Felt Heart Accents Tutorial

This is an easy 'from the couch' craft. You can add them as accents on paper Valentine's, in a scrapbook, glue them onto a ribbon-lined alligator clip, or use them as a bow center.

You will need: felt in the color of your choice, needle and hand embroidery thread

1. Cut two hearts from the felt, between 1 and 4 inches across. You could use a stencil or cut a half heart into felt folded in half, elementary school style. I used the old-school method. They need to be fairly close in size and shape, but no need to freak if they're not perfect.

2. Tie a knot at one end of a 2 ft length of embroidery thread.

3. Stack the two hearts, lining them up the best you can.

4. Hand sew about 1/8 in. in to the heart, going around the outside using medium sized stitches. If you stitch too small, the felt will tear rather than the stitching holding the two hearts together. Same goes for if you get too close to the edge.

5. When you've gone all the way around the edge of your heart, make sure the remaining thread is pulled through on the same side of the hearts as your initial knot. Knot the thread so your stitches don't come undone. Cut the excess thread.

Now, use your handmade embellishment however you see fit!

Heart Ribbon Sculpture Tutorial

This project is VERY easy and very versatile! You can add layers to your heart, or simplify and use only one layer. Experiment to get the look you want.

You will need: 15 in. of 3/8 in. grosgrain ribbon, hot glue gun and glue sticks, something to seal ribbon ends (I use a lighter), scissors

1. Cut two pieces of ribbon 4 1/2 in. long and seal the ends. If you're using a lighter, simply run the ends through the flame quickly to avoid fraying. Cut two 3 in. pieces and seal those ends as well.

2. Take one of your 3 in. pieces and place the ends together. Place a line of glue on one of the ends and pinch together. Repeat with the other short piece.  You should have two little tear drop shapes now.

3. Wrap one of the long pieces over one of the tear drops, lining up the ends of both pieces. Glue the long pieces ends on either side of the tear drop's point. Repeat with the other long piece and tear drop. You'll now have two double layered tear drops.

4.  Place the pointy ends of each tear drop together and line them up straight. Line glue about 2/3 of  up the outside layer of one tear drop, between the two tear drops. Pinch together.

And now you have a heart shape! You can now glue it to a ribbon lined alligator clip to go in the hair, or onto a fab headband, on a pin for your jacket, or even blow up the measurements and use 7/8 in ribbon and place on a piece of card stock that can go in a shadow box frame for home decor at Valentine's Day or in a little girl's room year round!