Give a twist to Valentine’s Day this year by showing your romantic side with a craft project or two. Add a little TLC to your home or share your affection with loved ones by dedicating some time to simple do-it-yourself projects that come straight from the heart. Here are five suggestions:
Creative cutouts
Places and moments hold special places in the heart. So memorialize them with decorative wall hangings. Use a treasured photo or map of destinations you hold dear as the base layer. Next, choose a design, such as a heart or a romantic word like “love.” Then print your design and trace it on a piece of foam core or matting. Cut out the design to create an opening and layer it over the photo or map. To finish the project, either affix the top layer to the bottom and display as-is or place it in a pretty frame.
Sucker for succulents
Hardy and easy to care for, succulents are a stylish way to add some plant life to your home. Add a romantic twist by gathering a selection of small succulents in a variety of colors and textures then clustering them in a heart-shaped basket or planter. Succulents also make great gifts — just create a small planter and attach a card that conveys your warmest thoughts.
Love is in the cards
Almost everyone has a deck or two of old playing cards laying around. Using the red-hued cards from the heart suite, punch holes in the top of each card. String heart-themed ribbon through the holes to make a whimsical banner you can hang on a wall or across a doorway to delight your loved one when they walk into a room.
Say it in string
Expressing yourself with string art is an easy project suitable for all ages. Start with a firm backing, such as a scrap of lightweight wood. Add a base coat of paint to make your design pop then sketch your design. Examples like a flower, heart, word or some combination of those are all good choices for a Valentine’s Day project. Add thin nails in half-inch intervals along the border of your design. Select your string and tie an end to the nail of your choice. There’s no right or wrong way from there — just loop from one nail to another until your design is obvious. Tie off your string, trim any excess end pieces and you’re done.
Collage of comrades
Paying tribute to those you hold near and dear is easy with a stylized cork board. Select snapshots of loved ones and attach them to a basic cork board using push pins in classic Valentine’s colors like red, white and pink. Then add accents with tape, stickers, gemstones and other embellishments. Voila! Instant, artistic classic!
You can explore more fun do-it-yourself ideas to enhance your home at eLivingtoday.com. Family Features contributed to this story.
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