Funky Junk Interiors

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

jig saw & miter saw

workmate work bench

clamps

cordless drill, bits and screws

twine

random rusty junk

cast iron coat hooks

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!

Rustic LOVE sign with rope!

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!)

TV tray revamp, coffee-style!

 

Visit my other coffee stations HERE

And check out many more coffee projects HERE