Felted Pin Hearts as Valentines

We're finally just getting into the Valentine's Day swing around here. It seems like just yesterday I put away the Christmas decorations. I'm still in denial that the first month of 2013 is already over!

MiniMe wanted to make something special for the girls in her class. We thought a felted heart that the girls can pin on their coats or purses or backpacks would be fun. Here is what you'll need (image doesn't include everything so please read list):

Red and/or pink felt sheets (8 1/2 x 11)

Embroider floss (Red floss for pink felt and pink floss for red felt)

Needle

Scissors

Stuffing

Glue gun/glue

Hole punch

Flat brooch pins

Red and/or pink construction or scrapbooking paper

Valentine or heart stickers

White construction paper (to write Valentine note on)

Begin by cutting a heart template from construction paper. Once you have the heart just as you want it, you'll fold your felt so that when you cut around the template, you're actually cutting two hearts. Cut as many as needed.

You'll then separate the embroidery floss in half (into three strands) and cut enough so that you can sew around your entire heart. Make a knot at the end of the floss and insert your needle through the inside of one of the felted hearts (to avoid an unsightly knot).

Then you will stitch around the edge of the heart and stop just short so that you have enough open area to insert the stuffing.

Insert just enough stuffing to give the heart a puff. If you stuff too much, the heart is hard to sew closed and loses shape. If you can't seem to stuff it in cleanly, don't worry too much. You can cut the excess stuffing around the heart when finished.

Finish stitching back to your starting point. Make sure to knot your embroidery thread on the inside to hide the finishing knot.

Cut a matching piece of felt that will fit inside of your pin.

Shoot a straight line of glue on back of heart and place felt and pin on it until dry.

From here you can probably get super creative with the decorations on the card. We decided to stay simple. I found the middle of the card (at the top) and made a mark on either side of the halfway mark to holepunch. This ensures the heart is centered. You can use the first precise holepunches you make as a template for the others you have left.

Pin the hearts to the cards and decorate. We used white construction paper and stickers to decorate ours. I hope the girls in the class like her valentine to them!