How to Make Your Own Heart Person

One of the best parts of Heart People is discovering that kindness doesn't stop when the story ends. In fact, every child has the ability to create their own Heart Person—a little reminder that our hearts are made to connect, encourage, and care for one another.

This simple craft is fun for children at home, in classrooms, libraries, church groups, or anywhere people gather to create. As you decorate your Heart Person, talk about what makes each of us unique. What colors represent your personality? What kind things could your Heart Person do for others? Once you've finished, make another for a friend—or better yet, make a whole community of Heart People!

Materials You'll Need

• File folder

• Pencil

• Black Sharpie or permanent marker

• Scissors

• Two sheets of paper (copy paper works great!)

• 2 black pipe cleaners

• Scotch tape

• Stapler

• Crayons, markers, colored pencils, or pens

Step 1: Make a Heart Tracer

1. Fold a file folder in half.

2. Draw half of a heart along the folded edge.

3. Cut along your line.

4. Open the folder to reveal a perfectly symmetrical heart. This is your heart tracer!

Step 2: Create Your Heart

1. Stack two sheets of paper together.

2. Place the heart tracer on top and trace around it.

3. Cut through both sheets at the same time to make two matching hearts.

4. Separate the hearts and draw a face on one side using a Sharpie.

5. Decorate both the front and back with your favorite art supplies. Make your Heart Person as colorful and unique as you are!

Step 3: Add Arms and Legs

1. Turn both hearts over.

2. Tape one black pipe cleaner across the back where you'd like the arms.

3. Tape the second pipe cleaner where you'd like the legs.

4. Place the second heart on top, lining up the edges.

5. Staple the hearts together:

   • One staple in the dip at the top of the heart.

   • Two more staples across the top.

   • One staple at the bottom point.

   • Add a staple where each pipe cleaner exits the heart to help anchor the arms and legs.

Step 4: Bring Your Heart Person to Life

Wrap the ends of each pipe cleaner around a pencil to create curly hands and feet. Then gently bend the arms and legs into place. A helpful tip: hold the pipe cleaner where it comes out of the heart while you shape it to keep everything secure.

The Best Part: Connect!

Heart People are made for friendship! Create another Heart Person for a friend or family member and hook their hands or feet together. Let them hold each other up, stand side by side, or create a whole chain of caring hearts.

Just like people, every Heart Person is different—but they're always better when they're connected.