Heart Garland crafts always look like they took forever, but trust me—they’re way easier than they seem. All you need is some colorful paper, a stapler, and a few minutes to turn something basic into something really cute. Whether you’re dressing up your space for Valentine’s Day, a birthday, or just trying to add some joy to your walls, this DIY brings the vibes without the stress. And honestly, it’s wild how fast a few paper strips can turn into full-on decor.
This Heart Garland tutorial is the kind of craft I love—low effort, high reward, and no perfection needed. You can make it while watching TV, on FaceTime with your bestie, or with the kids at the table. Pick your favorite colors, staple ‘em up, and boom—you’ve got something that looks way more expensive than it actually is. It’s giving “I made this myself,” but without the glue mess or the tears.
By the end of this post, you’ll know exactly how to make a paper heart garland step by step and a few cute ways to hang it up around your home. Whether it’s across your mantel, on a bookshelf, or in your kid’s room, it’s the perfect little pop of love. So grab that paper, plug in your playlist, and let’s get crafty—because we love a project that looks good and keeps our budget happy.
Materials
Before we get crafty, let’s round up everything you’ll need…
five colors of cardstock paper (I used pink, yellow, green, blue, and purple)
a stapler
scissors or a paper cutter
a ruler
and a pencil
That’s it! Most of this is stuff you probably already have lying around the house. Simple supplies, big payoff—that’s my kind of craft.
Making a Paper Heart Chain Garland
Measuring and Cutting Your Paper Strips
If you’re using a ruler, make small pencil marks one inch apart along both long edges of your paper. Connect the dots across the page, then cut along the lines until you have 11 even strips. You can also use a paper cutter to speed things up and get crisp edges. Once that’s done, repeat the same process with all five colors of cardstock so you’ve got plenty of strips ready to go.
Choosing Your Heart Garland Colors
We’re going with a soft ombre look—pink, yellow, green, blue, and purple—like a chill version of the rainbow. But you can totally switch it up with your favorite colors or even patterned paper. The key is having a nice mix so the paper heart chain blends smoothly from one shade to the next.
Making the First Heart
Start by stacking two pink strips in the center and two yellow strips—one on each side. Line them up neatly and staple the bottom. Bend the yellow strips back so they form a small heart, then bend the pink ones around them to make a larger heart. Adjust as needed and staple again to hold everything together. Look at you—your first layered heart is done!
Adding the Second Heart
Now take two yellow strips and line them up with the bottom of your last heart, then add two green strips to the outside. Staple all four together, bend the green strips back to form a smaller heart, and wrap the yellow ones around for a bigger one. Adjust the size, staple again, and trim the edges if needed. You’re officially building your DIY paper heart chain!
Creating the Third Heart
Grab two green strips and attach them to the bottom of your last heart. Then add two blue strips to the outside and staple. Bend the blue strips to make the smaller heart, wrap the green ones around them for the larger heart, and staple again. Once you see that ombre fade starting to form, it’s giving craft-store chic—minus the price tag.
Building the Fourth and Fifth Hearts
Next up: add two blue strips with two purple strips on the outside, staple, bend, and repeat. Then for the fifth heart, use two purple strips in the middle and two pink strips on the outside to restart your pattern. Staple, bend, and staple again—same process, new color combo. At this point, you can keep going as long as you want—just loop back to pink and yellow to extend your heart garland DIY.
Tips for the Perfect Heart Chain
Try using metallic or glitter cardstock for a glam look, or mix in patterned paper for something fun. You can even write messages or quotes inside each heart to make it more personal. To switch things up, cut wider strips for big hearts and thinner ones for smaller hearts—different sizes give your paper heart chain craft that extra “wow” factor.
Decorating with Your Heart Garland
When you’re done, hang your paper heart garland across a wall, mantle, or window. It also makes a cute backdrop for photos or parties. Lightweight, colorful, and full of love—what’s not to like? Whether you use it for Valentine’s Day or just to brighten your space, this little craft delivers big joy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of paper works best for this Heart Garland?
Cardstock is my go-to—it holds its shape and gives that clean, crisp look. But honestly, if all you’ve got is colored printer paper, do you, Boo—it still turns out super cute.
Can I make this Heart Garland without a Cricut?
Absolutely. You can hand-cut your hearts with scissors or use a heart punch. It might take a little longer, but it’s low-key relaxing once you get into it.
How do I keep my Heart Garland from tangling or twisting?
Lay it flat or hang it right after making it. If it starts doing the cha-cha later, just smooth it out and rehang—it’ll behave after that.
You’re on a Roll—Don’t Stop Now
If you’re feeling inspired (or just not ready to put the scissors down yet), here are a few more DIYs you’ll love diving into next.
Your Heart Garland Era Has Begun!
This heart garland might be made of paper, but it’s giving all the love and creativity you put into it. It’s simple, sweet, and the kind of DIY that looks way more complicated than it actually is—which is always a win in my book. Whether you hang it for Valentine’s Day, a birthday, or just because your space needed a little love, it’s proof that the best décor doesn’t have to come from a store.
So go ahead and grab your scissors again, because once you start making these, it’s hard to stop. Try different colors, patterns, or even mini versions for gift wrapping—do you, Boo! And if this project made you smile, share it or tag me at DeAnn Creates so I can see your version. I love seeing what you come up with when the creativity kicks in.