Valentine's Heart Decoration - Wood Heart or Foam Heart

Valentine's Day is such a fun holiday for which to decorate. And hearts are the first thing that come to mind when thinking of Valentine's Day.

This easy Valentine's Day heart is a great project for kids to make to give as gifts or to decorate their home for the holiday.

What does the heart symbolize on Valentine's Day?

Scholars have some unromantic ideas of the heart-shaped origin. Some believe that the modern heart shape came about simply from botched attempts to draw an actual human heart.

The heart was considered by ancient philosophers like Aristotle to hold all human passions. The medieval tradition of love and romance may have reinforced the heart shape, inspired by medieval artists' creation of the current heart.

Hearts became major symbols when the exchange of Valentines cards gained popularity in 17th-century England. At first, the notes were simple, but the Victorians made the tradition of exchanging Valentines elaborate, using the heart shape and adding ribbons, bows, and lace.

Learn more about making a wooden heart decoration by watching our video or keep reading this post.

Supplies needed to make a DIY Valentine's Day Craft

• Wooden heart or craft foam
• Heart template
• Any color craft paint
• Pencil with eraser
• Paper plate
• Ribbon 1/4" wide or twine 
• Tapestry needle

INSTRUCTIONS FOR making A WOODEN HEART Valentine DECORATION

step 1: Prepare the heart shape decoration

If using a wooden heart from the craft store, it will not be necessary to prepare the heart decoration.

However, if the heart will be made from a foam sheet, the foam will need to be cut into a heart shape.

Make a template of a heart on paper and trace it on the foam.  Using craft scissors, cut the heart shape out of the foam. 

Step 2: Prepare the craft paint for the simple Valentine's project

Using whatever color of craft paint that is desired, squeeze a small puddle of the paint onto the paper plate. This will be the artist's palette for the easy Valentine's Day project.

Step 3: Paint dots on the valentine heart decoration

Using a pencil, turn it upside down and dip the eraser into the paint that is on the paper plate.  Be sure the pencil is straight up and down. Make dots on the wooden or foam heart using the paint on the pencil eraser.

Make as many or as few dots as desired. Allow the paint to dry.

step 4: add the ribbon or twine hanger to the foam heart

If the wooden Valentine's heart is purchased at a craft store, it will already have a hanger on it.

However, it will be necessary to tie a ribbon or twine hanger on the foam heart.

Using the paper heart template, fold it in half and using a hole punch, punch through both halves of the heart where the DIY project hanger will be tied.

Open the template and place it on the foam. Punch holes in the foam to line up with the holes on the template.

Take the ribbon and thread it through a tapestry needle. Bring the ribbon up from the back in one hole and down through the front in the other hole.

Make sure the Valentine heart hanger is the desired length, then tie a knot at the back at both ends of the ribbon or twine.

This easy decoration is complete!  It is a great kid's craft for Valentine's Day!

VIOLA! The cute heart ornament is finished and ready to hang for Valentine's Day.

More Valentine PROJECTS

• Valentine's Heart Pencil Favor
• Valentine's Garland
• Farmhouse Valentine Heart Rag Wreath