By Gabrielle. Photos and styling by Amy Christie.
Olive’s school is very into wholesome and handmade, and we’ve been thinking hard about what sort of non-plastic and non-commercial Valentines she can make for her classmates. And since I reignited my love affair with my wood burning tool while working with spoons, cutting boards and sliced birch, I’ve been on the look out for more opportunities to burn stuff — it’s just so fun!
So after some brainstorming and failed projects, we came up with this really cool project: wooden heart key chains!
With store-bought wooden hearts, these little tokens of love are ever so easy, totally customizable, and sweet as can be. (Plus, inexpensive!) A perfect little project for Olive.
So go grab your etching tool and let’s get started.
Supplies:
– wood-burning tool
– wooden hearts (I found mine in Michael’s in the woodworking aisle, but you can also find them on Amazon)
– jump rings
– key ring
– pliers
Like we mentioned in the other posts, wood-burning consists of using the highly heated tip of the wood-burning tool to burn designs or patterns into wood. When the design is complete, add enough jump rings to satisfy and connect to a key ring.
These designs are very simple (yet beautiful, right?) and the options are endless.
An optional step when your design is complete is to stain it or apply paint — the “Be Mine” version above was an experiment with white stain. Of course you can also leave the wood as is.
Tie on a red ribbon, and these are ready to give to your Valentines!
P.S. — Love to make things? Here’s a link to tons of excellent projects.
Such a nice idea, thanks!
Glad you like it, Ann!
Truly lovely — and they work so well for any age range! I’m tempted to make a few and tuck them into cards for my grown-up friends: the New Conversation Heart!
I agree! I think they would be sweet bookmarks for a February bookc lub.
Those are truly-uly lovely. Our little guy (8yo) is painting similarly simple designs with white Sharpie onto dark, smooth oval stones from the beach. Thanks for the never-ending ideas!
What a fabulous idea!
Can I pay Olive to make me one?!?
Hah! I’ll ask her. : )
As a non-US reader I’m always so curious why school kids give all their classmates a valentines gift/card?
Looks like a cute project though!
Good question, Wendy. I suppose it became a tradition over the last few decades. I wonder if wikipedia has any info. I’ll have to look it up!
oh, these are so sweet – now I have to go treat myself to a wood etching tool and get started on a few of these!
What did you use to make a hole in the heart?
Oh, I am so doing this. I think the little polka dotty ones are perfect.
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These etched hearts are gorgeous, and what a fun DIY! Thank you for sharing your tutorial.
Love these :) Shared here http://siayla.blogspot.ca/2014/02/got-wood-hearts-try-these-crafty-ideas.html
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So I have just started woodburning and came across your Valentines heart key chains on Pinterest. I was wondering what size wooden hearts you used. I am wicked excited to try this it looks like it will be very beginner friendly :)
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