Easy Salt Painted Hearts craft For Kids

This salt painted hearts craft is fun to make for Valentine’s day. Kids will enjoy creating their own salt stamped hearts using watercolor paint, glue and salt.

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Salt Painted Hearts Craft

This fun salt painted hearts craft is so much fun to make. After creating salt hearts, watercolor paint is used to create a bright and colorful finished product that you can proudly display.

The salt painting process is also so neat.

Salt painting with watercolors is a magical mix of art and science that kids absolutely love!

The salt absorbs the liquid paint, creating unique, crystal-like textures that sparkle and shimmer in vibrant colors as they dry.

It’s a fun, hands-on way to explore creativity while learning about how materials interact!

Like this salt painted hearts craft? Check out these love bug crafts, diy valentine cards or valentine box crafts for kids.

Supplies Needed for Salt Painting

white cardstock paper – you’ll want very thick cardstock to make this craft so the glue and paint doesn’t bleed through.
heart shape cookie cutters
pencil
clear school glue
paintbrush
watercolor paints
water and a small bowl
salt

Tip* Don’t have heart shape cookie cutters? Use our printable heart outlines to make this salt painted hearts crafts.

Tips For Salt Painting

1. Use the Right Watercolor Consistency for Vibrancy
Avoid over-diluting your watercolors to ensure your salt painting is bright and vibrant. If the paint is too watered down, the colors can appear dull and muted once dried. For the best results, mix just enough water to create a smooth flow while keeping the pigment rich. This will make your artwork pop with bold, vivid hues!

2. Start Painting While the Glue is Fresh
Begin painting immediately after applying the glue to your design. Wet glue helps the paint spread beautifully, creating soft, blended effects. If you wait too long and the glue dries, the paint won’t adhere or spread as well, making it harder to achieve your desired look.

3. Seal Your Masterpiece for Longevity
Preserve your salt painting by applying a spray sealer once it’s completely dry. This protective layer not only keeps the colors vibrant but also prevents the salt from flaking off over time. Choose a clear, matte sealer for a natural finish or a glossy one to add a touch of shine to your artwork!

How To Make Salt Painted Hearts

Use your heart shaped cookie cutters and trace the hearts onto the white cardstock paper. If you don’t have heart shaped cookie cutters you can also use our smallest printable heart template.

Take your glue bottle and gently squeeze it to trace over the heart shape. For smooth and even lines, maintain steady pressure on the glue bottle and move at a consistent pace.

Sprinkle a good amount of salt over the hearts, making sure to cover all the glue completely. Don’t be shy—pour enough so every bit of glue is coated!

Gently shake off the extra salt from the page—just be careful not to bump the hearts too much so the salt stays where it belongs!

Dip your paintbrush into some water, making sure it’s nice and loaded with watercolor paint.

Then, gently start painting the salt-covered hearts. Watch the magic happen as the paint spreads and flows through the salt—it’s like watching the colors come to life!

Continue this until all hearts are completed. Set aside to dry before displaying!

Books We Love

book recommendations for valentine's day

We love to read! So, we always make an effort to suggest some of our favorite books that pair well with our screen free activities.

Here are a handful of great books that pair well with this fun salt painted hearts craft.

The Biggest Valentine Ever – A sweet tale about love and friendship that is perfect for all-year-round!
How to Catch a Loveosaurus – This funny children’s picture book makes the perfect bedtime read-aloud and Valentine’s Day gift for kids ages 4-10!
The Night Before Valentine’s Day – Celebrate love and Valentine’s Day with card-making, tasty treats, and more in this installment of Natasha Wing’s best-selling series