Make Valentine Hearts and Heart Bowls from Handmade Paper

There's just something really cool about making your own paper by recycling paper. Sure it is fun and it is eco-friendly but the product is neat too. The colors and textures of handmade paper are extra-special, which is why making your own handmade paper hearts adds a special touch to your Valentine's Day cards or Valentine's Day decorations. Making your own paper is cheap too and it doesn't take long, although you'll want to let it dry overnight.

Green tip:

In December when those Christmas cards start rolling in, I save all of the white and red envelopes to use to make pink handmade paper for Valentine's Day. Envelopes are really great for making handmade paper if you didn't save any ahead of time, you'll likely get some envelopes in the mail today.

Handmade Paper Heart Supplies:
Old or dedicated blender
Junk mail & envelopes, especially red and white
Magazines, optional
Colored napkins, optional
Water
Glue
Paper towels
More options: dried herbs, spices, glitter, perfume, and essential oils
Casserole dish or pan for catching water
Colander, for bowls
Heart shaped cookie cutter, helpful
Papermaking kit*

*Don't have a papermaking kit? Don't worry I'll give you some options for fudging it that will work just fine too.

Paper Making Kits & Alternatives:

You can purchase papermaking kits with frames such as Arnold Grummer's Paper Making Kit & Video that is available for $22.95 at Amazon.com.

Alternatively you create your own papermaking kit with an old wooden photo frame and piece of scrap screen attached. This is what the paper pulp will dry on, dripping into the pan.

In a pinch I've also used a flat bottom colander, like the baskets in salad spinners. Yes, there's a small bump in the middle where the basket sits atop the knob to spin but I position that as the cleave of the heart. I also use a little Pam cooking spray to make it easier to lift the handmade paper hearts.

To make a handmade paper heart bowl, use a traditional concave colander. Again a dusting of Pam cooking spray is helpful and you'll want to make the paper pulp thicker for a recycled paper bowl.

DIY:

How much paper will you need to make handmade paper heart?

A handmade paper heart that measures about 3 inches by 4 inches will require one full white card envelope and one third of a red envelope, if you're making pink.

For a handmade paper heart that is about 6 inches by 8 inches, plan on using about 3 envelopes.

For a handmade paper bowl fashioned on the bottom of a colander, plan on using about ten envelopes or the equivalent in paper.

Directions:

Tear envelopes into tiny pieces and add to the blender with about 2 cups of water and two tiny drops of glue per card. Blend for about 20 seconds. Add optional items and blend for 5 more seconds.

Pour the paper pulp onto your screen and shape. I use a small spatula to push on edges and make them crisp. Place a paper towel over the card or heart and press gently to absorb excess water. Allow handmade paper Valentine crafts to dry over night.

The same process applies to fashioning a handmade paper bowl in a colander. Create the basic shape with your fingers and use a small spatula to scrunch up the edges.

Craft tip:

If you have a heart shaped cookie cutter you can place it on the screen, holding it down with one hand and pouring the pulp inside with the other. Press the excess water with a paper towel before lifting the cookie cutter and again perfect the edges with a small spatula.

These recycled paper hearts can be attached to handmade Valentine's Day cards or hung from ribbons as a simple Valentine's Day decoration. Heart shaped bowls are a fun way to display flower petals or Valentine candies.