This DIY Valentine’s Day Scratch-Off Cards are pure magic! Instead of a regular card, kids can hide secret colorful picture under a scratch-off layer, making this craft extra fun, interactive, and full of surprises.
This is one of those projects that looks super fancy, but is actually so easy to make with just a few supplies. Plus, kids will love creating their own hidden pictures. They can even add short messages, jokes, or sweet notes for friends and family. Whether it’s a design of coloring hearts or fun message or a silly surprise, this craft is all about creativity, kindness, and a little bit of mystery!
Why You’ll Love This Craft
- Totally customizable – Make them sweet, silly, or even funny with personalized messages!
- Great for all ages – Perfect for kids, tweens, and even adults to create fun Valentine’s gifts.
- Super simple supplies – You probably already have everything you need at home!
- Magic in a craft – The scratch-off reveal makes this feel extra special and exciting.
Materials You’ll Need
- White cardstock
- Markers
- Clear packing tape
- Black acrylic paint
- Dish soap
- Bowl & paintbrush
- Wooden stick for scratching at the end
How to Make DIY Valentine’s Day Scratch-Off Craft
- Cut white cardstock into the size of a greeting card or small note. Use markers to decorate with hearts, doodles, or Valentine’s-themed designs. Optional: If you don’t want to make your entire card scratch -off , leave a blank space where your hidden message or surprise will go. This is the area where you will paint. Or you can color your entire card on the inside and paint over the entire space.
- In the blank space, write a hidden note, challenge, joke, or loving message. Some fun ideas: “You’re my favorite!” “Scratch here for a hug!”. OR continue to color your entire card with bright colors.
- Either place clear packing tape over the area where your message is written. Press it down firmly so it’s completely smooth (this is key for the scratch-off effect!). Or place the packing tape all over the entire picture if you aren’t writing a message.
- In a small bowl, mix 1 part dish soap with 2 parts black acrylic paint. Use a paintbrush to cover the taped area with a thin layer of paint. Let it dry completely, then apply a second coat if needed for full coverage.
- Once the paint is dry, the card is ready to go! Grab a thin wooden stick and then use it like a pencil to scratch a picture in the black paint to reveal the color underneath.
Ways to Make It Extra Fun
- Experiment with colors! – Try using red, gold, or pink paint instead of black for a festive touch.
- Make a whole set! – Create mini scratch-off notes to give out as classroom Valentines.
- Add stickers or glitter! – Decorate the rest of the card to make it even more special.
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
