Each Monday over the next month I’ll be posting a new recycled Valentine’s Day project. Seems like an awful lot of Valentine’s day stuff goes into the landfill or gets dumps into the recycling bin after just a few days. So skip the plastic hearts and store-bought cards and spread some recycled love this year.
Today’s project is a copy of the IKEA heart. Have you seen it? A little heart with arms? At the bottom of this page. A huggable heart in a miniature, recycled version. I added a face too. For the fabrics, I used a felted sweater, old men’s shirt, vintage fabric and a worn-out baby dress. The buttons are extras from clothing, and the filling is from an old pillow.
Here are some abbreviated instructions.
- Cut heart shapes and arms according to heart template.
- Sew buttons and mouth.
- Sew arms, right sides together, turn right sides out and stuff them.
- Pin it all together as shown below and sew, leaving an opening for stuffing.
- Turn right sides out and stuff.
- Hand sew opening closed.
If you make one of these, be sure to post a photo in the Make it Monday Flickr group. Thanks!
This reminds me of a heart I got for my Mom when I was a kid that said “I love you this much”. I think every Mom got the same thing that year.
Ooh can’t wait for more ideas. I have a pretty good idea for my husband, but I’m struggling this year for my daughter (2yrs old) and my mom. I do know they will all be receiving vintage valentines as part of the little gift package.
Too cute. I just love Valentine’s Day and handmade gifts show the most love I think. I am going to send a few postcards this year since we live overseas, take a look! There will be little hearts drawn on the card where we both live 🙂
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_1&listing_id=19461088
Great Idea!! And your heart is so much cuter than the mass-produced IKEA one!
Hah, thank you for sharing this! I just pulled a red t-shirt with a stain out of the closet for repurposing for Valentine’s Day and this was a thought that actually went through my head. I’m glad to know I still have *some* good ideas left. 😉
yours is MUCH cuter 🙂
oooh, I love it! What a great idea. Looking forward to Mondays!
Oh how cute! I love the recycled idea! I’ll be linking.
I am soooo with you on this. I love that little guy!
This little sweetie is sooooo cute- and of course, so much better than the IKEA version. The perfect recipient for little one’s snuggles and hugs!
He’s adorable! I’ll have to make some of these for my boys!
What a great idea for a series! I work in a flower shop, and it kills me when guys spend hundreds of dollars on roses that will die in a few days and candy or mass produced plush animals that will probably be donated to Goodwill next year.
That’s really smart. And cute. The mis-matched button eyes are my favorite.
When I make stuffies out of felted wool, especially really simple shapes like hearts and circles, I loften like to leave the seams on the outside. I think it looks really cool, and it makes the whole process even simpler.
great idea and the funny thing is I have been making some upcycled/recycled vintage sewn book page hearts… ok thats a bit of a mouthful but they do look nice.. I blogged about them buy the image colour is a bit off. I’m making them as part of a window display for my husband’s photography studio… I really hope my idea works out…
Very cute. My kids may each have to get one of these on Valentines day. I even have an old red sweater I can use…
Hi, I wanted to email you but didn’t see an address (which I may have just missed, I am pre-coffee). I would like to mention your recycled valentine’s day feature on my W.I.P. Wednesday feature with links to you – and would like to know if you’re ok with me using your recycled v-day graphic. Could you let me know?
This is so sweet!
I will try to make one.
so cute! i will mention your projects in one of my upcoming valentine’s day post on funky finds!
Oh, This is just the cutest heart ever!
Flipping cute!
YAY for this Valentine’s idea and for recycling! Visit my blog for a pic of the little cutie heart that I made for my sweetie – http://thefeatheredsnail.blogspot.com/2010/02/late-valentines-post-my-little-sewn.html
Thanks so much for sharing!!!
~Rachel
Hi, i’ve seen the IKEA heart at, obviously at IKEA, but this is so much cuter! This is really easy to make as I made one myself and the instructions are really easy to follow!
Thank-you
~Rosie x