Skip to Content

How to Make a Paper Heart

Sharing is caring!

What better way to show your love than with a gorgeous handmade paper heart? Learn how to make a paper heart with paper in a few minutes.

These gorgeous paper hearts are not just for Valentine’s Day. Since they have a vintage vibe, you can decorate with them all year.

You can find more Valentine’s Day ideas in this earlier post.

Book page hearts with back ribbon hanger loops on a table

Hanging Paper Hearts

 

This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you purchase from one of these links, I will make a small commission, but rest assured, you will not pay more for any products.

 

How to Make a Heart Out of Paper

You can create these hearts with book pages, craft paper, wrapping paper, greeting cards, paper doilies, and more.

Hanging Paper Heart Supplies

 

craft supplies on a craft mat

Craft supplies

Book Page Heart Instructions 

Step 1. Trace Heart

To begin, use a pencil to trace around a heart-shaped cookie cutter or another heart pattern on the foam core. 

Using a pencil to trace around my heart-shaped cookie cutter on foam core on a cutting mat

Trace around heart

Step 2. Cut Out Heart

Next, use a Xacto knife and cut along the penciled heart lines. Note: Be sure to use a cutting mat or cutting board under your project. 

Cutting out design from the foam core with a Xacto knife

Cut out foam core

Step 3. Cut Papers

Tear out the pages from a book or use the ones that have fallen out. For example, the paper I used (book page) was 9 1/4 inches by six inches.

I cut each page about three inches by six inches, so I conserve my paper, and it is easier to handle. Note: if you are using a square sheet of paper, cut it into three equal pieces.

book pages cut into three pieces on a cutting mat with scissors

Paper Cuts

Step 4. Tape 

Before rolling the paper, I add a glue line on the long side of the bottom inside the flap. As a result, it will naturally be glued in place when I finish rolling the paper. Note: Be sure to flip the paper so that the writing will be in the correct direction.

Adding glue along the inside flap of the paper rolled around the wood dowel

Add glue

 

Step 5. Make Paper Rolls

Roll your paper with the long side against the wood dowel or pencil using your hands to curl and bend the first turn. Make sure to hold your paper tightly as you roll. 

Holding the book page paper tightly against the wood dowel as I form the paper rolls

Roll paper on the dowel

Step 6. Glue Paper Rolls 

Apply a line of glue along the seam of the paper roll. 

Applying hot glue along the seam of the paper roll on a craft mat

Apply glue to paper roll

Step 7. Glue Rolls to Heart

Starting at the top of the heart, attach paper rolls as close together as possible. 

Starting at the top attach the rolled paper on a craft mat

Glue on rolled paper

Step 8. Trim Paper Hearts

Next, turn over your heart and cut off the excess rolled paper using the foam core heart as your guide. 

Note: I covered the back of the heart with a book page and a glue stick.

Turn over the heart once all the paper rolls are attached and cut off the extra rolled paper following the along the foam core heart

Cut off the extra rolled paper.

 

Step 9. Ribbon Loops

To embellish my heart, I cut three pieces of 3/8″ ribbon cut into five-inch lengths. Then, I used hot glue and made the ribbons into loops.

Three black ribbon loops on a craft mat

Three ribbon loops

Step 10. Ribbon Star on Paper Heart

To attach the ribbon loops, I used a crisis cross method that had equal spaces between each circle, applying hot glue with each addition. 

Gluing the ribbon loops onto the front left top of the paper heart

Add ribbon loops

Step 11. Ribbon Hanger

Since these foam core and paper hearts are incredibly lightweight, you can hang them with a simple ribbon hanger. I used a ribbon cut to 7 1/5″ long and used hot glue to attach them to the back.

 

Gluing on ribbon hangers to the back of the foam core hearts on a craft mat

Attach hanger

Embellishing Paper Heart Ideas

To embellish book page hearts, you can use any embellishment, such as buttons, charms, paper cutouts, ribbons, sequins, ribbons, and more. 

Finished book page paper heart sitting on a craft mat

DIY Paper Heart

Want More Craft Ideas?

Please join me (with this form) as we craft up some fun. You can look forward to receiving new inspiration every week. 

See you soon,

Kippi

 

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Beverly

Wednesday 9th of February 2022

Kippi, I love these hearts. Pinned for next year. Congratulations, you are being featured on Thursday Favorite Things. I hope you stop by. https://www.eclecticredbarn.com/2022/02/thursday-favorite-things-party_021536055.html. Hugs, Bev

Kippi

Saturday 12th of February 2022

Thank you so much for your visit and for your support. Happy Valentine's Day, Kippi

Anna Price

Tuesday 8th of February 2022

Those are FABULOUS!! Love this idea. Thank you for such detailed step by step instructions.

Cindy Rust

Tuesday 8th of February 2022

You're so creative Kippi! These hearts are the cutest - I love book page projects! Congrats on being featured on Tuesday Turn About this week!

Lynne

Tuesday 8th of February 2022

These are adorable and I am so excited to feature this project on Tuesday Turn About this week! Have a wonderful week, my friend! xo

Lynne

Friday 4th of February 2022

Kippi, I love this project! What a clever idea! I appreciate you sharing at Tuesday Turn About!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sharing is Caring

Help spread the word. You're awesome for doing it!