.jpg "TUTORIAL: Scrap Paper Hearts Wreath")
In a bit of a coincidence, I was notified on Wednesday that one of my past project posts for Valentine's Day decor would be featured on Thursday in the HomeTalk daily email and on social media... and that project just happens to be the original version of the one in this post, which I scheduled for Friday! I bumped it to publish a *bit* earlier, so I could link this new version to the original post that the HomeTalk link will lead to.
I offer a warm welcome to all of you who are visiting from HomeTalk!
As my beloved regular readers know, I love 'making something out of nothing'. In other words, turning the contents of my trash + recycle bins into seasonal home decor accents. Making my own decor this way costs me nothing, is a fun exercise in creativity, and gives me no guilt at all when I disassemble and re-use elements from one project to another!
Let me show you how I turned scraps into Valentine's Day home decor ...
I offer a warm welcome to all of you who are visiting from HomeTalk!
As my beloved regular readers know, I love 'making something out of nothing'. In other words, turning the contents of my trash + recycle bins into seasonal home decor accents. Making my own decor this way costs me nothing, is a fun exercise in creativity, and gives me no guilt at all when I disassemble and re-use elements from one project to another!
Let me show you how I turned scraps into Valentine's Day home decor ...
.jpg "TUTORIAL: Scrap Paper Hearts Wreath")
Tutorial
Materials:
.jpg "TUTORIAL: Scrap Paper Hearts Wreath")
scissors . scraps of paper (junk mail, pages from magazines, packaging, anything!)
straight pins . cello tape . a wreath form or simply a big posterboard 'O'
straight pins . cello tape . a wreath form or simply a big posterboard 'O'
heart-shaped cookie cutters or other items as patterns, if you wish + a pencil
Method:
1. Gather up all of the scrap paper you plan to use, and sort it into sizes - you'll want to cut the largest hearts from the largest bits of paper you have.
2. If you want to use heart-shaped cookie cutters, baking pans, or other objects, place them on the paper and trace around them with a pencil.
3. Cut out as many hearts as you desire from the paper you have - again, start with the largest ones. then move on to medium sized hearts, then small hearts. This approach enables you to use the paper for a maximum amount of hearts.
TIP: I don't clean up the mess made from cutting out hearts until I am sure I don't need any more!
4. Now for the wreath: I used a wreath made from pool noodles that is covered in white matlasse' fabric - it's easy to push pins into it. You don't need an actual wreath, though. Cut a large 'O' shape - or a large heart shape! - out of a piece of white posterboard and just tape or glue the hearts to it - it works just as well.
TIP: I find that hanging the wreath up before I start adding paper to it makes it easier, because if the paper is going to move or shift, it does it as I am adding it - not after I've finished and hang the wreath on the wall!
5. Begin adding the paper hearts with the largest size. It helps if you can use pins that have heads that are either silver or gold, or a color that matches the paper you've chosen. Some of mine DO, some don't - I just try to place the pins where they will be covered with the next layer of hearts.
6. Continue adding hearts with medium, then small, sizes. Overlap them, tilt them, and mix up the patterns as you go! I don't worry about it being even or exact, I just play until I like the way it is progressing.
As a matter of fact, I was happy with the way mine was looking, and snapped these images:
...when I realized there was something else I wanted to add! So I rearranged a few hearts, grabbed the piece I wanted, and added it. Which is another reason that I like using pins - they're easily removable for adjustments.
Then I shot the final images:
.jpg "TUTORIAL: Scrap Paper Hearts Wreath")
Can you see what I added?
.jpg "TUTORIAL: Scrap Paper Hearts Wreath")
.jpg "TUTORIAL: Scrap Paper Hearts Wreath")
Yep, it's a rare vintage* Disneyland E Ticket!
Although I did cut a yellow D ticket into two hearts in 2021 when I made the original yellow heart wreath, E tickets are SO rare that I couldn't bring myself to cut this one. I just pinned it to the wreath with a small heart over it.
