Pop Tube Valentines (Free Printable)

Need a great idea and a FREE printable for Valentine’s Day? Check out my three free pop tube Valentine’s day printables for kids. These are fun, easy, and quick Valentine’s to make.

Table of Contents:

1. Valentine’s Day Always Comes Out of No Where
2. A Valentine That Surprised Me (In the Best Way)
3. What You’ll Need for the Valentine
4. How to Assemble the Valentines
5. Why This Valentine Is a Favorite
6. Valentine’s Day FAQs

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Valentine’s Day Always Comes Out of No Where

January rolls along calmly… until suddenly you’re counting how many Valentines you need, checking school rules, and wondering when you’re supposed to squeeze in a store run to make it all happen.

My Valentine’s day ideas keep it simple.

I created free printable Valentine’s Day cards designed to pair with sensory pop tubes. You can print the cards at home, order the pop tubes online, and have classroom Valentines ready with minimal effort.

An easy Valentine win and no extra errands required – another win.

A Valentine That Surprised Me (In the Best Way)

Pop tubes might look like a one-and-done novelty toy at first glance.

I thought so too.

But in our house? They’ve far exceeded my expectations. My kids have found a million different ways to use them – stretching, building, pretending, fidgeting, connecting, and inventing games I never imagined. They come back to them again and again.

My kids are 12, 11, and 9. They love these tubes. Our neighbors are 3, 5, and 7. They love pop tubes too.

I had to come up with a way to use them in Valentines.

I set myself a few “rules” for making these Valentines:

• Non-food and allergy-friendly
• Durable and open-ended toy
• Available in bulk
• Surprisingly versatile for play and movement

There are three printable cards in the free download that lean into a fun “pop,” “popped,” and “poppin’” theme. It’s just such a perfect and adorable Valentine.

What You’ll Need for the Valentine

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• White card stock
• Paper slicer or paper cutter (a paper cutter is ideal, IMO)
• Hole punch
• String, twine, or ribbon (I used yarn for mine!)
• Free printable (linked below)

Bulk Pop Tubes (pack of 36)

My family got an 8-pack of pop tubes in fall of 2024 and they continue to be an unexpected hit.

View on Amazon

How to Assemble the Valentines

This project comes together quickly and is easy to batch.

Print the Valentine cards on card stock so they’re sturdy. Don’t use printer paper. It needs to be sturdy card stock printed on “best quality.”

Cut out each card, then punch a single hole near the top. Before attaching anything, have your child write their name on the cards. After years of struggling through this step, my best tip is to have your child small batches to help keep this part manageable and not too daunting.

Finally, tie one pop tube to each Valentine. Done. Truly easy peasy!

Why This Valentine Is a Favorite

A lot of classroom Valentines rely on candy or disposable trinkets that don’t last past the school day. Pop tubes encourage movement, creativity, and hands-on play long after Valentine’s Day is over – they’re one of my family’s favorite toys (even though they look so basic).

If you’re looking for a Valentine that feels fun, flexible, and more thoughtful than a throwaway favor, this one is a great choice.

Valentine’s Day FAQs

How loud are pop tubes?
To be fair, pretty loud. For my family, this has been a manageable loud especially compared to the amount of play we’ve gotten from the tubes.

What ages do these work best for?
These are popular across a wide range – from preschool through elementary. My middler schooler and his buddies still love them!

What do kids use them for?
I’ve seen kids use them in all sorts of independent play, as a marble tube, and a fidget.

Susie Allison, M. Ed

Susie Allison is a former elementary school teacher with a Master’s in Early Childhood Education. She’s also the creator of Busy Toddler with more than 3 million followers across social media. Susie is the author of the popular Playing Preschool curriculum and recently launched Branches, her elementary-level homeschool program. For more than a decade, Susie has been a trusted voice online in parenting and education.