Tactile symbols representing emotions are made with heart-shaped poster board. The backing could include materials such as foil, contact paper, and  netting material although in these examples none is used. The shape is the most important, but the backing can vary depending on what materials you have and what the child can tactually discriminate. 

This symbols are the ones utilized at Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, so they reflect that social environment. You may need to create symbols or adapt symbols specific to the environment of the student.

Shape: heart-shaped

Background: none or various materials such as netting, foil, contact paper