Make a DIY Pom~Pom and Heart Valentine Garland
Do you realize that Valentine’s Day is our next holiday? Have you thought about decorating ideas for this special holiday? How about making a DIY pom~pom and heart Valentine garland?
This DIY pom~pom and heart Valentine garland is one you might not have thought about.
With Valentine’s Day about one month away, I’m ready to share a ton of excellent projects that you can create for your home. I promise there will be a few that you will want to make.
Sounds like a great idea? Well, then, I hope that you’ll have a seat, and enjoy these projects. I hope that you’ll love my project – how to make a DIY pom-pom and heart Valentine garland.
Today is the first Celebrate the Holiday Blog Hop of the year. We’re focusing on that loveliest of holidays – Valentine’s Day. 9 bloggers are sharing a variety of lovely ideas for you to try.
If you are visiting from my friend Laura of Everyday Edits, then welcome to Bluesky at Home. I’m so happy to meet you and have you here.
Never made a pom-pom? No problem. I’m going to show you how. This DIY pom-pom and heart Valentine garland is so cute and easy that you might make one for everyone you know.
How to Make a DIY Pom-Pom and Heart Garland
This pom-pom and heart garland was inspired by a project I saw on Pinterest. With Valentine’s Day our next big holiday, I chose to make this Valentine’s garland for our mantel.
My Valentine Garland Inspiration
I don’t know about you, but I love garlands and banners for decorations. I’ve made many over the years ~ I’ll share some ideas with you at the end of this post.
My inspiration is from Jenny at Refresh Living. I saved it to my Valentine’s DIY Ideas Board.
Her pom-pom and heart Valentine garland really excited me. Why?
I love garlands – I already told you that.
Our mantel needed a new Valentine’s decoration.
I already had white yarn that I bought on sale last summer. Just because.
I already had a pom-pom maker which I bought months ago but had not used yet. I couldn’t wait to try it out.
First, I went to Jenny’s post and read how she made her garland. I watched the video of how she made the Valentine hearts. You should too. It’s pretty cool. I wanted to use Jenny’s garland as inspiration, but not copy it.
Supplies for the Pom-Pom and Heat Garland
POM-POM MAKER ~I ordered the Clover Pom-Pom Maker. I don’t know who invented this little gadget, but it’s really cool and very inexpensive. There are 2 sizes in this package. I used the smaller one which makes a 2 1/2-inch diameter pom~pom.
NOTE: I read later that there is a heart-shape pom-pom maker. I couldn’t resist so I ordered it.
P.S. Maybe it’s just me, but I had a hard time using the heart-shaped pom~pom maker. Let me know if you get it and what you thought.
YARN IN THE COLOR OF YOUR CHOICE – I chose a yarn that was smooth and not too thick. This one comes in a package of two in multiple colors. Since there are so many projects you can use this yarn for, this is a good choice.
VERY SHARP SCISSORS ~ I quickly discovered that my large sewing scissors were difficult to work with. For pom-pom making, you need a small, but very sharp pair of scissors with a point. These Fiskars scissors were perfect.
These scissors are great for small spaces on fabric when you need a really sharp blade and a point. I have used these scissors a lot for crafts since I bought them.
RED FELT ~ You can buy felt by the yard or squares.
BATTING FOR FILLING THE HEARTS ~ I always try to keep a bag of batting on hand for projects.
Making the DIY Pom-Poms
The directions on the back of the package aren’t very clear, so I went to YouTube and watched this video. Suddenly, using the pom-pom maker made perfect sense. It may take you a couple of pom-poms to get the hang of the motion, but then it’s a breeze.
I’m not going to give you a detailed step-by-step tutorial myself because the video already does that. I can tell you that making pom-poms is a great project to do while watching TV.
NOTE: I can also tell you that wrapping your yarn as smoothly and thickly as possible around the curved plastic is desirable. You want to fill the curve thickly with yarn; this makes for a full pom-pom. You will wrap one side and close it, then wrap the other side and close it.
I did not use enough yarn on my first pom-pom and it was really skimpy. Lesson learned. Fill up the curved plastic sides until the yarn is very thick.
After you have wrapped both sides of the pom-pom maker, this is where the sharp and pointed scissors come in.
You place the point of the scissors in the groove of the curved plastic and start snipping the yarn all across to the other side.
TIP: DO NOT open the pom~pom maker!
I didn’t take a picture, but next, you will cut a piece of yarn about 6 – 8 inches long and wrap it around the entire pom-pom maker in the grooves, knot it, pull tight, and then knot it again. Now you can pull the pom-pom maker apart and voila! You have a pom-pom!!
I highly recommend that you watch the YouTube video. It will make perfect sense.
After you remove your pom-pom from the maker, you will want to shake it, fluff it up, roll it in your hands. You will probably have a few pieces that stick out. Just use your scissors to trim them up a bit.
