Introduction: Paper Heart Decorations

Follow these simple steps to create easy paper heart decorations. They are fun to hang around your house for Valentine's Day!

Step 1: Gather Supplies

- Paper (I use newspaper or pages from a phone book)
- Scissors
- Glue Stick
- Ruler
- Pencil

Step 2: Cutting Out Usable Strips

Lay your paper on a smooth surface and use your ruler and pencil to measure and mark strips that are 1 1/2 inches wide. Cut the strips out with your scissors.

For this project we need strips of three different lengths, as follows:

1) The inside strip should measure 5 1/2 inches long
2) The middle strip should measure 7 inches long
3) The outside strip should measure 8 1/2 inches long

Notes:
You can choose to make them longer or shorter than my suggested lengths, however, I have found that these work best.  Any longer and the strips become too floppy to resemble a heart.

Also do not stress about making the lines perfectly straight, it is okay if they are a little wobbly.

Step 3: Half a Heart

Glue the ends of the middle strip to the ends of the inside strip. The middle piece should curve and make an arch.

Then glue the ends of the outside strip to the ends of the middle strip to make an even larger arch above the already existing arch.

Step 4: Two Halves Make a Whole

Now that you have one half of a heart repeat steps 2 and 3 to create the other half.

Once you have two halves, cut another strip of paper around 7 inches long (this measurement doesn't really matter, it just needs to be longer then the smallest strip)

This new strip is going to be "sandwiched" between the two halves of the heart and act as a support. 

To start gluing take an end of one of the halves and glue the inside of it to the end of the new strip you just cut.  Then glue an inside end of the other heart on the other side of the new strip to complete the "end sandwich".  (Refer to picture if you get confused)

Step 5: Completed Heart

Now to complete the heart.

Grab the remaining end of the first half and bend it over so that the outside strip is the one that you glue to the new strip.  It is up to you on how far down you glue on the new strip. Then do the same with the other half, lining it up with the other side so that they match.

Bravo! Now you have a paper heart decoration!

Step 6: Decorate to Your Heart's Content

Now that you know how to make a paper heart feel free to go crazy and make dozens.

Tips: When I make a lot of these I like to stack several pieces of paper together so I can cut out several strips at once with only one measurement.  I also like to have them all cut at the beginning so I can create a fast system of gluing and shaping without having to pause and cut so much.

Other types of paper to try for different looks:
- Newspaper
- Phone book
- Colored Construction Paper
- Sheet Music
- Pages from old books

What to do with the hearts:
- Hang them from the ceiling
- String them together vertically to make a long column of hearts
- String them together horizontally to make a long strand

The choice is yours. Have fun and be creative! Happy Valentine's Day!

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