Thumbprint heart magnets are an easy heart craft and homemade gift idea that kids (or adults) can make. Thumbprint heart glass gem magnets are a fun thumbprint heart craft perfect for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or Father’s Day.
Simple homemade keepsakes and crafts like these DIY thumbprint heart magnets are always a favorite with friends and family. Fingerprint heart refrigerator magnets are a simple craft and fantastic gift idea for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, Christmas, a wedding anniversary, teacher appreciation day, or a birthday that kids (or adults) can make. Handmade keepsakes like these easy heart crafts also make a great classroom handout gift idea for Valentine’s Day.
My daughter and I invented this gorgeous thumbprint heart craft idea when we made the very first fingerprint art magnets in 2017. There were a few glass magnet crafts around, and some thumbprint heart crafts as well, but there weren’t any fingerprint magnets, or thumbprint art glass magnets yet–so we decided to create this step-by-step glass magnet craft tutorial for YOU!
My daughter thinks they are one of the coolest craft inventions around, and I’ll bet your kids will, too! Scroll down to learn how to make heart magnet glass gem crafts with children at home or in the classroom. You might also enjoy painting watercolor surprise heart art.
Related: Heart Candle Holder Craft
DIY Fingerprint Heart Craft Supplies
Gather the following craft supplies to make thumbprint heart magnets.
- Cardstock – (bright white heavyweight paper works best)
- Fingerprint ink pads
- Extra-large clear glass gems (without any iridescent coating or finish)
- Small craft scissors
- Mod Podge (or another white PVC clear drying glue) and a foam brush
- Craft magnets
- Or, purchase clear glass gems and magnets together–>HERE!
Related: Beautiful Homemade Gifts Kids Can Make
Related: Slow Falling Hearts Sensory Bottle
Thumbprint Heart Magnet Craft Step-by-Step Directions
Make fingerprint or thumbprint hearts and turn them into glass gem magnets following the easy step-by-step directions below. You can also make thumbprint necklaces or thumbprint keychains with the same ink stamps and craft process–click on the link for the step-by-step tutorial. Or, look at this list of thumbprint heart craft ideas for even more handmade keepsake gift ideas for kids (and adults).
1. Make thumbprint or fingerprint heart art.
Make fingerprints or thumbprints to make a heart for fingerprint art magnets. Use the easy directions below to make a fingerprint or a thumbprint heart.
- Press your thumb (or a child’s thumb) into a fingerprint ink pad.
- Next, gently press the thumb with ink onto bright white cardstock.
- Then, press your thumb into a finger ink pad to reapply the ink.
- Tilt your thumb slightly and press it on the paper to complete the thumbprint heart.
- Repeat the above steps to make more fingerprint hearts, keeping at least two to three inches of space between each thumbprint heart.
- Allow fingerprint ink to dry before moving on to step 2.
2. Glue a glass gem on top of each fingerprint heart.
- Place a drop of clear-drying glue on the glass gem’s back (flat side).
- A little bit goes a long way–don’t use too much glue, or it can smear the thumbprint heart and cause it to blur.
- Next, put the glass gem on the fingerprint heart–glue side down–to attach it to the thumbprint.
- Press down on the glass gem to distribute the glue evenly underneath it, and remove any air bubbles.
- Allow the glue to dry–overnight is best.
3. Cut away the remaining paper from each thumbprint heart craft.
- Use small scissors to trim and cut away any paper that remains around the glass gem, as shown in the video below. (It doesn’t need to be perfect.)
- If the paper lifts away from the glass gem while cutting it, glue it down again in the next step.
4. Glue a magnet to each flat glass marble with a fingerprint heart to complete each thumbprint heart magnet craft.
- Use a foam brush to paint clear drying glue on the back of the heart art (the back of the glass gem), as shown in the glass gem magnet video tutorial.
- Go over the edges of the paper to ensure they are glued down.
- Place glass gem glue side down onto a magnet and allow the thumbprint heart magnets to dry overnight.
Related: Easy Heart Sewing Projects for Beginners
How to Make Thumbprint Heart Magnets Step-by-Step Video Tutorial
Watch the video tutorial below to see how my daughter and I make thumbprint heart magnets as shown in the photographs.
Related: Heart-Shaped Scavenger Hunt
More Fingerprint Heart Art and Craft Ideas
Make Thumb-Buggy fingerprint love bug cards to go with your thumbprint magnets. We have even provided message ideas for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and many other occasions.
Pop over to look at this gorgeous collection of heart art! Or, gather inspiration from this list of Valentine’s Day art projects and painting ideas. Click on either link to see them all!
