Make Music-Covered Hearts for Valentine’s Day: A Tutorial

Yesterday for our Tablescape Thursday, I shared a Valentine’s Day table setting with a sweet, romantic easy-to-make centerpiece.  I had been plotting thinking for some time about creating a willowy little “tree” with the River Birch branches I’m always picking up from my front yard.

Papier-maché Hearts for Valentine's Day

I decided to decorate my little birch tree with hearts so I checked several places online.  During my search I came across some cute, papier-machéd, music covered hearts and I loved the look, but not so much the price, especially since  I knew I would need a good many to fill my tree.

So, I began thinking about how I could make hearts similar to those I had seen online.  I really didn’t want to  papier-maché the hearts so I decided to shop the discount stores for inexpensive, small hearts for decoupaging.  I’m still sort of new to this decoupaging thing, having just tried it out for the first time back around Halloween when I decoupaged a couple of pumpkins in THIS post and THIS post.   figured, if you can decoupage pumpkins, why not little hearts.

I headed off to Dollar Tree and found some small, plastic “box” hearts that were about the size I wanted.  But the shape just wasn’t quite right…they were definitely boxy.

Next up, Big Lots, where I encountered a she-car with eyelashes in the parking lot.   You can see her at the end of THIS post.  Inside Big Lots I found just what I needed and they were only $3 for a dozen!  Awesome!  This was looking promising!   I also bought them in the smaller size.  I didn’t use those but I think I’ll keep them…they may come in handy for a future project one day.

Papier-maché Hearts for Valentine's Day

Once back home, I googled sheet music and found several places online with sheet music images.  I printed them off and cut them up in to varying sizes/pieces.

Pssst:  If you would like your sheet music to have an aged look, you may wish to stain the paper with tea leaves or use another aging method prior to cutting it up

Then it was time to get my Mod Podge on.  Mod Podge (MP) and I are old friends after our pumpkin days together.  I didn’t try to match things up, just applied the MP on the back of each little piece of paper and stuck it on the heart.  I did this while listening to books and pod casts online, so it actually went pretty fast.

Papier-maché Hearts for Valentine's Day

Once I had each heart covered with music, I put a light coat of Mod Podge all over the whole ornament and let it dry.  That didn’t take long; MP dries quickly.  By the time I had all 12 hearts lightly coated, the first few were already dry and ready for the next step….attaching a ribbon.

I removed the tiny gold hanging string that had come on the red hearts and with a teeny bit of hot glue, glued a loop of ribbon to the top of the heart.  I started out using white ribbon.

 

Papier-maché Hearts for Valentine's Day

But I switched to pink for a little extra color.  Plus, I knew the pink would work well with some pink mercury glass ornaments I found on eBay.

Papier-maché Hearts for Valentine's Day

There’s a little raised area on the top of each heart where the tiny gold hanging strip used to be.  I wanted to camouflaged the hot glue I had used to attach the ribbon, so I put a little craft glue on the raised area and sprinkled lots of pretty silver glitter over the glue.  I never knew how much fun glitter could be.  Messy, but so much fun!

Cover Hearts with Sheet Music for Valentine's Day

I tied little bows from left over ribbon and I held them to the top to see how they would look.  Too fussy, I decided.  I thought seriously about adding a little puff of pink feathers at the top where the hanging ribbon attached, but I wasn’t able to find pink feathers and my time was running out. I ended up using the hearts as they were, but I still like the feather idea a lot.  It would soften the look of the tree a bit.  I may add them, yet.

Papier-maché Hearts for Valentine's Day

I did add a tiny bit of embellishment to two hearts.  I placed a little glue on the center of two hearts, in the shape of a heart…and glittered them up.
Papier-maché Hearts for Valentine's Day

This centerpiece has lots of possibilities.  The branches could be sprayed painted white, pink or pale blue for Easter…then we could create an Easter or Springtime tree.  I have another little idea brewing in my mind for this spring, too.

Oh, when placing branches down into a container, you can use floral oasis or wire or whatever you wish down inside to help hold the branches.  I got lucky with this container because it goes pretty deep and it narrows dramatically inside.  So I just stuck the branches in and shifted them around a bit and they stayed.  I didn’t have to use anything down inside to really hold them.  When I tucked the moss in, I did put some of it down a little into the bowl part of the urn to help secure the branches a bit more.  But the moss was more decorative than supportive.  You could stick paper down inside…really whatever you have on hand that will keep your branches in an upright position.

Papier-maché Hearts for Valentine's Day

This centerpiece was super budget friendly.  I already had the urn…it was an inexpensive find ($12) a few years back from A Classy Flea.  The branches were free for the cleaning up taking from my front yard.  The moss around the base of the branches was left over from THIS moss covered table.  The sheet music was just printed from online and it only took a few sheets to cover all 12 hearts.  I already had the Mod Podge from my pumpkin decoupaging days.   So, the only expense was $17 for a dozen pink Mercury glass hearts and $3 for the plastic hearts (that got decoupaged) from Big Lots.  Update: JoAnn’s has the pink and red mercury glass hearts (just like the ones I used) for $7.99 and right now (as of 2-11-12) they are on sale 50% off!  Awesome deal!)

Papier-maché Hearts for Valentine's Day

So there ya have it…an easy, fun, inexpensive way to make a dozen music-covered hearts.

Happy Friday and Happy Crafting!  What plans do you have this weekend?  Any crafting plans?

*If a post is sponsored or a product was provided at no charge, it will be stated in post. Some links may be affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. *



 Never miss a Between Naps on the Porch post! 

*Subscribe to have updates delivered to your Inbox. 