*A word about 'vintage': My Grandmother had tickets tucked into an envelope in her desk - she saved all of the unused tickets from our many family visits to the Park over the years. The tickets that I have now are from her. They're from the 1970's and 80's - and yes, that IS considered 'vintage' now!
Sigh. That makes ME nearly an antique!! This year, it's been a whole decade since I worked as a Cast Member at Disneyland... it truly doesn't seem like that long ago.
Method:
1. Gather up all of the scrap paper you plan to use, and sort it into sizes - you'll want to cut the largest hearts from the largest bits of paper you have.
2. If you want to use heart-shaped cookie cutters, baking pans, or other objects, place them on the paper and trace around them with a pencil.
3. Cut out as many hearts as you desire from the paper you have - again, start with the largest ones. then move on to medium sized hearts, then small hearts. This approach enables you to use the paper for a maximum amount of hearts.
TIP: I don't clean up the mess made from cutting out hearts until I am sure I don't need any more!
4. Now for the wreath: I used a wreath made from pool noodles that is covered in white matlasse' fabric - it's easy to push pins into it. You don't need an actual wreath, though. Cut a large 'O' shape - or a large heart shape! - out of a piece of white posterboard and just tape or glue the hearts to it - it works just as well.
TIP: I find that hanging the wreath up before I start adding paper to it makes it easier, because if the paper is going to move or shift, it does it as I am adding it - not after I've finished and hang the wreath on the wall!
5. Begin adding the paper hearts with the largest size. It helps if you can use pins that have heads that are either silver or gold, or a color that matches the paper you've chosen. Some of mine DO, some don't - I just try to place the pins where they will be covered with the next layer of hearts.
6. Continue adding hearts with medium, then small, sizes. Overlap them, tilt them, and mix up the patterns as you go! I don't worry about it being even or exact, I just play until I like the way it is progressing.
As a matter of fact, I was happy with the way mine was looking, and snapped these images:
...when I realized there was something else I wanted to add! So I rearranged a few hearts, grabbed the piece I wanted, and added it. Which is another reason that I like using pins - they're easily removable for adjustments.
Then I shot the final images:
Can you see what I added?
.jpg "TUTORIAL: Scrap Paper Hearts Wreath")
.jpg "TUTORIAL: Scrap Paper Hearts Wreath")
Yep, it's a rare vintage* Disneyland E Ticket!
Although I did cut a yellow D ticket into two hearts in 2021 when I made the original yellow heart wreath, E tickets are SO rare that I couldn't bring myself to cut this one. I just pinned it to the wreath with a small heart over it.
*A word about 'vintage': My Grandmother had tickets tucked into an envelope in her desk - she saved all of the unused tickets from our many family visits to the Park over the years. The tickets that I have now are from her. They're from the 1970's and 80's - and yes, that IS considered 'vintage' now!
Sigh. That makes ME nearly an antique!! This year, it's been a whole decade since I worked as a Cast Member at Disneyland... it truly doesn't seem like that long ago.
I find that just sitting and cutting out a few dozen hearts from scraps of paper is a calming exercise for me... I can do it listening to music, or watching a movie, or while chatting with my Mom. It only takes ten to fifteen minutes to pin them to the wreath, so this whole project requires less than 30 minutes of time - and with no cost at all. Happy hearts, indeed!
Visit me on HomeTalk for more DIY seasonal home decor content
Want more ideas for using scraps of paper?
related content:
the original scrap paper heart wreath
more scrap paper heart projects
repurposed Christmas card wreath #1
repurposed Christmas card wreath #2
scrap paper fall leaves wreath
shared online:
Creatively Beth | Creatively Crafty Link Party #235
Funky Junk Interiors | New Upcycle Ideas #765
Thank you for featuring my project, Donna!
Oh my gosh... I LOVE this look, Deb! The 3D vibe all those decadent hearts offer is over the top cool! So unique!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Donna! I feel good making use of scraps, rather than trashing them. That's one reason I re-use things so much!
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