Rustic Valentine

Even though Valentine’s is just around the corner, there’s still time to create a one-of-a-kind Valentine for your true love, that be used for decorating year after year.

I purchased this wooden heart a couple of years ago in Canton for 50 cents, and stuck it away in my craft stash. I also have a stash of fabric cut outs, which includes multiple sizes fabrics. At this time of year, wooden and fabric hearts are easy to come by.

I painted the base of the heart a deep red, using acrylic craft paint. I let it dry for about four hours. Then I used fabric glue to attach the bigger of the two hearts to the wood. With fabric glue, make sure that you coat the entire surface that you want to glue down. Once you have the fabric heart placed where you want it, smooth out the bubbles. I just used my fingers to smooth out the bubbles and shape the heart. I let that dry overnight and then in the morning, I glued down the second heart, again using fabric glue and smoothing out the bubbles.

While I let the second heart dry, I painted pre-cut wood letters. For this project, I used a paint pen, but next time, I’ll use acrylic craft paint or maybe just spray paint. I set aside the letters to dry as well.

Once the letters were completely dry, about 12 hours, I used a fine-tip black Sharpie to outline the edges and paint the sides. While those were drying, I used the white pen to seal the edges of the fabric hearts and outline the wooden heart. Again, I waited 12 hours to let the paint dry. I used the black Sharpie to outline the fabric hearts. Once dry, I used fabric glue to place the letters. I sealed the whole thing by painting it with a layer of white craft glue.

Now I have a cute, rustic Valentine that I can use year after year.

While I love the result, the paint pen was difficult to control. I’d use fabric paint next time.