The other day I wanted to do something fun for St. Valentine’s Day.

And I wanted to do it quick.

Let me present to you this sweet…

Framed 3-D Valentine Heart  & Tutorial

This is a quick and easy bit of Valentine home decor to make….
using a photo frame, a piece of fabric, magazine pages, scissors, and glue.

This day of love will be here before you know it!   Here is a great way to use things you already have on hand to create a sweet, heart-moment for that perfect spot that needs just a little bit of loving. But before we take off on our little tutorial, I want to share this great quote with you.  It’s why I have enjoyed celebrating St. Valentine’s Day….for several weeks already!

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world
in a conspiracy of love.”
Hamilton Wright Mabie (American writer, 1845-1916)

Let’s start!

Gather your supplies:  Photo frame, colorful magazines with floral photos, scissors or a paper-cutter, pen, magazine cover page, paper glue or glue stick, a piece of scrap fabric if you have it, scrapbook paper or a plain page from the magazine will also work.

1. Choose a photo frame.  Mine was sitting on my studio table.  It contained an old photo, taken in my Michigan backyard of my husband and our cats, which I love.  This is a temporary project so don’t stress over what is in the frame.  Pick a frame that works for the project.  Then disassemble the frame.

2. Tear floral (or whatever colors and shapes you like) pages from your magazines.  (Heavier pages work better.  Traditional Home & Better Homes & Gardens were two I had at hand.  Better Homes has flimsy paper.  It works.  Just not quite as nicely.)

3. Cut the magazine pages into just slightly smaller squares/rectangles than your photo frame.  Cut one and then use it as a guide.  Center your flowers or objects in that square before cutting.

4. For this project I cut 12 squares.  You can surely do more if you like.  Glue two squares…back-to-back…so you now have a total of 6.

1. Cut a heart shape for a pattern.  I used a heavy sheet of scrap paper, but the magazine cover would be great too.  Simply fold the paper in half and freestyle cut your heart.   Mine was too large at first.  I trimmed again until it fit perfectly.

2. Trace your heart with a pen or marker.  I made sure to center my heart on the flowers for the most color.

3. Using your scissors, cut along the traced line.  Here are my completed hearts.

1. Find the center of your completed heart.

2.  Make a score in the center of all your hearts.   Use your scorer, or a bone folder.  If you do not have a scorer, simply fold each in half.  (I removed the orange cutting blade from my paper-cutter for convenience.)

3. Admire your pile of fluttery hearts waiting for assembly.

1. Cut your piece of fabric about the size of the back insert of your photo frame.

2. Lay your frame face down.  Place the fabric in the opening and lay the cardboard insert on top of it.  I also placed the glass on top of the cardboard. Then slide the frame back into place.  You could place your photo between the glass and the backing for storage if you wish.

3. Voila!  A framed piece of fabric!  The fabric may puff out in the frame just a bit.  I love it that way. NOTE:  If you are using paper rather than fabric for your background, stack in this order…paper, glass, cardboard insert, and then slide in the frame backing piece.

1. You’ll notice that these foam adhesive dimensionals were not listed in the supplies list.  I had them in my stash and thought they would be quick and easy to use.  And they were.  However, if I were to do this again…I would skip them and just use paper glue to stick my hearts together.

2. Place adhesive stickers on each wing of one heart.  Then, apply one side of another folded heart to one side of the flat heart.  Repeat on the other side.  (Again…glue would be fine…maybe preferable.)

3. Apply adhesive stickers or glue to the folded hearts and adhere another set of folded hearts to each side.  Continue doing this for as many as you have if you’ve chosen to make more hearts.

4. Open the final heart and stick or glue each ‘wing’ to the stack of glued and folded hearts.  Work them so they stand up a bit and you will get a 3-Dimensional Heart!

1. Measure the opening in your frame and make a mark in the center, so you will know where to place your heart.

2.  Apply adhesive dots, double stick tape, or glue to one side of the heart and lay it down with the ‘spine’ along your center mark, pressing down firmly.  Then, repeat on the other side so that it is also firmly attached to your fabric.  Be generous in your application of adhesives as they can be easily removed from the fabric and you don’t want that.  (After a few days I put a pin in the spine of my heart because my fluffy cat keep walking by it and it eventually slid down. )

3.  Arrange the petals of your heart.  Aren’t you loving it?  And so easy too!

  There you have it!  

A lovely Framed 3-D Heart for Valentine’s Day…and beyond!

“You can give without loving,
but you can never love without giving.”
~ Robert Louis Stevenson ~

Who do you know that would be blessed by a little gesture of love like this?
Give them a heart-felt gift of love.

With a heart of joy!

Diane

To receive more inspiration like… subscribe now.

Check out these popular posts for more extraordinary Valentine’s Day inspiration…

3-D Hanging Paper Hearts Tutorial for Valentine’s Day

Ruffles : Buttons : Bows ~ Embellished Valentine Towels