles on your purse.  Or you can use ribbon, which I think would be so cute.

I did these first with my daughters and then decided they were so much fun that we did them in art class too.

Open up the hearts and start creating your art for the heart purse.  We started with the pastels, then went to chalk and last added the paint.

All the hearts came out so pretty!

Once you have both sides decorated you’re going to put on the straps.  You can use ribbons, the straps from the bags, or beaded wire.  I don’t really recommend the beaded wire so much that you see in the photos below.  It was a little heavy for the bags and a little hard to attach.  I would stick with ribbon or the bag straps.  Simply staple them onto the inside of each heart and then put the inside of the hearts face to face.

The last step is to staple all around the hearts until you get to the curves of the heart at the top.  Leave that part open for the purse.

When everyone finished we all went around the yard for a nature hunt and the girls collected interesting bits of nature in their bags.  It was so cute and made the bags totally come to life. I was pretty much gushing over each little love bug and their nature purse.

I could just eat these girls up!

If you like this idea, definitely check out this post that includes over 25 Valentine’s Day activities for kids from yours truly.  And also check out these talented friends of mine that have put together their own playful heart’s posts to bring on the love.

Babble Dabble Do did this awesome magic magnet video  you must see!

Toddler Approved made a super cute textured sensory bin

Childhood 101 made these adorable hanging hearts 

NurtureStore made a Valentine’s math station.  Love a new twist on the holiday.

Thanks so much for reading along everyone and Happy Valentines! xo  Meri