We have rounded up a slew of thumbprint and fingerprint heart craft and gift ideas that moms, dads, and grandparents will love! The cute heart craft ideas on this list include step-by-step instructions and are fun to make at home or in the classroom with children from toddlers to teens. And best of all, most of them make great handmade gift ideas.
Make a handprint art keepsake with a thumbprint heart sitting in the palm. A homemade thumbprint craft that parents and grandparents will love!
More Heart Crafts and Gift Ideas
For even more heart craft gift ideas and projects for kids (from toddlers and preschoolers to teens) and adults–check out the ideas below!
- Love Bugs Heart Craft
- DIY Heart Leaf Lanterns
- Personalized Heart Candle Holder
- Quadruple Heart Candle Holder
- Easy Heart Sewing Projects for Beginners
- Heart with Celtic Knot Woodburn Tutorial
- Salt Dough Heart with Handprint and Footprint
- Tissue Paper Decoupage Heart Picture Frame
- Heart Tree
- Hanging Heart Suncatcher Prism
- Slow Falling Hearts Sensory Bottle
Thumbprint Heart Craft Gift Idea
Thumbprint heart magnets are a fun heart thumbprint craft, and gift idea friends and family will LOVE!
Mom, dad, and grandparents always cherish handmade gifts from their children and grandchildren. Heart magnets make an easy gift idea that kids can make!
You may also like DIY Photo Necklaces or these other unique DIY gifts for him or her.
Don’t forget to check out our ultimate family gift guide with DIY and ready-made gift ideas for the whole family and homemade gift ideas kids can make.
Learn more about Rhythms of Play HERE.
If you Liked Heart Magnets, You Might Also Like:
- Love Birds Sewing Tutorial with Free Printable Pattern
- Fingerprint Art Magnets
- How to Make a Fairy Garden Step-by-Step Tutorial
- 15 Backyard Pallet Projects with Step by Step Tutorials
- Heart-Shaped Nature Scavenger Hunt
I love this it is so neat! Where did you find the gems? Are they the ones for floral?
Thank you Desiree! Everything you need to know is listed in the materials section above, with links to all supplies 🙂
I tried this over the weekend and all the glass gems came off. They came completely off the glue, cleanly. I’m so upset after spending hours doing the thumbprints with my daughter. I followed the directions and even tried two types of glue (an all purpose craft glue and mod podge) and two types of paper. Any suggestions?
I am so sorry that you have had so much trouble, Jessica!! I would be upset too! That’s not what we experience at all when we make thumbprint heart magnets and we have made them several times. We used cardstock and Modge Podge. Maybe you used too much Modge Podge, or maybe the glass gems needed to be washed first because there was something on them? I’m at a total loss!
What type of paper were you using? I am thinking gloss or coated paper may not allow the glue to stick properly?
Hi Jennifer!
We have learned that cardstock works best to keep the thumbprint heart looking good with all of the glue smeared on the top and bottom of it. I don’t think that glossy paper would work well either. The cardstock we used is listed in the supply section. 🙂 Happy crafting!
My kindergarteners made these for Mother’s Day! Probably the easiest and best gift I will ever send home! Their mothers are sure to keep these magnets forever! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Shellie! I’m so glad that thumbprint heart magnets were easy to make, and, the best gift you have ever sent home!! Hearing that makes my day!
Hello Nell!! I absolutely love this craft, what a wonderful idea! I made them yesterday afternoon using 160gsm card and mod podge and let them dry overnight. They are fully stuck on but you can still see some white mod podge residue – is this likely to disappear in the next few hours, do you think? Because I would have thought that come this morning they would be fully dry!
Kind regards,
Shibani
Hello Shibani!
I’m so glad that you enjoyed making thumbprint heart magnets! It should disappear??
Sometimes the glue can take a while to dry depending on how much was used. This is why we find it best to use a very small drop of Mod Podge squeezed between the thumbprint heart and the glass gem. A little goes a long way!
Blessings,
Nell
Thank you so much for the swift response, Nell! Very impressed ☺️ I did use the same amount as per your video so I am not sure why that happened 🙁 I even re-did them by brushing an even smaller amount of Mod Podge (matte) on and it did the same think and some of the brush marks were still visible.
I did, however, use a light cream card – do you think that would have made a difference? I am now re-doing them using white card taken from an old greeting card to see if that works better
Kind regards,
Shibani
Hi Shibani!