Reassemble the two sides of the pom~pom maker and repeat the process for your next pom~pom. I made 6 pom-poms for my Valentine’s garland.
Making Red Felt Hearts
I bought a package of 5 sheets of 9 X 12-inch red felt rectangles. I didn’t know how many I would need. As it turned out, I needed just 1 sheet to make 12 hearts – 2 for each heart. I have another project in mind for the red felt so it will not go to waste.
Fortunately, I had some thick paper red hearts to use as a pattern for my felt hearts. I used a fabric pencil to trace around the pattern and then cut out my hearts.
I needed 12 hearts for my DIY pom~pom and heart Valentine garland project – to actually have 6 hearts.
Originally, I intended to use the same white yarn I used for the pom~poms to sew 2 hearts together, but the yarn would not go through the felt. Instead, I used white embroidery thread which was perfect for this DIY pom~pom and heart Valentine garland. Using a 1/4-inch stitch, I sewed around the heart, leaving about 2 inches open.
Next, I used the batting to stuff my felt hearts.
You want to push your batting into the rounded parts of the heart. I held the felt together and finished stitching my heart. Just tie the embroidery thread on the back of the heart and cut off the excess.
I love the puffed look of the hearts.
Now I was ready to assemble my pom-pom and heart Valentine garland. Jenny used jute twine to string her garland, but I knew that would not work for my felt hearts. Instead, I used the same yard as the pom-poms to string the 6 pom-poms and the 6 red hearts together alternating them.
Here is another heart Valentine project using red and white ticking fabric that you’ll like.
Displaying the Pom-Pom and Heart Garland
Finally, where to hang my pom-pom and heart Valentine garland? The mantel, of course. Now the mantel is still decorated with winter decor, but for now, that is where the Valentine garland had to go.
After holding up the garland on the mantel for inspection and input from Sweet Shark, we both thought it would look better with the red hearts on each end. I just took off one of the pom-poms from the end of the garland. That looked much better.
Just for fun, I also hung the Valentine’s garland on the cabinet doors below our TV.
Did you enjoy learning how to make a DIY pom~pom and heart Valentine garland?
I love this sweet little pom-pom and heart Valentine garland project. I may become a pom-pom-making fool. I’m not sure exactly where the garland will find a final home, but it will definitely be on display this Valentine’s Day.
I hope that you will PIN it for your future Valentine’s decorations.
Be sure to visit the other 8 Valentine’s Day ideas shared by the other ladies on our Celebrate the Holiday Blog Hop. Start with Renae of Peacock Ridge Farm and her beautiful Valentine’s wreath.
Leslie – Fun Valentine’s Day Tree
Regina – DIY Valentine’s Pillow
Michelle – Valentine’s Pretty Pillow
Laura – Easy Valentine’s Day Mantel
Carol, I LOVE this garland! And I know I have one of those pom-pom makers around here somewhere. Thanks for the nudge to get going on Valentine’s Day.
Very cute Valentine garland Carol. love the cute little red hearts and those darling pom poms. I am happy to feature your Valentine garland at Love Your Creativity.
Carol,
This is a cute project for Valentine’s Day. I’d like to share a link on my Sunday Dirt road Adventures.
This is such a gorgeous garland, Carol! Thank you for sharing at the Creative Crafts Linky Party!
Pinned! 🙂
Creatively, Beth
I’m so glad that you liked it.
SO cute! I’m featuring your post on tomorrow’s Crafty Creators. Thanks for sharing & I hope to see you there!
Thank you so much. What a nice surprise.
Carol – this is so simple and so cute. I love the stitching on the hearts. I can see one of these to match my pillows! Thanks so much for hosting our Blog Hop.
My pleasure. I loved making those hearts.
Carol, your heart and pom pom garland is adorable! I have those pom pom makers, and they are so fun to use! Thanks for sharing such a fun Valentine craft! Pinned!
Carol, what an adorable Valentine’s garland. It would look so pretty just about anywhere.
I’m so ready to start crafting for Valentine’s Day, and I love your garland. I finally bought a pompom maker and now I’m ready to make garlands too! Happy New Year Carol!
Super cute! What a fun idea. Thank you so much for putting such a fun group together. Hugs and blessings to you.
Oh, Carol, I am in love with this! And your details and instructions are perfect. I have a Pom Pom maker I haven’t used yet and I need to pull it out and give this a try! Thanks for hosting all of us! So many great ideas.
This cute garland will be great to add a touch of Valentine’s Day anywhere – thanks for sharing Carol!
hi Carol
So pretty Pinned! Thank you for hosting this tour!
laura
I would like to make this cute garland for my mantle. I am new to making garlands. Can you tell me the dimensions of the felt heart? I want to make a template to cut from.
Thank you for posting this adorable decoration!
