Hey friends! Sometimes I like to just do weird things like look around at what I have on hand and create something I’ve never seen before. It’s really one of my favorite things to do, to be honest.
This wood shim hearts project came to be because I had a bunch of excess packages of shims from my DIY Textured Headboard/Footboard project that needed to be made into something awesome, and I had also joined a collaboration called #makersheartattack on Instagram, so I had nothin’ but ❤HEARTS❤ on my mind.
My actual contribution to the collab is the very colorful Wooden Heart Decor , but this project was equally fun to do and appeals to those of us that are afraid of color. 😉
Alright, so I’ll just quickly run through how I made these wood shim hearts! With photos of course! This isn’t a full tutorial on the background sign that I glued them to because that’s totally just personal preference. I actually had that “sign” already made and just decided to use it after I had finished the hearts. It is very basic, but if you need more info, feel free to comment.
Wood Shim Hearts Supply List:
- 6 packs wood shims. I used the ones that are about 7″ long from Home Depot.
- Wood Glue – this is my favorite : Titebond-3 Ultimate Wood Glue, 16-Ounce
(affiliate link) - Clamps
- Wood Stain – whatever color you want, I used Minwax 70012444 Wood Finish Penetrating Stain, quart, Dark Walnut (affiliate link)
(affiliate link)
(affiliate link)If a video is more your style, here you go!
Assembling the wood shim hearts:
Open two packs of shims. They come like this, alternating between thick and thin sides.
You have to switch so they are all the same direction, with the thick side of each toward the top. Put two packs
together, and take the very two center pieces, flip one upside down. Glue those two center pieces together and let dry enough that they hold.
Maybe 20 minutes?
Next you’re going to glue a piece at a time, moving out from the center. So one piece to the left, then one to the right, attempting to get them even. As you can see I scaled up with the first four shims, then starting going down. You might need to play with it a little bit to see how much to adjust to make the heart shape. It may be different depending on the type/length of your shim. Mine came in a pack of 12, so the number will make a difference too.
Keep going until all 12 are glued together and the last two meet at the bottom, then hold it together for a couple minutes so the glue is mostly holding and the pieces aren’t just slipping around. At this point I clamped them together, but not extremely tight, just enough to hold. It was a bit difficult to clamp because the pressure had to be even, but I was able to get it to work.
Now take a break because you deserve it! Go get some grub or go for a run or play video games, you know, whatever you do while you wait for glue to dry. 😉
(Okay, full confession, I did laundry. Eww. #momlife)
A couple hours later….
Your glue is dry now, let’s do this!
Staining the wood shim hearts:
Time to stain. I used a small foam brush because it works exceptionally for getting stain into all the crevices. Be sure you’re in a spot that allows for a mess because the stain oozed between the shims and dripped off the back while I was doing this. Just so you know.
Gluing down the wood shim hearts:
After your stain is dry just figure out where you want to put your wood shim hearts! I chose to add them to this bare sign that I had already made out of scrap reclaimed wood that I had painted white and framed. I played around with the arrangement, but ultimately went with just three vertical hearts. I attached them using just wood glue. Because it’s awesome and incredibly strong and this is just art that won’t have any stress.
All finished!
Here it is in my entryway! I’ve had many comments on it and am extremely happy that it turned out. I think I’ll put it up in my daughter’s room after Valentine’s Day is over. Who doesn’t love to be reminded of love? ❤
Thanks for reading! I hope you’re inspired to check out your stash, whatever supplies they may be, and make something awesome! Please share this project on Pinterest using this image or the social media share buttons on the left.
If you like this art, check out these other wood wall art projects!
Thanks friends! Have a fantastic February!
❤❤❤
Hi Sheri! Such a cute idea using inexpensive shims to create this wonderful Valentine’s wall art! Thanks for sharing at last week’s Share Your Style #193; I am featuring you this week at SYS #194. <3
Happy crafting and diying,
Hugs,
Barb 🙂
http://www.frenchethereal.net
Thank you so much!
