Love Tree

Published February 1, 2014 at 4:00 a.m.
Updated April 4, 2022 at 7:38 p.m.

Got a branch or two left over from your Christmas tree? Here's a fun way to reuse them and spread the love this Valentine's Day. Follow these instructions to make a mini tree adorned with heart-shaped love notes. It's the perfect antidote to cabin fever.

Materials

Apple

Acrylic paint

Paintbrush

Large sheet of white, red or pink card

Scissors

Needle and thread

Jar or vase

Handful of coins or pebbles

Tree branch

Instructions

Slice the apple in half, parallel to its core. Then lay the apple halves on a cutting board, white sides up, and trim off the bottom two corners of each. You should end up with two heart-shaped stamps.

Spread some paint on a plate. Press the white side of the apples into it, or use the paintbrush to coat them evenly in paint.

Stamp the apple hearts all over the sheet of paper.

When the prints are dry, make them into individual ornaments by cutting them out.

Attach a loop of thread to the top of each print; you can either use the needle or just tape the thread to the back of the print.

Now, the fun part: Write what you love about someone on the back of each print.

Put the tree branch in the jar or vase; you can toss in a couple of inches of coins or pebbles — or conversation heart candies — to keep the branch from falling over.

Hang your heart ornaments on the branch.

This article was originally published in Seven Days' monthly parenting magazine, Kids VT.