How to Make a Heart-Shaped Paper Chain for Valentine’s Day

This sweet and simple paper chain craft is perfect for Valentine’s Day, mostly because it’s made with items you likely have hanging around the house: coloured cardstock, scissors, and a stapler. This is my preferred type of seasonal decoration. It doesn’t require any fancy items and can easily jazz up a window, doorframe, fireplace mantle, bookshelf, or staircase.

How to Make a Heart Paper Chain for Valentine’s Day

Using standard 8.5″ x 11″ cardstock, cut 1-inch wide strips from the paper, making them any desired length (I’m partial to cutting each strip in half so they are 1″ wide and 5.5″ long). Start by gathering four pieces of paper and staple the bottom together. Pull the outside two strips downwards to create a heart shape, add two more strips of the paper to the bottom of the heart and staple them all together, as shown in the photo collage below. Continue until you have reached the desired length of your paper chain.

For added visual interest, use a pack of paper that has varying shades of the same colour so you can create an ombre effect in your paper chain. Or simply alternate colours as you build your chain, using shades of pink and red.