Sweet Valentine Garland with Hearts and Pom Poms
My sweet boys usually steal my heart, but this time, I stole theirs…for my sweet Valentine garland! Read on to learn how a Pinterest photo and my kids’ artwork inspired this Valentine garland with hearts and pom-poms.
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A Valentine’s Day Pinterest Challenge
If you’ve followed my blog for some time, you know I love a good challenge! My friend Cindy from County Road 407 hosts this fun Pinterest Challenge each month to stimulate creativity and encourage everyone to “try this at home.”
The plan is to take one Pinterest photo and recreate it at home using our unique styles. If it sounds like fun, that’s because it is!
If you’re visiting from My Wee Abode, welcome! Julie is one of my closest blogging friends. Her velvet heart garland is so chic and romantic.
You can see her craft along with all of my friends’ creations at the end of this post.
Watch This Tutorial (1 min.)
The Inspiration Photo: Valentine’s Day Garland
This month, we have a sweet farmhouse Valentine’s Day garland from Refresh Living as inspiration for our challenge.
Jenny combined pom-poms and yarn hearts for a neutral, rustic farmhouse look. This would match any decor and has such a soft, charming feel.
I decided to incorporate the same sweetness of Jenny’s banner by including homemade pom-poms, but I added a bit more color.
Since my decor has plenty of neutrals already, I wanted a little more pop of Valentine’s colors for contrast. Instead of yarn hearts, I took the liberty of making felt hearts.
(This is where I got a little inspiration from my young boys. More on that later.)
I’ve put together a quick tutorial below if you’d like to make your own Valentine heart garland as well.
How to Make a Valentine Garland
While you can make pom-poms with a fork, I’m obsessed with the new pom-pom makers I bought. (You can see them in action in my winter mantel decor.)
Beyond that, you’ll only need a handful of supplies to make this Valentine’s Day garland!
Valentine Garland Supplies
- Pom-pom maker
- Yarn
- Felt pieces
- Embroidery floss or thread
- Jute rope
- Needles for floss and jute
- Scissors
- Poly-fil or cotton balls (optional)
I have a YouTube video showing how to make this garland, which has plenty of details on making the perfect yarn pom-poms and felt hearts. Click the image below to watch.
Step 1: Create pom-poms in alternating colors
To make my pom-poms, I used a beautiful set of ombre yarn I found at the craft store.
You can make your pom-poms any size and as full or thin as you like. I wound each side of my pom-pom maker about five times back and forth before cutting the yarn.
After creating your pom-poms, you’ll want to trim any stray pieces of yarn.
(Some of my pom-poms are still having a bad hair day, but I’m okay with that.)
Step 2: Cut felt hearts and stitch edges
Here’s where I got inspiration from my twin boys! My kids love to craft, too. (Go figure.) In fact, they tape their creations to the walls all over the house.
Recently, they taped up a 4-foot skinny red heart with the word “Joy” in the middle. (They wrote the “J” backward.)
Cue the heartstrings!
In a little wink to my sons, I decided to freehand a few skinny hearts for my garland to spread their joy around the house.
To me, the overcast stitch adds a playful, casual texture. (Correct me if it’s not called an overcast stitch!)
Step 3: Fill hearts with Poly-Fil or cotton (optional)
I had a giant bag of Poly-Fil left from the pretend campfire set I sewed a while back. I used a small amount to add dimension to my felt hearts before stitching them completely closed.
Cotton balls would work just fine, too!
Step 4: String pom-poms and hearts onto jute string
The final step is putting it all together on a piece of string or cord. I simply tie a “belt” around the middle of my pom-poms to hang them.
This Valentine’s Day garland can also work against a darker background. How cute would this look in an office or classroom to decorate for the holiday?
Pin it for later!
Continue Your Tour
Aren’t you curious to know what the other bloggers came up with for this Pinterest Challenge? Continue your tour with the links below!
