Maybe he's no Romeo, but who could resist this leggy love bug? He's also created with easier-to-grasp carrots, making him perfect for little hands to make.

Materials

• Carrot
• Paring knife
• Pencil
• Acrylic paints

• Paper plates
• 4- by 6-inch white index card
• Paper towels
• Markers

Instructions

1. Create the heart stamp (a parent's job): choose a nice big carrot and cut it in half. Use the pencil to etch a heart shape into the cut surface, then carve away the surrounding carrot with a paring knife.

2. Spread a different color of paint on each paper plate

3. Have your kids print a chain of hearts to make the caterpillar on the index cards. Blot the carrot on a paper towel before switching colors.

4. After the paint dries, use markers to add legs, a face, antennae, and a valentine message.

Tips:

To really speed things along, make several heart stamps and assign each child a color. Pass the cards back and forth, with each child adding a segment to the caterpillar until it's long enough.

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Find more about:

• 1 Hour |
• All Ages |
• Cardboard Projects |
• Cards |
• Caterpillars |
• Kitchen Crafts |
• Painting Supplies |
• Paper Crafts |
• Preschooler |
• School Age |
• Toddler |
• Tween |
• Valentine's Day

Related Categories:

• Valentine's Day Cards |
• Table Crafts |
• February 2001