Alycia, so glad you liked this project and want to make it. I believe the heart pattern I used was 3 inches. You could make the hearts bigger, but I wouldn’t make them smaller. You want them to be big enough to work with and show up. Hope that helps. Let me know when you make your garland. Send a pic.
I made the garland and it looks great! Thank you for the dimensions. I made the hearts about 4 inches. I’m not sure how to upload a pic but I am very happy with the results! Thank you for your inspiration!
Your garland turned out so cute, and so easy to make.
This is so cute!! The hearts remind me of a heart-shaped sugar cookie. Thanks for sharing!!
This is SO cute!! Pom poms always made everything adorable. The felt hearts look so cozy. What a great idea.
Glad you loved it, Anna. I”m still smitten with this project.
Super duper cute! I am featuring this project at Embracing Home and Family this week!
I saw. Thank you so much.
Thanks for sharing this post and the pom pom maker. The last time I made pom poms by hand I was not happy with the results – so I need these makers. Your garland is so pretty and festive with the hearts and pom poms. I love garland too! #HomeMattersParty
Not only are these adorable but they look like fun to make! I’ll have to get one of those pom pom makers. I used to make pom poms when I was a kid using a very primitive pom pom “maker”. Yours looks so much easier! Great craft!
Shelley
Shelley, it was a super fun project. I’ve seen them made using a piece of cardboard or just your hand. They probably all work in the end. Thanks for dropping by.
This is so sweet, and so easy to do. Love poms poms. And the finished garland looks lovely in the white as well as in the red.
Your garland is so pretty, Carol and that pom pom maker sure makes life easier! Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ’s.
I enjoyed your garland; I like the pop of red. I had never make garlands until last year; I made several with Dollar Tree hearts with an edging of punched hearts (red, white, and pink on Valentine ribbon, another on red and white yarn. I also made 2 “winter” garlands–I alternated large “store-bought” pom poms and 3 1/2″ tall snowmen (originally Christmas tags). Another with heavy felt snowflakes and the snowmen. I have an archway between my living room and front hall which is a good place for them–and my vintage/antique booth, too! They are a great short term project, not expensive to make, and have a lot of visual appeal.
HI Carol, OMG I love the pop of red against the white cabinets. I have steered away from pom-poms because I have two big Bernese Mountain dogs and felt and pom-poms are magnets for fur! However, that pom pom maker (who knew?) is kind of cool and your tutorial makes the felt hearts look like something I could make! I love this one! I need to step up my game for the next challenge! I so love this Pinterest Challenge group!
Happy Wednesday! What team are you cheering for on Sunday?
laura PS Great photos… Your photos are looking amazing these days! great job!
LOL! You’re right, Cindy! We’re on the same wavelength for this challenge! Would you believe I almost stitched my felt hearts the very same way but decided at the last moment to switch it up? I love the way your garland turned out. It looks beautiful the way you have it displayed.
Very cute garland!!
When I saw Crissy’s pom-poms (she used the same tool you did here), I thought the same thing… I want to make a mound of pom-poms now… and you confirmed my feeling! Your felt heart and pom-pom garland is so cute. And I love how neat your diys always look. Neat and lovely! pinned. How fun that we are working together two times today!
Those pom-pom makers are the greatest thing! Think I need one of those in my life:) Love how you combined them with the classic red felt hearts with the white thread. So cute; almost looks Scandinavian! Fun DIY project!
I love the white stitching that coordinates with your pom poms! So cute!
Your garland turned out amazing. Obviously I don’t craft enough because I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a pom pom maker! Say whaaaaat?! Love the puffy red hearts and how it pops off the white cabinets. So cute! Thank you for joining in. Pinned!
lol Cindy!! And I thought it was just me! 🙂
Carol, thanks for sharing this at our #HomeMattersParty. The garland looks so pretty. And it’s so simple to make.Now, I feel like making one too! 🙂
Kimberly, so glad you liked the project and want to make one too.
I LOVE your felt hearts Carol. The handcrafted stitch is just darling.
What a fun garland. I love the red and white. I have to get me one of those pompom makers. Looks so easy to make. Thanks for sharing the tutorial. Pinning to make for myself.
Your pom poms are adorable and fun. I think I’m just smitten with the felt hearts! Those are so cute and they don’t look that difficult. Precious.
Carol, I love how your heart and pompom garland turned out! The red felt hearts are really sweet!!! I thought about getting a pompom maker (or making my own pompoms with two pieces of cardboard like we did when we were kids), but thought I’d just make yarn hearts.
Fun Pinterest Challenge!
Hugs,
Barb 🙂
The garland that you created looks lovely on your mantel, Carol! I’m intrigued by your pom-pom maker and am especially intrigued by the heart-shaped one that you recently discovered. Now that it’s almost February, it’s fun to have some Valentine’s Day decor and having this on your mantel has to make you smile each time that you see it.