I’d like to play cupid today and introduce you to our first Valentine’s Day craft – a luscious, rose-covered heart. Roses and hearts are favorite symbols of Valentine’s Day (and chocolate, of course), and designer Diane Flowers combined them both when she made her rose-covered hearts. It’s an easy craft for Valentine’s Day, so make two – one for you and one for someone special.

This heart would make a warm welcome on your front door.

Diane shares several versions of this sweet heart, and her first Red Rose Heart was made with a 6” heart of STYROFOAM brand foam. Diane used several dozen silk roses to cover the front, side and back of her heart. Now, that many silk roses can get expensive, so here are a few money saving hints:

• Diane covered the front and back of her heart, but if you’re hanging this where no one sees the back, just cover the front.
• If you paint your heart red, you can probably use fewer roses as any exposed foam won’t be as visible.
• You’ll find silk roses at your local dollar store or other discount chain, so shop around for a deal.

Next, Diane trimmed her rose stems to about 2”.  Trim them a little longer than you think you’ll need; you can always trim more but you can’t add more. Then, starting in the center, insert the roses into the foam heart till it’s covered and you like the arrangement. Once you’re done, if you’d like a little more “hold,” remove the stems, add a dab of glue in each hole, and reinsert the stems. Add a ribbon and hang this heart on a door, in a window, on a knob, just about anywhere. For step-by-step instructions, visit StyrofoamCrafts.com.

Hang your heart from an empty frame for more impact.

Look what Diane did next – she framed her Valentine’s Day Red Rose Heart in an empty frame. When framed, the rose-covered heart has more impact, and will look beautiful on a wall. You’ll want to start with a heart that is several inches smaller than the frame. Here’s what Diane used:

• 10” x 13” frame
• 8” heart of STYROFOAM Brand Foam
• 15 medium size roses

Diane could not find an 8” heart in the store, so savvy designer that she is, she cut her own from a 1” sheet of STYROFOAM Brand Foam. She drew her heart on the foam sheet, waxed a serrated knife with an old candle (a bar of soap will work, too), and then cut out her heart (yikes, that sounds gruesome!).

Diane’s next version is perfect for gift giving. Diane created sweet and sentimental tags for each heart using vintage papers and embellishments.

Add a tag and your rose heart becomes a Valentine's Day card.

I love the combination of red and pink roses. Imagine rose hearts made with white or cream flowers for a wedding. They would be beautiful hanging from the pews, or from the backs of the bride’s and groom’s chairs at the wedding reception. The bride and bridesmaids could even carry these as their bouquets.

Wouldn't these be pretty made with white, cream or even soft yellow roses?

And while we’re talking about love, I loved the many comments you all left about your New Year’s resolutions. I am so inspired by your enthusiasm for a fresh start and your creative goals and energy. It’s going to be a good year! And Szabina L. will definitely start it off right because she won the book Steampunk Chic! Congratulations, Szabina, and please contact me with your mailing address.

Now that I know that many of you follow steampunk, we’ll be sure to schedule another steampunk project and book giveaway later this year.

Speaking of giveaways, we still have a Solar System kit giveaway going on through Thursday, January 12.

Happy crafting!

Sharon