3 ways to use a reclaimed wood salvaged junk heart
Rustic, reclaimed wood hearts are so cool, and have really become quite a popular home decor trend lately!
So I desired to come up with my own rustic heart take before Feb 14th. I’ve made some salvaged hearts before HERE, but they were a little more crafty. This round, I wanted to use my beloved wood scraps.
So after a little messing around, I came up with a reclaimed wood salvaged junk heart that can use any wood scraps you may have!
But when I was making it, I kept asking myself what I’d want it to do. My preference is to make a project that is also productive…
Once I started playing, I couldn’t stop!
So… today I am showing you 3 ways to use a reclaimed wood salvaged junk heart!
Here’s how I made it, then I’ll also share 3 ways I staged it below…
How to make the reclaimed wood heart
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Let’s start with the heart first.
This heart is not hard to make. Just a bit fiddly cutting the pieces just so. But no worries… it’s totally do-able if you have a decent jig saw handy.
(this post contains some Amazon affiliate links)
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Supplies I used:
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stencil – I used Homestead Blend Coffee HERE
random reclaimed wood planks
paper, pencil, scissors
cordless drill, bits and screws
random rusty junk
How-to:
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1. Stack random wood planks together, arranged in the order you’d like them to appear in your heart.
I did nothing to these planks. They were just scrap wood planks as-is. But the bottom one had been painted black, and the one on top of it wears Miss Mustard Seed’s antique wax, from THIS toolbox shelf project.
2. Decide how large you’d like the heart, then create a paper template, by folding a large sheet of paper in half, and drawing half the heart. Just make sure it fits on the wood.
3. Cut out the heart template, then trace the shape of the heart onto the wood, rotating between using a pencil, chalk, or white pencil crayon. Whatever shows up best on your selected wood planks.
4. Cut each wood piece as drawn using a jig saw.
I like to use a couple of clamps to hold the boards in place, alongside a little workmate work bench. You may be able to get away with holding some pieces while you cut, but being that my jig saw is heavy, I prefer using both hands while using it.
I think I need to look into a new one… I want THIS ONE.
5. Brace the back of the heart in some way, so all the boards are supported.
If using cedar strips like I did, I suggest to pre-drill holes, or the strips may split when you attach them.
6. After assembling, you’ll find some edges won’t meet perfectly. Re-smooth the edges with a jig saw.
7. Lightly sand the edges, and across the front of the boards.
And you have yourself a wooden heart!
The finished heart above measures at 24″ x 24″.
Decorating the heart
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And now for the very best part… let’s get it to do something cool.
My first thought for the heart was that it needed to symbolize Love. So I gathered up all kinds of junk and came up with…
How to install junky LOVE letters
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A junk themed LOVE. Anything that kinda looked like a letter did the trick.
To attach the junk letters, hold in place, then use screws to brace. The head of the screw will hold most things. Click on the hung up pictures to better see.
The wheels were installed by inserting a long screw first to create a ‘hook’.
To give the O more of a 3D effect, a gear was layered with a bike wheel.
Ok, so it looks cool, but it isn’t doing anything yet… let’s change that!
1. Reclaimed wood LOVE heart picture hanger!
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So, I thought… WHO do I love?
I love my parents… so that was easy!
But I also love how easily the photos can be changed out on the twine. Fun way to celebrate special occasions or just because.
Time to go print some more photos…
A little piece of twine was knotted on each end, then attached through the knots with screws.
Well, that was fun! But… what about for an everyday kinda task?
2. I Love Junk reclaimed wood heart writing station!
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We LOVE junk,yes? So to me, this spells out my passion.
How suitable would this writing station be, hung in a workshop or craft room, depending where you practice your own passion?
Wouldn’t it be cool if the circle stuff had working clock hands?!
The clipboard is hanging from a screw. A hook was installed for keys.
Perfect for a small entry, or even a kitchen, for grocery listing.
Ok, so let’s switch gears a bit. What ELSE do I love, other than junk?
Any guesses before you scroll?
3. I LOVE COFFEE reclaimed wood heart mug hanger!
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Your fav mugs at your fingertips… mandatory for your AM fix.
Here’s how it was themed for coffee…
View Homestead Blend Coffee stencil HERE
1. Position the Homestead Blend Coffee stencil (or one of your choice) using masking tape.
2. Load a stencil brush with paint, then remove most of the paint onto a rag, creating a ‘dry’ brush.
3. Pounce the paint into the letters, attempting to achieve sort of a powdery, weathered effect.
Tip: The dryer your brush, the sharper your letters will be.
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Paint used: Fusion Mineral Paint’s Coal Black
Stencil used: Homestead Blend Coffee can be found HERE
Find many more stencil tips HERE
Add a few hooks, and you have yourself a coffee sign mug hanger!
If you ever change your mind about the message on your heart, simply use a palm sander to remove the paint, then change your message.
True story. I had stencilled a different design on this first, then changed my mind. It was that easy to change out.
And the sign must work, because…
Now I want coffee…
Fun right?! Which heart idea is your favorite? What would you have your reclaimed heart do?
Other rustic heart or coffee projects you may enjoy:
Rustic hearts made from anything!
