Add a bit of love to your house

Making simple crafts to add some charm to your home is a delightful way to spend a free afternoon. With love in the air and February just around the corner, I’ve found a few fun and easy crafts that you (or your kids) can make this weekend to bring a touch of love to your space.

I’ve always enjoyed making Valentine’s cards and cutting out hearts—it’s been a cherished tradition for years. When our kids were younger, I often encouraged them to create their own Valentine’s cards instead of buying them. To me, crafting cards was far more enjoyable and meaningful than purchasing them.

I also love decorating with garlands or festive shapes that celebrate the holiday of the month. These small touches help bring the season to life and add a fresh variety to your home. Plus, making your own decorations and cards not only showcases your creativity but also helps you save money.

Heart Garland:

Adding a bit of garland to any part of your house is a wonderful idea to add some texture and variety to your home. I have found that making a festive garland can full fill these needs. The best material for these garlands is colored paper, old books, old hymnal, or other festive paper. Personally, I have a stash of old hymnals that I have been using for fun paper crafts. I felt this was the perfect craft for these pages.

I encourage you go to and look to see what you have. You may have an old book or some bright colored paper, either way gather up your paper and you can start making your heart garland right way.

List of supplies:

• paper- colored, pages from books, holiday paper, or old hymnals

• twine or white heavy thread

• scissors

• hole punch or heart-shaped hole punch

Instructions:

Step 1: gather your supplies. If you are using an old book or an old hymnal you will want to rip out the pages.

Step 2: Take your paper and cut it down to 6” x 8” in size. Once you have your paper cut down to size, fold all of your pages in half. I prepped 12 pages.

Step 3: Cut out your hearts. I did not draw my hearts out. I cut my first own by “eyeballing” the shape. Then I used the first one as a template for the rest.

Step 4: Punch out your holes. I punched my holes out towards the top of my heart. You can punch them at the top, towards the bottom, or the middle. It is up to you.

Step 5: Cut your string. I cut my string approximately 14-16 inches long. This gave me enough length to tie off my string when I start putting the garland together.

Step 6: Put your garland together. Now it is time to assemble your garland. You will want to tie one string in the left hole of each heart. Once you have the strings tied, line up your hearts. You will want to tie the other end of the string to the right hole of the next heart. See the picture for clarification. Once you have tied all your hearts together, the first heart on the right side will need one more string tied to the right hole.

Step 7: Hang your garland. Now that your garland is done, you can hang your creation and enjoy!

Heart Shape Garland 2:

There is never enough heart shaped garland in my world! That is what I say, but if you were talk to my hubby he would probably say something different.

I have found two different heart shaped garlands this year and both are adorable. This second garland is just as easy, if not easier, than the first one. You will need 12 x 12 craft size paper for this to work. You may use 8.5 x 11. I am sure if you will get the same results.

List of Supplies:

• 12 x 12 craft paper- 3 different colors (red, pink, and white)

• scissors

• stapler and staples

Instructions:

Step one: gather your paper. Make sure to cut off any edges or company information that might be on the edge of the paper.

Step two: fold your paper in half and cut it down the middle. You should have two strips that are approximately 6 inch by 12 inch.

Step three: Fold you paper in half on the long side again. Make a mark every 1 inch along the fold.

Step four: Cut your strips. You will cut at the 1 inch mark you made. You should have approximately 11 strips.

DO NOT UNFOLD!

Step five: Continue steps two through five until you have cut all of your paper.

Step six: Take the first strip and bend the top pieces together making a heart shape. Staple the inside- see the photo below.

Step seven: Take the strip and place it in the top of the heart you stapled- make a second staple so they are joined. - see the photo below.

Step eight: continue to work through step six and seven until you have joined all of your strips together.

Step nine: Once you are done you can hang or lay out your hearts to enjoy!