Unique Vintage Valentine Decor: DIY Decorating Ideas
Celebrate the charm of love and nostalgia this Valentine’s Day with unique vintage-inspired decor and creative DIY ideas!
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Pinterest Challenge
Today is the Pinterest Challenge—a fun event where a group of us bloggers come together to get creative! Our friend Cindy at @countyroad407 shares an inspiring image, and we each put our own spin on it to share with you all. I can’t wait for you to see how we’ve reimagined it!
Today’s inspiration image is a beautiful vintage frame filled with hearts from Dorenes Crafts.
If you have come over from my friend Lora’s blog @lorabloomquist, welcome. I have not doubt that you loved her creative post with spool art. Lora always has such creative ideas.
Vintage Valentine Decorations
I grew up with a deep appreciation for all things vintage, nurtured by my grandparents’ love for timeless treasures. My grandmother was an antique dealer, and my grandfather was a skilled clockmaker who worked with beautiful vintage clocks. Together, they instilled in me a passion for the charm and history behind these unique finds.
Some of my fondest memories are of tagging along with my grandmother, wandering through the thrift store and yard sales in search of the perfect hidden gem. Valentine’s Day was always extra special for us. We loved discovering sweet vintage valentines and delicate ephemera, each piece telling its own story of love from days gone by.
Vintage Valentine’s decor brings a timeless charm to your home, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere that celebrates the season of love. These old things are more than decorations—they carry a story, adding a touch of history and personality to your space. Whether it’s delicate vintage Valentine’s Day cards, vintage vases, or a heart shape ornament, incorporating these treasures into your decor creates a unique and meaningful connection to the past while making for a beautiful home.
Vintage Valentine Decorating Ideas
I have plenty of ideas to share, but let’s kick things off with this fun DIY frame featuring vintage hearts. It’s a great way to get creative with your favorite vintage treasures!
Materials You’ll Need to Make A
Rustic Frame Valentine Decor
Additional Tools You’ll Need
How to Make A Vintage Frame with Hearts
I purchased a heart sign with a love arrow from Hobby Lobby and decided to take it apart. This gave me two separate hearts and an arrow with the word “love.” I was particularly drawn to the fluted texture of the hearts, which added a distinctive and unique touch.
Step 1: Prepare your Hearts
In total, I made four large hearts and four small hearts.
SHEET MUSIC HEART
- Paint a thin layer of Mod Podge onto each of the large Metal hearts.
- Place a piece of sheet music over one heart, pressing it down gently with your fingers to smooth out any wrinkles.
- Apply a coat of Mod Podge over the top of the sheet music to seal it.
- Let the heart dry completely.
- Once it’s dry, you can carefully burn the edges of the sheet music for a unique, aged effect.
- For an extra vintage touch, lightly rub a rag with dark wax over the heart to give it an aged, distressed look.
FABRIC HEART
- Place a piece of fabric over the second heart, pressing it down gently to ensure it adheres properly. Allow it to dry completely.
- Once the fabric is dry, carefully trim away the excess around the edges to match the shape and size of the heart.
SMALL PINK HEARTS
- Paint a few small wooden hearts with pink acrylic paint and let them dry completely.
- Once dry, apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to each heart and allow it to sit for a few minutes until it becomes tacky.
- Carefully place a piece of vintage lace over each heart, pressing it gently into place.
- Apply a second coat of Mod Podge over the lace to seal it, and let it dry completely.
- After the lace has dried, trim any excess to match the edges of the heart.
- To give the hearts an antique finish, use a rag with a small amount of dark wax and lightly rub it over the surface to your desired level of distressing.
- I added lace to a few hearts and left a few hearts solid pink, adding a little bit of the dark brown wax to age them.
Tip from wendy’s craft room:
After painting the Mod Podge on the hearts, allow it to dry for a few minutes and becomes tacky before placing your fabric or paper onto the heart.
Step 2: Tin Heart
I had a few old pieces of punched tin in my craft closet and decided to cut one into a heart.
- Cut a template out of a paper bag.
- Trace the pattern onto the tin.
- Cut the heart out using tin snips.
Tip from wendy’s craft room:
After applying the dark wax, allow it to dry for a few hours. Rub or buff the wax for a shiny finish.
Step 3: Dollar Tree Heart
- I purchased this heart frame from Dollar Tree, which came in a natural and white finish.
- Use dark furniture wax to rub over the frame, giving it an aged, vintage look.
- Cut a small cardboard heart to fit inside the frame.
- Cover the cardboard heart with a piece of vintage lace, securing it in place.
- Use hot glue to attach the lace-covered heart to the inside of the frame.
- If desired, add extra lace or decorative touches to enhance the overall look.
Step 4: Assembling your Vintage Frame
- I found this frame with a picture at an estate sale for just a few dollars, but you can also check local antique malls or thrift stores for similar old picture frames.
- Remove the backing, picture, and glass from the frame, leaving just the empty frame.
- Use a staple gun to securely attach a chicken wire piece to the frame’s back side, covering the entire opening.
- Soak sphagnum moss in a bucket of water until thoroughly moistened.
- Take a handful of the soaked moss, wring out the excess water, and layer it over the chicken wire.
- Repeat this process until the entire area is evenly covered with moss.