Visit all my rustic valentine projects HERE
Ikea crate coffee station that doubles up kitchen space!
Rustic coffee sign on two fence planks (also see kitchen version!)
Visit my other coffee stations HERE
And check out many more coffee projects HERE
Snow just sounds cold, do I dare tell you its been in the 70’s here this week? I love the first heart but that second one used as a coffee station is awesome! Time to order a new Coffee stencil – I love this even though I’m more of a Tea gal these days. The plant hanger to the left is also very cool. So many details in this post and I love them all.
Very nice! Just one question, what did you use to attach the letters to your heart? Thanks in advance.
Oh my… I forgot to address that! Everything was just screwed into place. If you click on the photos and look closely, you’ll see the screws. I just held something, then drove in a screw in certain places to hold it in place. The head of the screw kept things in place.
I absolutely love the “LOVE”. The wheel for the “O” and the yard stick “V” … perfect! And I’m a little envious of your snow. Hope you had lots of hot cocoa on hand 🙂
Just love the heart and all your repurpose projects. What a treat to see over coffee this my. ♥️♥️
This heart is gorgeous! The “Love” version is calling my name.Unfortunately I know nothing about using power tools but maybe I can persuade my hubby to make me one. As far as the snow goes, I am about 30 miles south of Seattle and the 7 inches we got this week was plenty for me. 31 inches, yikes!!
Great heart and I like ALL the ways you used it. That certainly is a lot of snow for you, how’d you like that all winter long?
Thanks Julie! And I think I’ll pass on the all winter snow… not a big fan of driving on ice. Takes too long to get to places! haha
Your heart is sooo cute! I love it!! What a wonderful grouping with the heart as the focus and the twine for photos to make the piece work for you. Very clever indeed!
this one stole my heart…would look awesome at my place…just sayin 😉
Your creations are the bees knees. You are a wealth of interesting ideas. I love seeing your work and hope to create like you in the future.
Donna,
I love your love heart. I am a fan of hearts anyway, but yours is awesome! Thank you for sharing and very detailed directions on making one.
Your site is amazing. I love reclaimed junk.
Love the heart in all the ways you used, but the coffee ‘one’ is my favorite. I love stenciling and having words all over my home. After I finish this entry I am going to look into your favorite jigsaw. I’m a thinkin I could use one. Have used the orbital hand sander hubby got me and I love it. I actually didn’t have sore arms or shoulders after using. That’s new. I can see the right tools make all the difference. Thanks for the post. I so wish I could come to your home and play. Ha!Ha!
Amazing ideas! Love the heart in all it’s forms! So inspirational!
Is it possible for us to see how the back looks?
Hi Donna! There is one picture of the back. It’s in the tutorial section at #5. 🙂
When I clicked on this page I actually said out loud to no one…. “Ohmigosh, I love that!”
And guess what? My neighbor let us have some of the old barn wood from his property last summer and it’s just sitting there begging to be this….
Thank you for pointing out the back….So sorry I missed it…I was mentally going through my scrap pile…I thought I scrolled through more than once. Thanks for replying.
You certainly have a big heart! {a-yuck, a-yuck!}
You came up with a really neat idea. You always do.
I love working with my scrap pieces. You did a really great job. I LOVE it.
This is an wonderful project! I love it! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
I SOOOO love this Donna!! Each way looks awesome!! Hope you are doing well!! Kendra
Ok so I was on Victoria from homeBNC webpage and the minute I saw a picture with this heart in it, I knew it was your work! I just knew it! I love your work and it absolutely has your brand appeal on it! You, your uniqueness…I don’t know how to say it any plainer than…ITS YOU! LoL
I love your work and always have from the moment I first laid eyes on it! I used to follow you but I got so overwhelmed with blogs in my email I just started unsubscribing to anything and everything. YOU ARE COMING BACK TO MY EMAIL! And again with the heart…omg I am in love!!!
Love your Love Heart Donna! Colin made one for me last year and my boards were angled. Mine says Welcome, I love your love idea though and it can be kept up all year. Happy Valentine’s Day from one of the many that “love you”
Aww Sandy… thank-you! And I LOVE the angled board idea! Sounds like a great new challenge for next February… 😀
Hi Donna! I love this. All of them. You said this was 24X24 but do you know the measurements of the planks? I am so not skilled enough to make this but I am going to try it. Maybe i need to re-read the post but how did you get the boards to stay together? I know you put the things in the back but did you just glue them together? My apologies for all the questions but i’m excited. I need to find old junk pieces but don’t know where to look. You have opened up a whole new world to me. thank you!
Hi Cheryl!
The purpose of this type of heart project is to use wood you already have. I’d hate to make you think you need my exact board sizes! I suggest to simply stack random wood up just as I did, decide how large you wish your heart to be and cut according to that.
The picture that shows the back of the heart with braces is how it is being held together.
Lay support boards across the heart boards, then attach with screws from the back, just like the picture shows. It really is that simple. I rarely if ever use glue but you can if you wish!
Another thing you could do is cut a heart shape out of plywood first. Then screw the boards to the plywood, then cut out the boards according to your template. That may be even easier. In fact… I may try it! haha