Vintage Valentine’s Hearts: Rustic Book Page Dollar Tree DIY

Y’all, these turned out so cute, and my mind is spinning with new possibilities. You can give new life to forgotten treasures with these Vintage Valentine’s Wood Hearts! This DIY rustic Valentine decor is an easy book page project. They celebrate the art of upcycling by transforming pre-loved book pages, and DollarTree finds into whimsical wooden heart stands. Plus, the DIY heart decorations can be personalized with photos of a favorite pet, grandchildren, or family. You can photocopy old family photos to create one-of-a-kind pieces that whisper tales of the past.

I’ll also share three ways to style the rustic wooden heart stands for vintage Valentine’s Day decorating.

So, gather your supplies, and let’s get crafting.

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Vintage Valentine’s Craft Ideas: Rustic Hearts

There are several ways to create Valentine’s decor with this rustic Vintage Valentine’s Craft idea. I struggled to decide how to use these cute Dollar Tree wooden hearts.

I considered using them for a Valentine’s Garland, a Wreath, or a Swag. However, I wanted a centerpiece for the coffee table, so I made heart stands instead.

Although I love them in the centerpiece, I realized the DIY Heart decorations were a stylish way to add a vintage Valentine’s vibe throughout the farmhouse. Therefore, I’ll share three ways you can use them to style different areas of your home.

How To Prepare Dollar Tree Wood Hearts?

Here is how to prepare your Dollar Tree wood hearts for this project. Begin by purchasing a 3/16″ dowl rod to use as the stand.

Next, add a 3/16″ hole in the bottom of each wooden heart using a cordless drill. The hole must be as centered as possible, and hold the drill steady. Drill approximately 1/4 inch deep.

How To Prepare The Old Book Pages

You will need to gather some old book pages for this DIY craft. I have several books that are falling apart, and the pages are nicely aged. If you have none, you can look for damaged old books at thrift stores.

Begin by tracing the Dollar Tree wood heart onto the old book page and use scissors to cut it out. I added a book page heart to the front and back of each, so you’ll need two for each heart.

Next, distress the heart by tearing the edges, as you can see below. The front of the Dollar Tree heart is beveled, so remove more of the paper edge to make it fit properly. The backside is flat, and the distressed heart can be slightly larger.

Decoupage the DIY Heart Decorations

To add the old book page hearts to the wood, you will need to decoupage them. Begin by applying mod podge to one side of the wooden heart with a small paint brush. Then press the book page heart into the glue and smooth it with your fingers. Finally, apply a second coat of mod podge over the top, covering it well around the edges.

Set the heart aside to dry. You will want to allow one side to dry before adding the paper heart to the other side.

Add A Rustic Finish To The Vintage Valentine

Once the mod podge has dried on both sides of the heart, you can add the rustic finish to your Vintage Valentines.

For this step, I used Antique Gold Rub and Buff. Add a small amount to a paper towel and rub it around the edges of the hearts and sides of the exposed wood.

DIY Heart Stands

You also need to make your wood stands to hold the hearts. You can purchase wooden blocks or make your own. Brad cut several blocks from some scrap lumber we had on hand. The blocks are approximately 3 x 2 inches, and he drilled a 3/16″ hole in the center of each.

To finish the bases, use any color of craft paint you desire. I used a mix of black and gold to blend with the rustic heart decor.

Assemble Heart Stands

Begin by cutting the dowel rods to the height you want your heart to stand. I used three different lengths. The tallest is approximately 7 inches, the middle is 6 inches, and the shortest is 4 1/2 inches long.

Next, I added the antique gold rub and buff to the rods and allowed them to dry.

Finally, add a drop of glue to each end of the rods, insert them into the wooden blocks, and add the hearts to the top. Allow the glue to dry before styling the hearts.

How To Personalize Your Rustic Valentine Decor

If you want to personalize your rustic Valentine’s decor, you will love this next step. I’ll be honest: my mind is filled with many possibilities after finishing this project.

Gather some old family photos or recent images of pets or children to personalize your vintage Valentine DIY heart decorations.

To begin, copy the images on regular copy paper. You may need to increase or reduce the copy size to fit the small hearts.

1. Cut out the area you want to add to the wood heart.
2. Apply more mod podge to the old book page heart.
3. Press the copied image onto the heart and smooth it with your fingers.
4. Finally, apply another coat of Mod Podge over the image top.

I used two images of Rudy, and I love how cute they are. However, after I’d finished, I had more ideas.

I think these would look amazing with copies of old family photos. Many are already aged, and you can use the image without adding the old book pages. If you copy a more recent picture and need to age it, use coffee or tea to age the new paper.

3 Ways To Style Wood Heart Stands

I began with my original inspiration for the Vintage Valentine’s Hearts and arranged them in a wooden bowl for the coffee table centerpiece.

The six DIY Heart stands were combined with battery-operated tapered flicker candles, a cloche, and several DIY paper roses. The centerpiece has a neutral farmhouse rustic vibe.

I added three rustic Valentine’s decorations to the shabby chic mantel for the next idea. The old book page Vintage Valentines works well with the Upcycled Old World Village from the holidays.

The heart stands are surrounded by faux cedar candle rings, pillar flicker candles, and gathered pinecones for a stylish vignette.

And finally, my favorite destination for the DIY Heart Decorations was the entry table.

With books for risers, the simple arrangement is a perfect Valentine’s welcome. Seeing Rudy’s sweet face makes me smile.

This idea would also work well in a bedroom or sofa table arrangement.

Regardless of where you decide to use your rustic hearts, they will add a touch of natural romance to your home for Valentine’s Day.

Resources & Materials

Here are the materials and tools for creating this DIY Valentine’s heart project.

• 3/16″ dowl rods
• Dollar Tree Wood Heart or these similar hearts
• Cordless Drill
• 3/16″ Drill Bit
• Mod Podge
• Small Paint Brush
• Rub and Buff
• Wood Blocks for Stands
• Glue

More Valentine Crafts

Here are a few more Valentine’s crafts you may enjoy.

• 5 Valentines Wreaths with Paper Roses
• The Best Thrifted Valentine’s Decor
• Guest Bedroom Valentine’s Day Tour
• DIY Scrap Fabric Heart Pillow Cover

Thanks for stopping by, and I look forward to sharing my next adventures with you.

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