DIY Upcycled Grapevine Heart for Valentine’s Day Decor

This DIY upcycled grapevine heart started as a 20-cent yard sale find, and today I’m transforming it for our Valentine’s Day decor.

Recently, I decorated our mantel with a gorgeous garland and some DIY glitter hearts (you can see them here), but the mantel top still felt a little bare.

When I was considering what to put there, I remembered the heart I found at a yard sale and knew it would be the perfect piece.

You might not remember, but last summer we shopped at a yard sale with a table full of items priced at 25 cents each — or five for $1.00 — and I had no trouble finding five things I loved.

I came home with two lion candlestick holders (which I’ve already upcycled here), an ironstone creamer, a milk glass vase, and a grapevine heart mounted in a flower pot.

The heart looked like it had once been a topiary but had been stripped down over time.

It was leaning slightly to the side, and the pot was cracked in one spot.

With Valentine’s Day approaching, the timing felt just right to give this yard sale find new life and turn it into simple, elegant Valentine’s Day decor with a soft touch of sparkle.

And this is what it looks like now!

Isn’t it amazing what a little sparkle can do!

Gather Materials

This DIY upcycled grapevine heart uses a mix of thrifted finds, craft supplies, and a few optional items depending on how you want to customize your project.

Gather the following materials:

• Grapevine heart mounted in a flower pot (yard sale find)
• Glitter spray paint -Lowes- Krylon glitter spray paint in rose gold
• Cardboard (to protect your work surface)
• Plastic gloves
• White paint -Walmart -Waverly
• Paintbrush
• Wood heart -Hobby Lobby
• Organza ribbon -Hobby Lobby
• Pom pom trim -Hobby Lobby
• Gimp trim -Hobby Lobby
• Scissors -Walmart -Fiskars
• Hot glue gun-Amazon
• Glue sticks -Amazon
• Finger protectors -Amazon
• Vintage key
• Spanish moss

Optional materials:

• Popsicle stick (to help straighten a leaning grapevine heart)
• Miter shears (to cut the popsicle sticks)
• White spray paint (for the Spanish moss)
• Two smaller grapevine wreaths (for styling or display) -Hobby Lobby

If You’re Starting From Scratch

If you don’t already have a grapevine heart mounted in a pot, you can still easily recreate this project with a few substitutions.

• Use a grapevine heart wreath and mount it in a small flower pot using floral foam or plaster.
• Any small terra-cotta or ceramic pot will work — paint it white for a clean, neutral look.
• A wood heart can be found at most craft stores, or you can substitute a lightweight metal or resin heart.
• If your grapevine heart doesn’t lean, you can skip the popsicle stick fix entirely.

This project is very forgiving, so feel free to adjust the materials based on what you already have or what’s available at your local craft store.

How to Make a DIY Upcycled Grapevine Heart

This DIY upcycled grapevine heart comes together in simple steps and can be easily adjusted depending on the condition of your grapevine heart and the supplies you already have on hand.

1: Clean and Prep the Grapevine Heart

Start by cleaning the grapevine heart and the flower pot.

If you’re working with a thrifted or yard sale find, remove any old moss or debris and give everything a quick wipe-down so the paint will adhere properly.

Before painting, cover the flower pot with a plastic bag if it’s already attached to the grapevine heart.

Lay down cardboard or a drop cloth to protect your work surface, then put on plastic gloves to keep your hands clean.

Taking a few minutes to prep everything first will make the rest of this DIY upcycled grapevine heart much easier and help ensure a smooth, finished look.

2: Spray Paint the Grapevine and Wood Heart

With your work surface protected, it’s time to add some sparkle.

Place the grapevine heart on the cardboard and lightly spray it with the glitter spray paint, making sure to get into the curves and layers of the grapevine.

Using light, even coats will help prevent drips.

At the same time, spray paint the wood heart with the same glitter paint to coordinate with everything.