Next up is Terrie from Decorate and More with Tip who is sure to have an awesome DIY project in store for you.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
How to Make a Valentine Garland
Equipment
- Scissors
Supplies
- Yarn (shades of pink)
- Felt
- Embroidery floss
- Jute cord
- Needles to thread cord
- Poly-fil or cotton (optional)
Instructions
- Create pom-poms in various sizes using pom-pom maker or fork method. Wind yarn around pom-pom maker about 5-6 times back and forth for best results.
- Cut heart shapes out of felt and use embroidery floss to make overcast stitch around edges. Leave a 2-inch opening.
- Before sewing heart closed completely, insert a small amount of poly-fil or cotton balls to give hearts dimension. Then, sew closed.
- Thread jute cord through felt hearts and around pom-pom centers (like a belt) to hang.
Ah, I love the sweet simplicity of Valentine’s Day after the Christmas excesses, and this garland fits the bill. Adorable, Crissy!!
Oh, thanks so much, CiCi! Yes, I agree on craving simplicity after the holiday season!
Sounds like you have some special boys! Crafting is so good for kids – my girls used to craft with me so much when they were little. I miss those days so much! Your garland is just adorable Crissy!! Pinned 🙂
Aw, thanks, Cindy! Yes, I’m just soaking up all these good memories before my boys grow up completely. I so appreciate you stopping by and pinning too!
So cute! Where is the felt from? I was at Joanns and I couldn’t find any soft reds likes yours!
Hi McKenna! Thanks so much. I probably bought it at either Michaels or Hobby Lobby. I hope you can find some good felt! These days I can imagine it might be tougher with supply issues companies are facing. Good luck to you, and let me know how it turns out. You can always tag me on Instagram if you’re on there! @firstdayofhome
This is too cute, and I love that you were inspired by your boys’ sweet drawings! (My kids tape drawings all over the house, too!)
Thank you, CiCi! Yes, they will have their own blogs someday, I imagine. They’re always coming up with crazy ideas, just like Mommmy! Thanks for stopping by!
Your Valentine garland is just the cutest Crissy! I would love to share this on my weekly blog post next week.
Thanks so much, Kim! I’d be honored to be included in your post. Can’t wait to see it. Have a wonderful week!
Love your sweet Valentine’s Day garland! I’m tempted to get those pom pom makers! 🙂
Thanks so much, Lauren! I know you’d love the pom-pom makers. You can use them for so many different projects!
Crissy,
I love this garland. I have made lots of pom poms for winter but not for Valentine’s Day. You have given me ideas. Congratulations, you are being featured at Thursday Favorite Things. I hope you stop by. https://www.eclecticredbarn.com/2020/02/thursday-favorite-things.html
Hugs,
Bev
Hi Beverly! Thanks so much for the feature! I will definitely stop by. I’m glad you got some ideas, and I can’t wait to see what you come up with. Thanks again!
I adore your garland! I’ve made pom poms before using piece of cardboard or a fork, but i need your pom pom maker! Great idea!
Thank you, Christy! I’m having a blast with this new set to make pom-pom makers. My boys can’t resist helping, too. Happy Valentine’s Day (a little early)!
Crissy, I love the inspiration your boys gave to you to create your pompom heart garland! Very sweet… I haven’t tried the pompom makers yet but they sure turn out pretty poms. <3
Loving your garland!!!
Heartfelt hugs,
Barb 🙂
Thanks, sweet Barb! I appreciate your kind words. I’m trying to find ways to involve my boys so they don’t think of Mommy as being “too busy with the blog.” I want them to be kind and creative people when they grow up.
Big hugs back to you! -Crissy
This is soooo pretty ~ Pinned! I love the shade of felt you used. I’m visiting from A Morning Cup of Joe.
Hi Allyson! Thanks so much for stopping by! I love Andrea’s site. She always has such great inspiration from bloggers there. I’ll stop by and pay you a visit, too!
Very pretty Valentine banner, Crissy, and I love the pop of color! The felt hearts are lovely. Note to self: need a pom pom maker
Thank you, Marie! Yes, once you get a pom-pom maker, the rest is history. Pom-poms are so fun to make! Thanks for stopping by!
crissy this is beautiful! Oh my I love it! So pretty! I love the pom poms and appreciate the time you put into this garland. Beautiful!
