How to Make a Valentine’s Day Tree With DIY Yarn Hearts
To make a Valentine's Day tree using DIY yarn hearts, start by creating yarn-wrapped heart ornaments, then gather a few branches and arrange them in a sturdy pot filled with rocks or floral foam. Hang the hearts with string or twine and fluff the branches until it looks full and balanced.
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This Valentine's Day tree is one of the easiest ways to add a little seasonal decor without buying anything new. All you need is a few branches (free if foraged from outdoors), a pot or vase, and a handful of DIY yarn hearts to hang like ornaments. The finished look is simple, cozy, and perfect for decorating a mantel, tabletop, or entryway for February.
The best part is the hearts are lightweight, budget-friendly, and completely customizable with any yarn you have on hand. I actually used the same yarn I used to make my yarn Christmas trees, and I love how it gives this Valentine version the same soft, handmade look.
If you've been wanting an easy Valentine's Day craft that looks cute and actually fits your winter decor, this heart tree is such a fun one to try.
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Why you'll love this project
- Adorable Charm: This whimsical heart tree adds a delightful touch to your Valentine's Day decor with its playful and charming appearance.
- Simple and Easy: Enjoy the simplicity of creating this tree with just a few easy steps, so get your fine motor skills ready to make an ideal project for crafting enthusiasts of all levels.
- Versatile Display Options: Whether it's for your cozy living room, office, or classroom, this heart tree fits seamlessly into any space. Display it on shelves, mantels, or as a beautiful centerpiece.
- Personalized Color Palette: Customize your heart tree by wrapping the wooden hearts in your preferred color scheme. The soft, romantic pastels used in this tutorial offer a cozy and romantic feel.
- Nature-Inspired: Embrace the natural look by foraging branches from your yard and incorporating preserved moss. This gives the tree an organic, woodland appearance.
- Budget-Friendly: Utilize leftover yarn and easy-to-find materials like wooden hearts, making this DIY project both creative and cost-effective.
- Endless Creative Possibilities: Experiment with different yarn colors, foraged branches, and display ideas. The project is the perfect craft idea that allows for creative freedom, making each heart tree unique.
- Perfect for Gifting: Consider gluing a single beautifully wrapped heart onto a gift box for a special, handcrafted touch. These hearts make thoughtful and personalized gifts.
Tip: This tree can easily be adapted to make a faux cherry blossom tree to bring your decor into spring!
About this easy DIY Valentine's Day tree
With plenty of spare yarn on hand, I just needed heart forms to wrap. I found unfinished wooden heart cutouts at my local craft store that worked perfectly. Similar wooden hearts are also available on Amazon.
For the base, I used a beautiful scalloped ceramic pot I already owned. I filled it with dry floral foam to allow for securing branches. I foraged outside for an interesting branch with lots of offshoots - this came from a mature lilac bush in our yard. The numerous branches would give the piece shape.
To neatly cover the foam brick, I simply laid sheets of preserved moss atop the foam before inserting the branch picks. This gave the entire vessel an organic, woodland look that complemented the yarn hearts beautifully.
Tip: If you don't want to purchase wooden hearts you can make hearts from cardboard for this project. The easiest way to make a cardboard heart is to trace a heart-shaped cookie cutter. Or make a heart template from a piece of paper and trace it on a cardboard box. An x-acto knife is helpful when cutting out the heart shape.
What you will need
- 3 ½" Unfinished wooden hearts
- Assorted pink, white, mauve yarns (each heart requires approximately 14-16 yards of yarn)
- A foraged branch (or branches) with lots of offshoots
- Dry Floral foam bricks (or styrofoam tray)
- Sheet moss
- Large ceramic pot
- Glue stick and glue gun
- Scissors
Tip: Any type of yarn or string will work on these. Choose chunky yarn, thin yarn, kitchen twine even ribbon.
Wrapping the hearts
Take the end of the yarn and start by putting a small line of hot glue down the center of the wooden heart, to secure your yarn piece tightly.