Yes, using white instead of cream should work much better for this fingerprint art craft. I am wondering if you tried it yet, and how your fingerprint magnets turned out?
Nell
Hi! Did you use Mod Podge gloss or matte? You can see the Mod Podge (dried and splotchy) on mine. I tried another with barely any Mod Podge, and it still had the same effect. Just curious! Thanks.
Hi Maria,
Great question! We used gloss because I wondered if matte would make the fingerprint art magnets look a bit hazy. Did you use matte?
I came across your idea on Pinterest. I loved your idea so much and thought it was so well put together I added it in my post of “70 plus Super Easy Valentine’s Day Crafts To Do With Your Kids.” Thank you for giving my readers, and I, something easy and fun to do with our kids this Valentine’s holiday!
Thank you, Starr! I’m so glad that you like our Thumbprint heart magnet crafts and decided to include them in your round-up of Valentine’s Day Crafts! I hope your readers enjoy it!
Nell
Hi Nell!
Thank you for posting this cute idea. I plan to do it in a few days for my son’s Valentine’s Day party as a keepsake to take home. We only have 75 minutes for kids to complete and let dry. I plan to stay and glue on the magnets later, but am wondering how long it typically takes the modge podge to dry? My materials haven’t arrived yet, so I can’t experiment beforehand. I’m curious if I were to bring a blow dryer, if this may help speed up the drying time? I’m hoping to glue the magnets so they can take them home that day as we head off to mid-winter break.
Last question, do you think a glue gun would work best/dry quicker to attach the magnets or have you had good success with the modge podge glue keeping a good hold? TIA 🙂
Hi Desiree!
Excellent questions!
Here are a few ways to make it quicker.
First, cut small circles of cardstock about the size of the glass gems.
Next, invite the kids to make a thumbprint heart on the cardstock circle. The fingerprint ink only needs about 5 minutes to dry, just make sure they don’t smudge before putting Mod Podge on them.
Use the smallest tiniest drop of Mod Podge for quicker drying time, and press the glass gem down firmly in order to squeeze all of the air bubbles out and allow the glue to distribute evenly under the glass gem in order to attach it firmly to the cardstock.
Allow them to dry for as long as you can. I know you don’t have long. 🙂
Finally, paint Mod Podge on the back to add the magnet or try a glue gun as you suggested.
Good luck! I hope they can dry quickly enough!
Nell
Thank you for all of your input! I will experiment and cut out some pieces beforehand. 🙂
You’re welcome, Desiree.
I hope they work and dry quickly… Good luck!
I found Thumbprint Heart Glass Magnets (VIDEO) very helpful. Thank you for this fun craft idea!! 🙂
Thank you, Savanna! I’m so glad that you enjoyed this fun thumbprint heart craft and gift idea!
Do you think that acrylic paint would work instead of an ink pad?
Great question Julie! Acrylic paint would work. The fingerprints will be a bit sloppy, and the thumbprint heart art a little less defined, but it will totally work! Just make sure that you wait for the thumbprint hearts to dry completely before gluing the glass gems on top. Happy crafting!
Hi. Like another poster – we have limited drying time! Curious if we could attach the paper to the magnet ahead of time? Then in class, only need to do the ink thumbprint and glue it to the glass. Let me know if you’ve tried this before.
Thanks!
Hi Catherine, glad to know that you have already read the quick crafting tips I gave to another reader with the same problem in the comments above. 😉
I think it would work to attach the paper to the magnet first, but I have never tried it. It might be helpful to have another person hold the magnet from underneath while each child stamps their heart. Otherwise, it may slip and mar the fingerprint heart. After giving it some thought, I’d say go for it–give it a try–it will most likely work!
Good luck and happy thumbprint heart crafting,
Nell
Hi, I keep looking for the actual directions to make the marble fingerprint craft but I can only locate the items list. Where do I find the actual step-by-step directions on how to make them?
Feeling real dum… 🙂
Hello Juanice, I’m sorry that you are having trouble finding the instructions to make the fingerprint magnets. The step-by-step written instructions and video tutorial sharing how to make them are in THIS POST (click the link to go straight to it) below the descriptions of the types you can make and the video tutorial. Scroll past both to read the written instructions. It looks like you clicked the link to the thumbprint heart magnet tutorial instead of scrolling past it for the directions to make fingerprint art magnets. I hope that makes sense! Happy holiday crafting!
I did these with my sons kindergarten class and they seemed to really enjoy this! Thanks for the great idea!
You’re welcome, Amanda! I’m so glad you were brave enough to make thumbprint magnets with a class of kindergarteners. Well done!