Happy Almost February! laura in Colorado
Thank you, Laura! It was a little labor of love, but I adored the look on my son’s face when I told him I modeled my hearts after the one he made. Priceless. Happy Almost February to you, too!
It’s just adorable! I love the felt hearts and I had no idea there was such a thing as a pom-pom maker. How fun!
Your garland looks beautiful and the pinks just pop!
So fun hopping with you. Happy Valentine’s Day!
You’re so sweet. Thank you, Amber! I love how you made your pom-poms, too! That’s a great hack! It’s always fun hopping with you as well. Happy Valentine’s Day, my friend!
Crissy, we must have had DIY telepathy on this project girlfriend. We obviously think alike when it comes to our Valentine decorations. Aren’t those pom~pom makers so cool? I know you are enjoying your garland as much as we are.
Too funny, Carol! I can’t believe we both had such similar ideas, but I always knew I liked your style. 😉 Enjoy your sweet garland, and thanks for visiting!
Think I’ve got a case of pom-pom maker envy. After seeing all the cute garland with poms today, I want to make some of my own. Like your little-bit-more-colorful version, Crissy!
I’m going to start a pom-pom support group because I think they’re going to be everywhere this year. Thanks for the kind words, Lora! Happy Valentine’s Day a little early!
I love the overcast stitch you used on your felt heart garland… and your pom-poms look pretty near perfect to me… Makes me want to go buy a kit and start making a mound of poms! Pinned… and I’m so glad I’m on your speed-dial, too! 😉
Thank you, my sweet pal! I think we’re on the verge of a pom-pom explosion. I’m just going to begin each of my next few posts with “DIY Pom-Pom…” LOL! Thanks for pinning…and especially for always being on speed-dial!
I’m excited to be able to share your lovely garland tomorrow at Tuesday Turn About! Love ya!
That is wonderful and welcome news! Thanks so much, Julie! I’m honored to be featured! Love ya too!
Love your Valentine’s garland and your pom poms are gorgeous–think I need one of those makers!
Thank you, Pamela! Yes, you’ll be doing pom-pom posts the rest of the season with this kit. I am totally addicted. Thanks for stopping by!
Girl, I adore your garland! The color, the hearts with fun stitching, the huge pom poms – it’s all fabulous! I seriously need to hang with you. I love all your craftiness. Maybe you can rub my head or something for encouragement?! Thank you so much for joining us. You are so clever. Pinned!
Aww, thanks, Cindy! I would LOVE to hang with you. You’d have me laughing all day long! I don’t think you need me to rub any creativity off on you, though. Thanks for the sweet comments and for pinning!
Oh, those handcrafted hearts make me happy. What a cute garland!
Thanks so much, Laura. Yes, my boys and I like to inspire each other. It cracks me up when they imitate me doing a YouTube video. I think I’m creating future influencers! LOL!
This is precious. I love the muted colors. I think I need to get to Hobby Lobby for some felt.
Thank you, Katie! Yes, felt is so cheap there, and there are so many fun things you can do. I saw some felt Christmas ornaments on Etsy that I’m dying to make this year.
Chrissy your garland is so cute. I need to purchase a pompom maker. Thanks for the great tutorial. I pinned this to make one for my home. Happy Tuesday!
Thank you Terrie. Yes, you’ll fall in love with these pom-pom makers. The set I bought has many different sizes, so you can make all types of things. Hope you have a great week!
Your garland is beautiful, Crissy! I love that hearts that your boys made inspired the hearts on your garland. A pom-pom maker is a handy tool. My grandmother used to help us make pom-poms using a piece of cardboard. That worked fine, but your pom-pom maker looks to be too easy to pass up. I can picture your littles using it to make pom-poms for their own crafts.
Thanks so much, Paula. I’ll bet you have fond memories of making those pom-poms with your grandmother. In my upcoming video, you can see one of my boy’s hands squeezing a pom-pom while I’m filming. LOL! He couldn’t resist the temptation!