Learn how to make your own Budget friendly Valentine decor for your own home in this step-by-step tutorial. Follow along with me and you will just love how this cute craft turns out!
DIY Valentine Decor For Your Home
Raise your hand if you know what XOXO actually means? For the longest time, I was clueless. I would see my girls write it on notes when they were little. Do you remember when notes were actually a thing? This little phrase is always around during the season of love. Can’t walk up and down a craft store aisle without seeing it. If you know what it means, say it with me out loud… “Hugs and Kisses!”
Now that I know what it means, I just L O V E it! I also love how well this faux leather technique turned out for this DIY XOXO Sign. Perfect for any Valentine decor. I’ll teach you step by step how to achieve this look with just a few things we all have at home. And do you believe me when I say you can make something this cute in under an hour? In fact, I did it on my lunch break! Are you ready to make this adorable Valentine decor for your home? Or maybe as a gift for someone you want to give “Hugs and Kisses”? Either way, let’s get started!
SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAKE YOUR Valentine Decor:
- Wood Heart – Woodpeckers crafts
- Wood Squares 2×2 – Woodpeckers
- X O X O 2” wooden letters
- Masking Tape
- Annie Sloan Soft Wax (Brown) or Shoe Polish
- Squeegee or Flat Edge Craft Knife
- Lint Free Cloth
- Waverly Paint: White
- Deco Art Paint: Cotton Candy
- Chip or paint brushes
- Deco Art: Brilliant Turquoise
- Real Leather Craft Lace
- Felt
- Black or Brown Ink Pad
- 2” Sheer Pink Ribbon
- Hot glue
- Staple Gun
- Baby Wipes
- Puppy Pads
STEPS:
1 – Grab your wood heart. peel off your masking tape in tiny pieces. Cover your heart in little pieces to create a leather effect. The smaller the pieces, the more leather-looking it will be. Tip* This is the longest part of this craft, but oh so worth it.
2 – Adding random pieces of your masking tape all over your entire board, be sure to layer so there aren’t any gaps of wood showing through. Smooth out any bubbles. It will take a good 15-20 minutes to complete, depending on the sizes of tape used and your wood heart.
3 – Grab your brown wax and a popsicle stick. Add a small amount to begin directly over the tape. Randomly add it all over the heart. You can’t do this step wrong my friends. Tip* You can use shoe polish/chalk paste instead of wax for this, but just make sure you let it dry.
4 – Grab your squeegee or flat edge craft knife and begin to spread the wax all over your heart, until it is completely covered. Add more wax when necessary. Really work it into the grooves so it soaks it all up.
5 – Grab a lint-free cloth and remove the excess wax by rubbing it all over. You can rub it on your edges too. This will buff the wax out. Tip* To make it darker, just repeat the steps to add more wax and remove it until you get the color you desire.
6 – Set aside to dry a bit. Be sure it does not have a tacky texture.
7 – Grab your wooden squares and add a layer of white paint. Depending on your type of paint, you might need to add 2 coats. Don’t forget to paint all those edges. Tip* Be as creative as you want here. Choose a different color, or add some craft paper with Mod Podge. Just have fun with it!
8 – Grab your XOXO letters and add a layer of paint. I used Cotton Candy Pink, but you can use any colors you want. Tip* If you can’t run to get your brushes rinsed off right away, then just wrap them up in a damp baby wipe to save them. Then be sure to rinse them out when you get time to clean up.
9 – Use a heat gun to help speed up the drying process of your painted pieces.
10 – Grab your Deco Art Brilliant Turquoise and a craft stick/makeup sponge. Add a tiny bit on the outer edge of your heart to add some character to your craft. Tip* You can use Rub and Buff instead – just be careful not to get too dirty. You could even skip this step if you wanted.
11 – Once dry, flip your sign over and grab your hot glue gun or your staple gun. Grab some Real Leather Craft Lace and cut just enough to be able to hang your sign. I cut 3 pieces, not all matching in length. Play with placement. There should be a staggered look like a rainbow. Once you are happy with how they will hang, begin to glue. You can staple/hot glue them onto the back of your sign. Tip* You could even braid them as well.
12 – To help secure it, even more, cut 2 tiny pieces of felt and hot glue over those leather ends.
13 – Now that your wooden pieces are dry, add your XOXO pieces to your white wooden squares with your hot glue gun.
14 – I like the distressed look. So using a black ink pad, rub the edges of your wooden squares and XO letters by lightly pressing it on. You don’t have to do this step if you don’t want to. Let dry before moving on to the next step.
15 – Next add your wooden squares directly onto your wooden heart. I added them all mismatched, but you can add them straight across if you prefer that look. Tip* If the hot glue is not working with that wax technique on your heart, use some E6000 instead.
16 – Grab your 2” sheer pink ribbon, and pull enough off to make a bow to tie on top of your heart. Hot glue on the back so it stays in place.
17 – Don’t worry if the back of your heart is all a mess, no one will see it! Or add a layer of paint on the back if you prefer.
Friends, can you believe we did this craft in under an hour? This was the perfect little distraction from my hectic workday. I think I am really liking the idea of lunchtime crafting! How about you? Thanks for crafting with me! And, X O X O, until we meet again. Love is in the air and it makes me so happy!
BE SURE TO PIN THIS Budget Friendly VALENTINE DECOR for your home TO MAKE LATER!
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