Do you enjoy decorating your home with garlands? Get excited—we’re sharing a reversible DIY clay garland! You can use one side for Valentine’s Day and the other for any day of the year!
Every season, I enjoy browsing home decor stores to get inspired.
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On a recent trip to Home Goods, I saw a fantastic heart garland. Here’s a picture of it in the store!
It was so cute, and I was tempted to put it in my cart but didn’t.
A bit later, I was browsing the kitchen tools section and saw several heart-shaped silicone molds, and inspiration struck!
One of the molds looked like conversation hearts, and I thought they would be perfect for making a reversible clay garland.
I could use the side with the conversation hearts for Valentine’s Day and the plain hearts any other time of the year!
So that mold came home with me, and look what I created!
How adorable is that?
When Valentine’s Day ends, you don’t need to put it away; flip it to the opposite side and enjoy!
Ready to see how simple this sweet garland is to make?
Let’s craft!
Gather Materials
Gather the following materials to complete this project:
- Air-dry clay
- Heart-shaped mold
- Corn starch
- Paintbrush
- Popsicle stick
- Wooden skewer- to make holes for stringing
- Twine
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Silicone finger protectors
- Tape
- Ruler
- Index cards
- Fine-tipped markers for decoration (optional)
Steps to Make a DIY Heart Clay Garland
Prep the Mold
Use a paintbrush to add cornstarch to the mold.
Turn the mold over and tap it on the table to release the excess corn starch.
Make Hearts
Cut a piece of clay slightly larger than the mold.
Wrap the remaining clay to prevent it from drying out.
Press the clay into the mold, ensuring it fills the shape evenly.
Remove excess clay with your thumb and smooth it with a popsicle stick.
The back side of the clay should be flat!
In hindsight, I wish I had wet my finger with water and rubbed it over the back of the hearts to smooth them out more.
I have no idea if that would have worked, so I’m embracing the rustic look of the plain side!!
Tip- Practice a couple of times before you fill the whole tray. I was not pushing hard enough and filling the heart mold. In the picture below, you can see the two rows on the left side do not look as good as the right two rows.
Continue until all the hearts are filled.
Turn the mold over, and carefully push the heart’s center until the cast releases.
Add Holes
Carefully push a skewer into the top of the heart and turn it slowly as you push it through the bottom of the heart to make a hole.
Let the hearts dry completely.
Tip: Make sure your skewer is wider than your twine! The clay will shrink slightly as it dries, and the hole has to be large enough for the twine to penetrate it.
Embellish Hearts
If you want the words on the hearts to appear better, use a fine-tipped marker to fill in the letters.
Assemble the Garland
Cut a piece of twine double the length you want your garland to be.
I started with nine feet of twine.
I know that sounds too long, but the knots take up more length than you think!
Secure one end of the twine with tape for easier threading; ensure the taped section is wider than the heart. (See the left side of the string in the picture below.)
Take the opposite end of the twine and tie a double knot six inches from the bottom. (See the right side of the string in the picture above.)
String the first heart by inserting the taped end into the bottom tip of the heart.
Push it down the twine to the knot.
Tie another knot, and repeat until all hearts are attached.
Leave six inches at the end and cut the excess twine.
Steps to make Tassels
Wrap the Twine
Use a ¼-inch stack of index cards as a template.
Wrap the twine parallel to the longer side of the card 15 times.
Secure the Tassel
Slide one end of the garland under the wrapped twine on the card and tie it tightly.
Finish the Tassel
Cut through the bottom of the wrapped twine while still on the card.
Use another 12-inch piece of twine to secure the top of the tassel tightly.
Be sure to include the short piece of twine so it doesn’t stick out.
Tie a knot, wrap the ends around the tassel, and secure them with hot glue.
Tip: Be cautious when using hot glue, as it can burn your skin. We recommend using silicone finger protectors.
Trim any uneven strands off the bottom of the tassel if needed.
Repeat the process for the second tassel on the other end.
Enjoy your DIY Clay Heart Garland
I adore how this cute garland turned out!
The back side looks a little bit rough and rustic, but I’m embracing all the tiny imperfections and showing it off anyway!
Creative Ways to Style a DIY Clay Garland
Our new garland looks so cute draped over this “X” and “O” pillow set!
Here are some other ways you can style this festive clay garland!
Home Decor Ideas
- Mantel Display – Drape the garland across your fireplace mantel, paired with candles, framed prints, or seasonal decor.
- Bookshelf Styling – String it along a shelf or bookcase for a cozy, rustic vibe.
- Table Runner Accent – Lay it down the center of a dining or coffee table for a subtle, elegant decoration.
- Tiered Tray– Drape it in and around a tiered tray for added interest.
- Incorporate in a Vignette– Include it in a vignette on a table or counter.
Seasonal & Special Occasion Uses
- Holiday Display – Incorporate it into your seasonal decor for Valentine’s Day.
- Wedding or Bridal Shower Décor: The garland can be used as a romantic touch at a wedding or bridal shower, either draped over signage or as part of a backdrop.
- Baby Shower Decoration – Customize the garland with pastel colors for a sweet baby shower accent.
- Birthday Party – Use it on the cake table or as part of a party backdrop.
Conclusion
This DIY heart clay garland is the perfect project for Valentine’s Day or whenever you want to spread a little extra love and happiness!
We hope you’ll consider making this versatile garland for your home!
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Blessings, Donna and Rich
More Valentine’s Day DIY Inspiration
If you enjoyed this DIY project, check out some of the other Valentine’s decor items we made in the past:
- Valentine’s Wreath Made From Yarn Flowers
- Standing Heart Decor Set
- Simplistic Grapevine Heart Wreath
- DIY Heart Topiary
- Neutral Heart Pillow
Pin It For Later
Don’t forget to pin the image below to one of your Pinterest boards (hover over the picture and click the red Pin button in the top left corner).
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**Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We appreciate your support. (disclosure policy)
Love this Donna! I love when inspiration hits us in unexpected places. It’s the best. You know I love neutral decor so this is calling my name. I also love rustic so the imperfections are perfect!!! Great job friend. XO- MaryJo
Thank you MaryJo! One of my favorite things to do is browse home decor stores to get new ideas! So glad you like it! Thanks again, Donna
OMG Donna…that’s adorable!! I think it looks better than the one at the store 🙂 Super cute!!!
Hi Rachel! You just made my day! Thanks so much!
Such a cute and creative idea, Donna. I love the way this came together. I can’t get over how much they look like real conversation hearts – that is so cool! Big hugs, CoCo
Thank you, it was so fun to make! I adore hearts and am excited to use it year round!