- Place a second piece of chicken wire over the moss and staple it securely to the frame, sandwiching the moss between the two layers of chicken wire.
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Tip from wendy’s craft room:
Make sure to wet your moss before using it—it becomes much easier to work with and spread evenly over the chicken wire when damp.
Step 5: Assemble the Vintage Valentine’s Day Decoration
- Secure the large hearts by attaching a wire to each heart. Thread the wire through the moss and chicken wire on the frame, pulling it tight to hold the hearts in place.
- Use a hot glue gun to attach the smaller hearts wherever you want them on the frame.
- Make a small bow using vintage velvet ribbon and secure it by wrapping a piece of wire around the center of the bow. Push the wire through the moss and chicken wire to attach the bow to the frame securely.
- Add some greenery to the frame, arrange it to your liking, and secure it using the hot glue gun.
- Finally, use the hot glue gun to attach the black arrow to the top of the frame for a finishing touch.
How to Style Your DIY Vintage Valentine Decor
This charming vintage frame is a versatile piece that adds a touch of romance and nostalgia to any space. Here are some ideas for styling it for Valentine’s Day:
- She Shed Door Decor
Hang this unique creation on the door of your shed to give it a festive and romantic touch. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the holiday in a space that’s all your own. - Indoor Wall Display
Bring the romance indoors by displaying the frame on a wall in your living room, entryway, or bedroom. It works beautifully as part of a gallery wall or as a standalone centerpiece. - Front Door Accent
Welcome guests with this stunning Valentine’s Day decor on your front door. Pair it with a vintage-inspired doormat and some potted greenery or flowers in shades of pink and red accents for a warm, inviting entrance. - Mantel or Shelf Styling
Lean the frame against the wall on a mantel or shelf and surround it with complementary pieces like antique candle holders, lace runners, or a stack of vintage books. Tuck in a few faux or dried flowers to enhance the romantic, vintage vibe.
Other Vintage Valentine Decor Ideas
Vintage Valentines Day Tree
- Choose a Tree Base
- Use a small tabletop tree, a white or pink Christmas tree, or even a branch secured in a vase for a rustic touch.
- Add Lights (Optional)
- Wrap the tree in soft white or warm pink fairy lights to create a romantic glow.
- Decorate with Ornaments
- Hang vintage-inspired or handmade ornaments, such as:
- Heart-shaped decorations. Vintage valentines attached to twine or ribbon. Small glass ornaments in shades of red, pink, or gold.Miniature lace or fabric hearts.
Vintage Valentine’s
- Showcase charming antique valentines by arranging them in a vintage flower frog, then place them on a stack of old books or atop vintage china for a timeless display.
- Arrange the old valentines in a flower frog and display them under a glass cloche for a whimsical and charming presentation.
Using Vintage China
- Create a romantic vignette with red and white transferware plates this Valentine’s Day. Stack the plates on your coffee table and pair them with a container of antique silverware for a charming and playful display.
Where to find Vintage Valentine’s Day Decor
Antique Shops and Malls
- Explore local antique store and malls for unique treasures like vintage valentines, lace, figurines, or heart-shaped dishes.
Thrift Stores and Estate Sales
- Check thrift stores, yard sales, and estate sales for affordable finds like vintage cards, glass ornaments, or decorative plates.
Online Marketplaces
- Browse platforms like Etsy, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace for vintage Valentine’s Day decor, including hard-to-find items.
Flea Markets and Vintage Fairs
- Visit flea markets or vintage fairs for a wide selection of nostalgic decor, often at bargain prices.
Other Valentine’s Day Tutorials from WM Design House
If you love this Vintage project , you might also enjoy some of my other favorites:
DIY rag wreath
Vintage Inspired Heart Rag Wreath
Follow along with this easy step-by-step tutorial and learn how to make your own easy DIY Rag Wreath for Valentine’s Day using tea-dyed strips of cut fabric
That’s all from me for now, but there’s plenty more inspiration to explore! Be sure to visit my friend Missy at @sonatahomedesign to see how she transformed a 3D card into a Valentine’s Day keepsake.
Did you make this craft?
We would love to see what you have created, so mention us @wmdesignhouse or tag us using #wmdesignhouse so we can see your creations!
More about me!
Hello, I’m Wendy – a dedicated homemaker with a deep passion for decorating, gardening, cooking, and crafting. I find joy in harmonizing beautiful elements to fashion a space that is both comfortable and inspiring. I will help you create a beautiful home, one project at a time.
Love your project Wendy! The mossy background showing off the pretty vintage hearts is so clever! I always enjoy and learn so much from your tutorials!
You hit this challenge out of the park girlfriend! I love it and wish I had your talent for crafting. Love this! pinned
Wendy, you make everything look so easy! This heart frame wreath is so sweet!
This turned out so sweet Wendy, I love the variety of hearts!
Omgoodness, that frame with the hearts is so adorable! Thanks for sharing Wendy! Pinned!
Super creative, Wendy! Love all the different heart textures and mediums that you used. Lovely!
Always amazing, my friend! That frame from Dollar Tree — I don’t remember seeing it — I need to run there right now!!! I love your interpretation of the inspo. I see all the details, just done Wendy style.