Happy Heart Wreath

A few weeks ago a friend told me about an alternative to the naughty step. Instead of the step being a place of punishment, it is a place for them to gather their thoughts & settle down. When the little ones get upset, whiney or over-hyped, simply tell them that you love them but in their current mood they can't be a part of whatever is happening & that they should go to the Happy Heart Step until they have a 'happy heart' again - they can leave whenever they feel ready. The amazing thing is it worked immediately! Until now my bairns have been sat under a chalk board heart but I thought they deserved something far more pretty & inspiring ... so here goes.

 

Start by gathering together the materials & tools that you will need:

 

A piece of wire or a wire coat hanger (I used a piece of 1.5mm recycled electrical cable, it's quite bendy but once it's in place it is fine).

A pair of sharp scissors - my beloved Fiskers.

Scraps of fabric cut into 1" x 8" lengths

 

I made the heart shape frame simply by bending the wire into the required shape & twisting the ends together a couple of times, I didn't even remove the insulation from the outside for this project. The fabric scraps will hold the twist secure.

 

Cut sufficient fabric lengths for your project and tie each one around the wire frame making sure the tail ends are approximately the same length, I used a double knot to ensure they were secured and alternated the fabrics. It doesn't matter if the scraps fray a little or are cut askew, it is a rag project after all, but it is important that the knots are pushed tight up against each other to ensure a full looking wreath.

 



Once you have gone right around your wreath shape, fluff & plump until your hearts content to get the finish that you want & if necessary reshape your wire - this is easier done from the back as you can see the frame clearly. It's then up to you to adorn the wreath with whatever you have to hand or to suit the season or your décor. I chose a fuchsia pink bow to accentuate the mid-point of the heart and used some 3 ply gift ribbon tied on for the hanger.

All that now remains is to say "et voila!"

Pretty, inexpensive & fun to make!