Paper Heart Chains

This week I thought I would do something every day for valentine's day. Everyone gets so down in the dumps about valentine's day if they don't have a special someone in their life, or even if they do and their significant other doesn't take it seriously. But I don't really understand why? There are so many people in your life to love, and who love you. So this year celebrate valentine's day! Single or part of a couple celebrate love on all levels. Back in the day they made you give a valentine to everyone. Part of that is so people's feelings don't get hurt, but part of it is teaching to love everyone. Valentine's day doesn't have to be about one love, so I hope all of you choose to enjoy the day, rather than mourn it :)
  
For tonight.....It's always fun to go back to your kindergarten days and remember how fun some of the simplest crafts can be. This is a slightly modified version of the paper chain. I made each link of the chain into a heart and connected them that way instead. I'm using mine as garland on my valentines tree, but you could use it as garland around your house, hanging down a window, or even in a classroom for all of you teachers.

It's really not too difficult, but I took pictures of each step so it would help. You can use construction paper or any paper flexible enough to bend. For this particular garland I used sparkly scrapbook paper from target. It wasn't very expensive, and the sparkles are sooooo pretty! Construction paper is what people traditionally make the chains out of, at least in kindergarten, but the construction paper is a little flimsy and you have to work to get it to hold it's shape.

First, I cut all of the paper into strips about 2" wide. You should cut the paper in strips the long way unless you want tiny hearts. 

 Second, fold each piece of paper in half with the sparkly side up. 

You want the sparkly sides of the paper to bend inwards. If you are using construction paper you can glue them together, but the glue wasn't holding those sparkles together. I used tape. 

As you make the shapes be sure to loop the edge through the last heart you did before you glue or tape the next heart! 

And there is your chain!!!! 

It's a pretty simple project, but goes a long way in decorating for Valentine's Day. It's cheap, can go everywhere, and sometimes it's fun to just remember how much you enjoyed doing crafts, and to take your mind off of school, work, your cell phone, etc. Try it! I'd be surprised if you didn't find yourself having a ton of fun making them.