When it comes to holidays, S is all about the decorations and crafts.  This technique for adding tissue paper is one I remember from when I was little.  I loved it SO much, I had to share it with S.  We're definitely related because now she's hooked as well!  She made these tissue paper hearts to give to some of her best friends at her preschool.  So cute.

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The technique for adding the tissue paper still makes them look like bright and vibrant tiny flowers to me!  You'll need squares of tissue paper.  You can buy them precut, or just cut some squares out of tissue paper by hand.  They don't need to be perfect, so we opted for cutting them ourselves.  S had me do this part because I can use scissors sharp enough to cut through several pieces of tissue paper at once.  But if your kiddo is game, there's great scissor practice to be had if they'd like to cut the squares themselves.  S wanted all the colors of tissue paper represented - so we even have brown and black flowers - ha!

 You'll need a pen or marker or pencil - something with a small cylindrical shape.  S chose to use the bottom of a blue highlighter.  You place the bottom of the pen roughly in the center of the tissue square and then fold the edges up around the pen.

If you fold them tightly, the tissue paper will hold on to the pen as you press it down.  You can add the tissue "flowers" using glue if you wish - we opted to make sticky paper hearts so it was easier and less messy (I'll show you how to make those in a minute).

The closer you bunch the "flowers" the more ornate your design will be.

To make our sticky paper hearts, I cut a heart shape out of an empty cereal box (I love the thickness of those!).  Then I cut some contact paper out in roughly the same shape.  I peeled the back of the contact paper off and with the sticky side up, I bent and taped the edges to make a sticky surfaced heart. 

And here she is with one of her completed hearts!  S is four and a half - if you have a toddler you may want to simplify the tissue paper step to either being crumpled balls of tissue paper (start your child off with the tissue paper squares but have them smoosh them into a ball instead and stick the tissue paper balls onto the sticky hearts), or if you have a young toddler, you can simplify it even further and have them place cut or torn pieces of tissue paper (or even construction paper) to decorate the sticky heart.

If you liked this, be sure to check out the rest of our Valentine's Day posts!

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All activities here are activities I feel are safe for my own children.  As your child's parents/guardians, you will need to decide what you feel is safe for your family.  I always encourage contacting your child's pediatrician for guidance if you are not sure about the safety/age appropriateness of an activity. All activities on this blog are intended to be performed with adult supervision.  Appropriate and reasonable caution should be used when activities call for the use of materials that could potentially be harmful, such as scissors, or items that could present a choking risk (small items), or a drowning risk (water activities), and with introducing a new food/ingredient to a child (allergies).  Observe caution and safety at all times.  The author and blog disclaim liability for any damage, mishap, or injury that may occur from engaging in any of these activities on this blog.