I love this project. Pinned!
Super cute use of shims! And the darn stain you used really makes them stand out.
Love the look of your hearts, and three is a good number.
Amazing work, I loved the shape – Thanks for joining #BloggersPitStop
This is so creative and looks super simple. My son is getting married in the summer in a rustic barn. You can bet I will be using this idea somewhere for the wedding!! So excited. Thank you for sharing!! <3
I love that idea Shelley! I am so happy someone can use this idea for something so special! If you do, please share photos! <3
This is so very clever – love it! I am always amazed when someone creates original art that is not only different but also beautiful. I look at a pack of shims and see – a pack of shims – you saw three hearts! I am definitely going to try this – thank you for sharing this project, you are blessed with an abundance of talent!
Those are the kindest words and totally made my day! Thank you Liz!
How fun! I love that these heart are a slightly different shape than what you typically see. And since you stained them a dark brown, they can stay up all year. Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Yep, my daughter keeps it up in her room. So fun! Thank you!
What a super cute project Sheri!!
Thank you for sharing it at Create, Bake, Grow and Gather this week. I’m delighted to be featuring your wall art at tonight’s party and pinning too.
Hooray, thanks so much for featuring this! Love your party. Have an amazing week!
Oh these are so wonderful! Love the dimensionality and the rustic weathered goodness. Featuring at this week’s BFF Open House link party when it opens tonight.
Amazing Carol, thank you!!!
Super cute! Thanks so much for sharing your post with us on Whisk It Wednesday this week. Hope you have a great week and come back soon! Carrie
I will, thanks Carrie!
It’s really pretty. When I first looked at the photos I thought the process was too complicated, but after reading I realized it isn’t at all, and the end result is amazing. Thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party. Pinned!
Super easy! Thank you!
That is such a cute idea! I have a few packs of those hanging around.
How cute is that! Thanks!
We have so many shims leftover from a recent project. This is such a unique idea! I love it!
Awesome! Have you seen my wood shim headboard? https://hazelandgolddesigns.com/2016/12/27/diy-textured-headboardfootboard/
So unique & beautiful!
Thank you!
Sheri, What a great project. I have a bunch of those in my house. Thanks for sharing. Sylvia D.
Thanks Sylvia! Have you seen my wood shim Headboard? https://hazelandgolddesigns.com/2016/12/27/diy-textured-headboardfootboard/
I love these hearts. I can’t believe you made them with wood shims. Such a great project for Valentine’s Day.
Pinned. Great project, great look.
Joy
What a brilliant idea and they do look like a work of art. Really beautiful Sheri
Thank you!!
Very creative! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
I am starting to think Valentine’s Day with these beautiful hearts.
Very pretty! Makes me wish I weren’t afraid of power tools, LOL! Visiting from Home and Garden Thursday.
I wish I could help you use them and see that they are NOTHING to be afraid of! 😉 That being said, I didn’t use power tools for these hearts at all! You could make these.
I LOVE this! And shims are so affordable as far as crafting supplies go. Great tutorial. Pinning
Thank you so much Audra!
I LOVE this project! I have seen it on instagram and pinterest and thought for sure that you had cut all those pieces. It looked like such a tedious process. I will be adding this to my to do list for sure now that I see what you did! Fantastic!
Haha, yeah, it’s not as bad as it looks! ? the glue up is a bit precarious but it goes really quickly. Would love to see yours!
This is gorgeous!
Thank you, Michelle!!
Very creative, love it!
Thank you!!
Such a pretty and creative project! Wood shims have so many good uses!
Thanks Tee! If you haven’t seen my textured headboard post (also using wood shims) check it out!
So pretty! What a great idea!
Thank you so much! This comment brightened my morning.
Oh my goodness it’s beautiful! I’ve never seen wood shims used this way. Such a unique idea <3
Thank you so much Corinna! ?