Begin wrapping the yarn around the heart, Wrap in different directions, covering the front and back of the entire heart for a full effect.
Use a nice taut tension and overlap the yarn strands a bit for a seamless, full-coverage look. Really smother those hearts!
Once a heart is fully enveloped with yarn, simply flip it over and with sharp scissors trim excess yarn off the rough backside, gluing down tails if desired.
Repeat the wrapping process on multiple hearts freely mixing up your yarn palette. I chose an overall soft, romantic pastel scheme, but customize away!
How to Make a Valentine's Day Tree Using DIY Yarn Hearts
- Gather supplies
Gather your wooden heart shapes, yarn, scissors, hot glue gun, branches, and a pot or vase for your tree.
- Attach the yarn to the heart
Add a line of hot glue down the center of the wooden heart. Press the end of the yarn into the glue and hold it in place until it sets.
- Wrap the heart with yarn
Wrap the yarn around the heart in different directions (vertical, horizontal, and diagonal), keeping it snug as you go. Continue wrapping until the heart is fully covered.
- Secure the yarn as needed
If the yarn slips around the curves or corners, add small dabs of hot glue to hold it in place.
- Finish the yarn heart
Flip the heart over, cut the yarn, and glue the end onto the back to secure it. Repeat to make as many hearts as you want.
- Prep and place the branches
Trim the ends of the branches so they sit flat. Place floral foam in the bottom of your pot or vessel and insert the branches, arranging them like a small tree. Cover any visible floral foam with sheet moss for a finished look.
- Add hangers to the hearts
Cut short pieces of yarn, ribbon, or garland and tie them to your yarn hearts so they can hang like ornaments.
- Decorate the Valentine's Day tree
Hang the yarn hearts on the branches and adjust the spacing until it looks balanced. Add optional battery-operated twinkle lights for a little sparkle.
Tip: Add battery-operated twinkle lights for a little sparkle and shine!
5 ideas for displaying yarn hearts
- The finished yarn hearts make charming clusters on mantels, bookshelves, or looping along a tiered tray for lots of texture. These hearts would be pretty on the ends of strands of wooden beads.
- For an organic look, space out hearts in a line to create a macrame-style garland on your wall or hung in front of a window. Simply thread some yarn or a piece of twine through the backside of the heart and space them evenly.
- You could also glue a single heart onto a gift box you are giving someone for a special handcrafted touch.
- Display these beautifully wrapped showstopper hearts in your favorite dish or mini dough bowl and place them on your coffee table for a festive touch.
- The design options with these crochet-inspired hearts are numerous. Add pops of color and craftiness to any space by proudly putting them on display. Make your own version and gift them creatively too!
I love that these Valentine yarn hearts can be wrapped in any color scheme imaginable, adapting them for other holidays beyond Valentine's Day.
With simple shapes and supplies on hand, these DIY yarn hearts allow lots of creativity. Paper or fabric hearts would make great alternatives to wood as well!
As you can see, these yarn hearts make for beautiful handmade Valentine's decor! Using foraged branches and yarn bits, the whole project comes together easily with a natural look.
And that's it, your Valentine's Day tree is done! It's simple, sweet, and one of those little projects that instantly makes the whole room feel more festive. I love how the yarn hearts add just the right amount of cozy texture without looking overly "Valentine-y."
If you make one, I'd love to see it. Tag me or share a photo so I can cheer on your heart tree from afar.
Keep crafting, friends!
These hearts are Absolutely what I've neen looking to created
Oh Im so glad! Thanks for visiting the blog!
Where did you find the adorable gray nest that you put some hearts in?
Love this idea Stephanie!❤️
Hi Rhonda,
I bought that in a small gift shop several years ago. It's a twig bird's nest that looks like it was painted white ( I'm guessing chalk paint) that looks gray. Thanks for visiting the blog!
Stephanie, I really don’t do decorations for Valentine’s Day since the kids are grown & the grandkids almost are. But these are so sweet I think I’m inspired! Thanks for sharing❤️
Thank you Debi! I do very little myself and what I do is simple and understated like this yarn heart tree!