DIY - Lovely Bear for Valentine's Day

For Valentine's Day, I wanted to make a craft project that reflected who am I by combining recycling, painting, and crocheting to transform almost nothing into something sweet and precious.

Two small bears with sweet hearts for Valentine's Day

Those bear are made from simple toilet paper rolls, hand-painted with golden details and touches of soft pink. In their paws, they holds a small, soft crocheted heart (but a cardboard version is also possible: 100% recycled!).

An easy and poetic DIY project—perfect to do with children (even if an adult has to handle the cutter).

Materials for one bear:

• 1 tp roll

• Brown, gold, and pink paint

• Paintbrushes

• Fine black marker (such as Posca)

• Scissors 

• craft knife (to be used with or by an adult)

  
  

For the crocheted heart:

• Red yarn (cotton 8/4)

• 2.5mm crochet 

For a cardboard heart (for a 100% recycled version):

• Cardboard scraps from toilet paper roll

• red or pink paint

Step-by-step

1. Creating the bear

- Flatten the roll slightly.

- Draw the outline of the bear on top (leaving the bottom part intact to maintain the shape and allow the bear to stand up)

- Cut out the shape.

2. Painting

- Paint brown on both sides, except for: an oval on the belly and a circle in the center of the face.

- Paint the remaining areas and a small tail at the back in gold.

- Paint in pink: the inside of the ears, the pads, and the tip of the nose.

Then draw the details with a fine black marker.

3. Cut the arms

Using a craft knife (ask an adult for help), carefully cut the two front legs to create a small opening: this will allow the bear to hold the heart.

4. The heart

Two options :

🧶 Crochet version (beginner level)

Abbreviations

ch = chain

sl st = slip stitch

sc = single crochet

hdc = half double crochet

dc = double crochet

Pattern

Into a magic ring, work:

• ch 3 (counts as 1 double crochet)

• 3 dc

• 3 hdc

• ch 1

• 1 dc

• ch 1

• 3 hdc

• 3 dc

• ch 3

• 1 sl st into the magic ring

Pull the magic ring tight to shape the heart.

Fasten off and weave in the ends.

📦 Recycling version

Cut a heart out of cardboard scraps, then paint it red or pink.

There you go, now all you have to do is slip the heart between the teddy bear's arms.

Gallery of the bears: