Make a Heart-Shaped Wreath for Valentine's Day

It's that time of year again, when everywhere you look you see red hearts. Love is in the air, and if you're feeling festive and want to decorate, try this easy DIY wreath from upcycled materials.

What You'll Need:

-Wire Clothes Hanger (2 will be needed for a large wreath)

-Pool Noodle

-Duct Tape

-Scissors

-Needle nose pliers

-Fabric (I used a red sweater that had a fringe trim)

-Ribbon and any other decorations of your choosing

-Small plastic bead necklace

-Needle and thread (or glue)

First, cut your pool noodle into 2 pieces of the same length. If you don't want a large wreath, you don't have to use the entire noodle, but it's better to start with pieces that are too big and trim them down than to start with pieces that are smaller than you'd liked.

Then, use your needle nose pliers to cut the hooked top off the wire hanger. Straighten out what remains of the wire hanger, and check its length against the pool noodle pieces. The wire should be long enough so that several inches of wire remaining stick out of each side of the noodle pieces.

If one piece of wire is long enough for both pieces of pool noodle, cut it in half; if you need more, prepare a second wire hanger by cutting it and straightening it. Feed each piece of wire into the hollow centers of the two pieces of pool noodle.

Start molding the pool noodles into a heart shape. Bend the wires as you go so that the noodle holds its shape. You'll want to cut notches into the underside of curves so that the noodle bends easily. Cutting the upper edges of the heart at an angle will also help the heart fit together more easily.

Cut the top of the bottom pieces of the noodle at an angle as well, so that they are flush.

Use your needle nose pliers to twist the two pieces of wire together. Once they are twisted, use the pliers to trim away the extra wire.

Now, use pieces of duct tape to ensure that everything stays put. I taped the stress points - where the two pieces joined together at the top and bottom, as well as the curves of the heart.

I then cut the fabric of the sweater to wrap the noodle all the way around, plus a few inches for overlap. I used a needle and thread and a simple tacking stitch to join the fabric edges together and attach the bow and hanger, but you could also use fabric glue or a hot glue gun if you don't want to sew.

That's it! You can always buy a wreath form at a craft supply store, but I had a pool noodle that I really didn't want to throw into a landfill. By turning it into a wreath, I'll be able to enjoy it for years to come!