Valentine’s Day is just around the corner but it’s not too late to make something special! This DIY heart painting would be a great Valentine’s Day decoration or just fun hanging somewhere in your home year round. Here’s how I created mine –

what you’ll need:

• 12x 12 square canvas
• heart stencil
• white acrylic paint
• acrylic paints in your preferred colors
• paintbrush
• water cup
• painter’s tape
• paper
• scissors
• ruler
• disposable plate or scrap cardboard to use as a palette
• paper towels, newspaper or a drop cloth to cover your work area

how to make it:

Begin by covering the canvas with white acrylic paint.  You can skip this step since the canvas is already white but I think it gives the finished product a nice, clean look. Using the stencil, trace the shape of the heart onto a piece of paper and then cut out. Do this four times for a total of four hearts. The shape of my heart is approximately 5 inches wide and 5 inches tall.  Next, arrange the paper hearts onto the canvas so you can see how it will be displayed. If your hearts are the same size as mine then there should be a half an inch on each side of the canvas, a quarter of an inch in between the hearts and 3/4 of an inch on the top and bottom of the canvas. The bottom points of the hearts should be touching in the middle. Now trace the hearts onto the canvas so you will know where to place the stencil later. Using the ruler and a pencil, divide the hearts you just traced onto the canvas into five one inch sections – this is for your stripes. Cut very thin strips of tape and using your pencil marks as guides secure the tape onto the canvas across the hearts. Apply a thin layer of white paint over the tape – this helps seal the sides of the tape and prevents the other paint colors from bleeding through. Secure the stencil to the canvas on top of one of the hearts with the painter’s tape. Choose five different colors and paint each one inch section a different color. It’s best to apply thin layers of paint especially around the edges of the stencil to prevent the paint from bleeding behind it. Do not remove the stencil until paint is dry. Move the stencil to the next heart and repeat. Once you’ve done all four hearts and the paint is dry, remove the thin strips of painter’s tape to reveal white lines. For a crisp, clean look, use the white paint to touch up any areas where paint bled through the tape or behind the stencil.

If you don’t have a heart stencil, you can make your own. All you need is stencil paper, a pencil to draw your shape and an exacto knife to cut it out. If you have a stencil, you may want to cover it with painter’s tape first so the paint doesn’t ruin your stencil.

If you’re looking for something a little quicker and easier, try making these super simple DIY treat bags from last year!

photo credit kate zitzer | more DIY projects here