How to make a heart shaped ornament

Learning to live a frugal lifestyle is one of the ways that we're lowering our debt load. The principle applies to every area of life. Even holidays are not exempt. Frugal Christmas decorations (like this heart shaped ornament) often involve making crafts from things that you already have one hand. This often means recycling or repurposing by using parts of one item to make another.

In this article I used a curtain panel to create a heart shaped ornament that can be used for Christmas, Valentine's Day or other country decoration. The hearts and easy and quick to make. I made several years ago and plan to make some for my daughter to decorate her home with this year.

From start to finish the heart took less than 30 minutes to create. 

Supplies needed are:

• Curtain panel that won't fray
• Scissors
• Thread
• Sewing machine
• Fabric scraps

Here's how I made this frugal heart shaped Christmas ornament. 

1. Fold the curtain panel with like sides together. 
2. Cut the heart shape in the traditional manner with the fold in the middle.
3. Unfold and place the two pieces that the backs are together. 
4. Place a ribbon or fabric scrap at the top of the heart to form a loop.
5. Using a half-inch seam allowance leave the ribbon in place as you sew around the outside of the heart. 
6. Stop when you have gone 3/4th of the way around the heart.
7. Stuff with soft fabric scraps or other stuffing. 
8. Finish sewing. 
9. Trim threads and hang on the wall to enjoy.

It's easy to turn this heart into a Christmas ornament. Take a permanent marker and write the name of the recipient on the side of it. Holiday appropriate phrases can be used. 

This photo tutorial helps bring it all together.

I stuffed this particular ornament with strips cut from the curtain panel. Other items can include single socks, clean used stockings or other fabric scraps. It isn't necessarily frugal but batting or fiberfill can be purchased from a craft supply store. Also, this heart was made from no-fray material. Cut out the heart with pinking shears if you are using another type of material.

Once you have supplies gathered it only takes a few minutes to create several of these heart shaped frugal Christmas ornaments. They can be created for an entire classroom or for your tree. The main thing is to have fun and enjoy.

Notes: 

You can make this frugal heart shaped Christmas ornament without a sewing machine. Simply cut the heart shape, add ribbon to the top and glue. Leave one part of the heart open for stuffing purposes. Then fill it, glue the opening together and let it sit until dry.