This Heart-Shaped Garland Craft Is the Cutest Thing I’ve Seen This Week (So Whimsical!)
Lately, I can’t scroll through three videos on my FYP without seeing a room decked out in paper garlands. This DIY is the “it” decor of the moment — first, there were Christmas-themed ones, and now it’s all about pink and red paper for Valentine’s Day. I love how these paper chains bring such a whimsical look to any space, plus paper comes in so many different colors and patterns that the opportunities are endless. For the most part, it’s a very affordable craft!
I’ve seen so many people in my feed making different versions of Valentine’s garlands, but I love this one from Bonnie Barton (@flashesofstyle), who shared a TikTok video showing how she made a heart-shaped paper chain using adorable gingham print paper in different shades of pink and red. Of course, you can just use solid colored paper if you can’t find a fun pattern — the heart shapes will still get you in the February mood.
How to Make a Heart Paper Chain
To make a heart-shaped paper chain, the materials you’ll need are pretty minimal:
- Double-sided scrapbook paper or colored construction paper
- A paper trimmer, or just a ruler and scissors (the paper trimmer will just save you some time)
- A stapler
Once you’ve assembled your materials, here’s how to make it:
- Cut many long strips of paper. The length of each piece determines how big each heart will be! Four to 5 inches is a nice length for a medium size, and the width for each piece is up to you, but 1.5 inches wide is a good target. The number of strips you cut indicates how many paper hearts you can make and, therefore, how long your garland will be — just keep in mind each heart requires two strips of paper. You can always cut more if you run out!
- Take two strips of paper, stack them on top of each other, and staple one end, so now they’re pinned together.
- Pinch in the other ends of the two pieces to create a heart shape, then staple those ends into place.
- To create the garland, there are a couple of different options:
- For one version, you can loop the next two strips of paper through the main part of the heart so they’re linked together, more like a classic paper chain.
- For the second version, you can take the ends of the next two pieces of paper and attach them to the bottom of the previous heart. That’s how you create this look!
- You can see a tutorial of both in this TikTok video.
- Repeat as many times as you want until you have your garland at your desired length.
- Hang your garland(s) up around your room or apartment — around your doorway, over a window, strewn across your ceiling, or wherever else you need a little Valentine’s cheer!
Why It’s the Cutest Winter Craft
I think these paper heart chains are the cutest way to swap out your December holiday decor. They radiate the same sense of warmth and whimsy, and honestly, I can see myself leaving these up throughout the year (when are pink and red really out of season?). Especially when it’s so cold and I just want to cozy up inside, these sweet throwback garlands are such a nice way to bring a little extra joy to your space.
You can even make this DIY into a craft night with friends where you play some on-theme music (I’m thinking Olivia Dean), enjoy some snacks, and make them all together.