I used leftover glitter spray paint from my DIY glitter hearts, which made this project even easier.

Allow both pieces to dry completely before moving on.

Before you start spraying: This project uses glitter spray paint, so I recommend working in a well-ventilated space. I painted mine in the garage with the door open and wore gloves—mostly to avoid sparkly fingers for the rest of the day.

3: Fix a Leaning Grapevine Heart (If Needed)

If your grapevine heart is leaning to one side, this is an easy fix.

Mine was drooping slightly, so I used a large popsicle stick to straighten it.

Using miter shears, cut the popsicle stick into three one-inch squares.

Tuck the pieces underneath the drooping side of the heart, adjusting them as needed until the heart sits straight.

No need to worry about how the wood pieces look because they will get covered up!

If your grapevine heart already stands upright, you can skip this step entirely.

4: Paint the Flower Pot

Once the grapevine heart is dry and standing straight, it’s time to paint the flower pot.

I used white Waverly paint and applied two coats for full coverage.

Allow the first coat to dry completely before adding the second.

The fresh white paint helps brighten the piece and gives this DIY upcycled grapevine heart a clean, finished look.

Step 5: Hang and Decorate the Wood Heart

To hang the wood heart, cut a piece of organza ribbon long enough for the heart to sit in the center of the grapevine heart.

I simply eyeballed the length, draped the ribbon over the center of the grapevine heart, and hot-glued the ribbon ends together.

I used silicone finger protectors to keep my fingers from burning.

Next, hot glue the wood heart to the end of the ribbon so it hangs neatly in the middle of the grapevine heart.

To add a little interest, hot glue a pom-pom trim around the edge of the wood heart.

Then make a bow with a piece of organza ribbon and gimp trim, and hot-glue it to the front of the heart.

For a fun, personal touch, I added a vintage key to the right side of the wood heart—a sweet reminder that my husband holds the key to my heart.

6: Finish the Pot with Spanish Moss

To finish the pot, cover the top with Spanish moss.

I didn’t love the natural brown color, so I lightly spray-painted the moss white before adding it to the pot.

Once dry, layer the moss around the base of the grapevine heart to hide the wires that hold it in place.

This final step softens the look and gives the pot a more finished appearance.

How I Styled our DIY Upcycled Grapevine Heart

I styled this DIY upcycled grapevine heart in the center of the mantel to give the display a focal point.

The white pot and glittered heart help anchor the space.

To balance the mantel, I used two smaller grapevine hearts that I already had on hand.

I spray-painted them with the leftover glitter spray paint and placed one on each side of the pot.

Using the same paint on all three hearts helps tie the entire mantel together and creates a cohesive look.

Paired with the garland and DIY glitter hearts, this upcycled grapevine heart fills in the space above the mantel beautifully and adds just the right amount of sparkle for Valentine’s Day.

Final Thoughts

This DIY upcycled grapevine heart is a great reminder that you don’t need to start with something perfect to create beautiful seasonal decor.

With a little paint, a few leftover supplies, and some creativity, even a forgotten yard sale find can be given new life.

If you’re decorating for Valentine’s Day, this project is an easy way to add a soft touch of sparkle without relying on traditional red decor.

And if you enjoy upcycling pieces you already have, be sure to check out my DIY glitter hearts — they were the inspiration for this mantel and work perfectly alongside this grapevine heart.

If you enjoy the blog, please sign up for our email list so you won’t miss a post!

Until next time, follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram!

Blessings, Donna and Rich

More Inspiration

If you enjoy Valentine’s Day DIYs, be sure to check out the following posts:

• Simple DIY Paper Heart and Ribbon Garland
• Craft a Cozy Yarn Heart Wreath
• Cute and Easy Valentine’s Hearts
• How to Make an Adorable Heart Pillow
• Dollar Tree Heart Centerpiece

Pin It For Later

Don’t forget to pin the image below to one of your Pinterest boards (click the red Pin button in the top left corner).