Make This: Giant DIY Heart Art / Prop for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is only two and half weeks away, so even though it’s still January, I’m kicking off V-Day DIYs today with a bang.

You guys know that I love anything oversized at this point: giant ampersands, big ol’ holiday artwork, etc. But I haven’t made anything oversized for Valentine’s Day yet. So, I’m just going to go ahead and remedy that today, if that’s cool with you…

Make a giant (3 feet tall) heart photo booth backdrop and prop that you can use as decorative artwork around your house pretty much anytime of year. But especially in February.  And if you’re the type that takes V-Day photos with your man (or your cat) for postcards, etc, this is a great prop to include in the photos. Just sayin’.

Here’s how to make your own…

Supplies Needed:

one piece of foam core that is 36 inches long or larger // acrylic paint // paint brush // Xacto knife or box cutter // 2 saw tooth hangers (if using as hangable artwork) // craft glue // pen or pencil // permanent marker

How-To:

1. Freehand a tall heart on the biggest piece of foam core you can find, with a pen or pencil. Then trace over it with a marker so you can see the lines better.

2. Next, cut out the heart shape with an Xacto knife or box cutter.

3. Then, paint the entire heart with 2-3 coats of acrylic craft paint. Wait for it to dry completely.

4. Add two small saw hooks to the back with strong glue if you plan to hang it on the wall. And enjoy!

Here’s what the finished DIY looks like…

After Valentine’s Day is over, paint your heart black or some other non-Valentine color (like teal) to keep this big ol’ heart relevant long after February 14th is over. You could also attach a black and white drafter’s print, made from one of your favorite photos, to the heart with glue and then cut flush to the foam core for a totally different look.

So what do you think? Would you use this as a photo booth backdrop, or as a prop, or as hangable artwork?

Photography by Sarah Eddy // Concept and styling by Brittni Mehlhoff