Comments

  1. Eclectically Vintage says

    I love the pink mercury glass hearts and the music theme!
    Kelly

  2. Beansieleigh says

    Hi Susan! Love these beautiful little ornaments!! I have a Valentine's Day Tree that isn't decorated nearly as fully as I'd like it to be, and these would be just perfect! I'll have to see if I can find some of these hearts (or something like them, at least) closer by! Thanks so much for sharing how to make them, and have a great weekend! ~tina

  3. Nancy @ Nancy's Daily Dish says

    I love these! They would have been perfect at my Valentines table I linked up because it's music themed…oh well, there's always next year or maybe this year if I could find the time between now and Valentines Day.

    Have a blessed weekend!

    Nancy

  4. I think I'll start working my crafts for Easter.
    Lovely Table, Susan.
    Wishing you a Lovely Weekend,
    Teresa

  5. Great little craft. And I can see how you can adapt it for different holidays.

  6. Love the different ribbons and glitter whimsey. I'm working on my sewing room/craft room/Mom Cave this weekend. Hopefully, it will begin to come together and be blogable in the near future. Thanks for the daily inspiration. ~CJ

  7. I love these. I think I may duplicate them but with comic book heroes instead. My husband is a big fan ! Great idea !

  8. Blondie's Journal says

    These are just darling, Susan! Thanks for sharing how you made them! I need a tree now!!

    XO,
    Jane

  9. Mom in High Heels says

    Those are precious. Wish I'd thought to do something like that a month or so ago. Seems kind of late now. 🙁
    I don't know HOW I missed the post with the She-car, but that is flipping hilarious.

  10. I can't believe I threw away all my cool twigs from bush trimming last summer.. I could have made one of these!

  11. Your heart tree is so pretty, Susan! Thanks so much for the tutorial. Don't you just love those birch branches? We have a paper birch in the neighborhood that 'drops' branches year round and I collect them and use them in potted plants around the garden in summer — they add height and visual interest.

  12. Your heart tree is just gorgeous. Great tutorial. You're right…you could change this up for so many holidays.

  13. Oh that is easier than I imagined! Thank you Susan for the great tutorial. Fluffy pink feathers would look fabulous too 🙂

    Sanna

  14. Heh! Just what I was looking for but couldn't find! I didn't think about Big Lots; since they moved up to Canto Hwy I never think about them anymore. But I finally did find some and I did a project with mine too. You can read it here:
    http://make–do.blogspot.com/2012/02/valentine-hearts.html

    I may head over to Big Lots and copy your hearts too!

  15. PS: I use crape myrtle branches for my tree when The Professor prunes the crape myrtle in late Jan. or early Feb. The branches can be painted white, rolled in epsom salts, or left brown. I often tape on little tissue paper "flowers" at the tips for an Easter tree. Plan to try making a pussy willow effect after V-Day.

  16. Thanks for the instructions! I like the feather idea! That would be just so cute on the music hearts with the shiny hardness of the pink mercury glass ornaments. I like it!

  17. Cozy Little House says

    Decoupage is just about my favorite medium! Great job, Susan!
    Brenda

  18. As a musician, I love your centerpiece! They looked really cute with the mercury glass hearts, too! Crafts this weekend? Already started! I've made tags for my cats with Shrinky Dinks, and I'll finish up some fabric covered button bobby pins tomorrow. Fun!

  19. Susan BetweenNapsOnThePorch says

    Too cute! That would make a fun before and after post for Met Monday!

  20. SheilaG @ Plum Doodles says

    Your little hearts are very cute- I may have to add this project to my sheet music crafts. 🙂 I'm hoping to get my bathroom mirror frame completed this weekend. It's only been in progress for a month now!

  21. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    I had admired the music sheet hearts on your treee…I truly thought you purchased the them that way!..Love them! Thanks for the tutorial!

  22. Susan BetweenNapsOnThePorch says

    Hi Angela…great to meet you! Thanks so much for those sweet words…appreciate them so much! I still have so much to learn about photography. You're going to have so much fun on this journey. I think we are learning together. 🙂

  23. I know this looks even better in person! What a wonderful gift of "creating" you have! Just lovely!

  24. deborah@confessions of a craigslist junkie says

    They turned out great, and the table is beautiful!

  25. Love this idea!

  26. They look amazing!

  27. laxsupermom says

    Love this project! Your little sheet paper hearts are adorable and look terrific as the centerpiece to your tablescape. Thanks for sharing.

  28. Love those hearts. I can't wait to try that. The glitter adds just the right vintage touch. Beautiful. thanks for sharing it. Wanda

  29. absolutely gorgeous! love how you made the hearts 🙂

  30. GREAT idea – love this!

  31. What a fun and simple project. And, I have lots of sheet music that needs a new use.

  32. love it!

  33. Hibiscus House says

    I do like your ideas. Very Cute!

  34. Absolutely beautiful! I am so enjoying all of your beautiful creations.

  35. sabrymagic says

    Hello Susan ….. I do not want to be repetitive, but come and see you is always a pleasure ….. I follow you always …… I would love to make your new house porch, just sell: D You are a great source of inspiration for me! Give me a great charge …. Both you and another Italian blog; D Your creations are wonderful! My compliments because they deserve them :)))))) A big hug from Italy: D Sabry!

  36. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    That is so pretty, Susan! I love that urn! The hearts look great ~ I like how the pink ones go with your dishes.

  37. miss flibbertigibbet says

    Love the tablescape! So romantic and pale. The hearts are just adorable too! Lorraine

  38. They are beautiful. Very creative.

  39. Thanks so much for the party each week!!
    Hugs,
    Debbie

I'd love to hear from you! Please leave a comment!

*