DIY Thrift Store Wooden Heart Makeover

My DIY thrift store wooden heart makeover shows you how you can decorate for Valentine’s Day in a primitive or rustic decor style. It’s made using popular homespun fabric!

It’s easy enough to simply change out the color scheme to make neutral colored farmhouse decor, if you prefer.

Wooden hearts always seem to be plentiful thrift store finds in my neck of the woods.

I normally see all different sizes in the traditional heart shape, but when I found this heart cutout for today’s DIY project I couldn’t resist the unique shape.

FREE PATTERN – I’ve included a drawing of this exact heart wood cutout for you to download and print out if you’re interested. The heart measures approximately 17.5 inches tall and the wood used is 1/4 inch thick.

You’ll find the download links at the end of this thrift store tutorial.

If you’re lucky enough to have a jigsaw tool you can use the pattern to make a heart cutout for your own DIY projects or make multiple wood hearts to decorate and sell.

DIY THRIFT STORE WOODEN HEART MAKEOVER

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SUPPLIES NEEDED:

• thrift store wood heart
  • or cut heart from pattern provided
• homespun fabric fat quarters
  • great selection on Etsy
• chalk paint or acrylic craft paint
• wooden beads
• button
• Mod Podge
• paint brush
• sponge brush
• scissors
• detail scissors
• iron
• ruler
• hot glue gun and glue stick
• rotary cutter and cutting mat (optional)
• variety of ribbons and trims (optional)

STEP 1 – PAINT BASE COAT ON WOODEN HEART

Paint the back side with chalk paint for a clean and completed look. Chalk paint gives good coverage and a little goes a long way, so no second coat was needed.

I gave the front side a base coat to prevent any of the old design colors to show through. You especially want to do this when using light shades of fabric and you have an existing design on thrift store finds.

STEP 2 – MARK THE THREE SECTIONS

Determine how much you want to show of each piece of fabric. Use a ruler to mark off the heart shape into thirds as shown below.

STEP 3 – PREP FABRIC FOR THE WOOD HEART

My homespun fabric was by the 1/4 yard so I roughly cut out my fabric sections following the heart shape. Smaller fabric pieces were much easier to work with. Etsy has a great selection of fat quarter homespun fabric.

Press each fabric piece with an iron.

Give the fabric straight cuts where the fabric will be joined. Since my fabric pattern were squares, it was easy to just cut with scissors along the lines of the pattern.

You can also use a ruler, rotary cutter and cutting mat for your straight cutting.

RELATED: CHRISTMAS TREE SHAPED FABRIC NO-SEW PILLOW TUTORIAL

STEP 4 – ATTACH FABRIC TO THE HEART

It’s time to glue down your ironed fabric sections. The sections will stay roughly cut until they have been glued down.

Choose a section and apply a *light and even* coat of Mod Podge on top of the heart. Using too much glue will result in a hot mess of glue seeping through your fabric.

*Gently* place the fabric section down using the straight edges as a guide, and then *very lightly* smooth the fabric piece into place. Repeat for the next two sections.

STEP 5 – TRIM THE FABRIC ALONG THE HEART SHAPE

You will need detail scissors to get the best results for trimming along the wooden heart edges.

Place your scissors directly on the edge until you feel your scissors against the wood. Carefully trim the fabric along the edge with the heart facing you.

RELATED: HOW TO MAKE RUSTIC ORNAMENTS FOR AN UPCYCLED WOOD HOLDER

STEP 6 – CUT AND ATTACH RIBBON STRIPS

Choose a ribbon to cover the sections where the fabric pieces join. Use hot glue to attach the ribbon and glueing in sections.

TIP: Depending upon the kind of ribbon you use, you may need to seal the ribbon ends by quickly running a lighter along the ends.

STEP 7 – MAKE THE MESSY BOW

You can make a fabric bow by tearing strips of fabric or using a variety of ribbons, or mix both together.

I used a variety of ripped fabric strips in print and solids, ribbon and burlap strings. I placed one at a time in my Bowdabra to make the bow. Yes, I finally purchased one!

If you don’t have one you can make the bow like I showed in my bulletin board makeover.

VIEW THESE SUPPLY OPTIONS:

Bowdabra Bow Maker

Buy Now →

Surebonder Mini Detail Tip Hot Glue Gun

Buy Now →

STEP 8 – ADD THE EXTRAS

Use a glue gun to attach the bow and button with hot glue.

Snip the wire and add wooden beads then hot glue the wire back in place.

VISIT THE “THRIFT STORE MAKEOVERS” ARCHIVES FOR PAST PROJECTS

DOWNLOAD WOOD HEART SHAPE – PAGE 1

DOWNLOAD WOOD HEART SHAPE – PAGE 2

I hope this wooden heart decor inspires you to visit thrift shops or a Habitat ReStore and use a little creativity to makeover thrift store items for your Valentine’s Day home decor! 

Now that you’ve seen my tutorial, what color scheme would you want to use for your DIY thrift store wooden heart makeover?

It’s time for the monthly “Creative Craft Hop”, hosted by Birdz of a Feather, where talented bloggers are sharing a variety of creative crafts and decor with our readers.

If you’re following the hop in order and coming over from My Thrift Store Addiction, welcome! Below, you’ll find links to view 9 more projects. Don’t miss out!

SEE 9 MORE CREATIVE PROJECTS BELOW!

The Apple Street Cottage – Repurpose an Enamel Pot Lid into a Towel Holder

Decorate with Tip and More – DIY Dollar Tree Sign Makeover

Modern on Monticello – How To Make A Non-Christmas DIY Evergreen Winter Wreath

Purple Hues and Me – Handcrafted Marbled Heart Shape Dish

My Thrift Store Addiction – Upcycled Whimsical Winter Birds

Birdz of a Feather – Geometric Wall Art

The Painted Apron – Wine Cork Heart

Life as a LEO Wife – Easy Chunky Yarn Heart Wreath

Blue Sky at Home – How to Make Valentine Pillows with Pom-Poms

Sharing my thrift store wooden heart makeover at these fabulous blogs!