Give your kiddos a beautiful view of the world this Valentine’s Day! Celebrate together by making our colorful DIY kaleidoscope craft.

Materials:

• Cardboard paper towel roll
• 8.5″ X 11″ White paper
• Double-sided tape
• Clear craft plastic sheet
• Fine-tip permanent marker
• Scissors (parents may need to assist)
• Glue gun (adults only)
• Heart-shaped translucent beads
• Confetti (optional)
• 8.5″ X 11″ Reflective silver paper
• Valentine’s Day-themed decorative tape
• Ruler

Step 1:

Cut a paper towel roll to measure 7-inches long (a little more than half of the roll).

Step 2:

Cut one sheet of white paper to the size of the paper towel roll. Place a piece of double-sided tape on the top edge of the paper.

Step 3:

Wrap the paper towel roll with the white paper, using tape to adhere.

Step 4:

Trace the end of the paper towel roll twice onto the clear plastic craft sheet with the permanent marker. Cut out the two circles. Trim one circle smaller than the tube to fit inside and trim the other circle a little larger than the tube to cover the opening.

Step 5:

Grown-ups, hot glue the smaller circle one-quarter of the way into the tube.

Step 6:

Place translucent beads and confetti (optional) into the tube on top of the small plastic circle.

Step 7:

Glue the bigger plastic circle on top of the opening to seal beads/confetti into the tube.

Step 8:

Cut the reflective paper to measure as long as the rest of the tube from the beads down, about 5 inches tall and 4 ½ inches wide.

Step 9:

Fold reflective paper into a triangle, with reflective side inside the triangle. Tape together to hold shape and insert into tube until triangle is flat against the plastic circle inside the tube.

Step 10:

Decorate the outside with Valentine’s Day-themed tape.

Step 11:

To use your kaleidoscope, point the bead end towards light and look in through the opposite end. Start turning the kaleidoscope in your hands and enjoy a new view of the world!