When I am trying to think of new ideas, sometimes a trip to the craft store is all it takes. Earlier this week I had to go to Joann Fabric and Craft stores to get some fabric for a few clutch orders I got in my Etsy shop, and while there I stumbled upon these plain cardboard hearts. I immediately knew they would be perfect to turn into a vase similar to my typography vase I made last year. A few coats of spray paint and a few faux flowers and succulents later, I had a pretty flower vase perfect for Valentine’s Day.

• Two cardboard hearts from Joann Stores (I haven’t been able to find anything similar online, but you will want the hearts you use to be a 3D heart shape, not a box, although a box might work if you can get two lids, one for each side). 
• Spray paint or acrylic paint in two colors
• Utility knife
• Industrial strength adhesive
• Faux flowers and succulents (my favorite places to get these are Afloral.com and ConsumerCrafts.com)
• Vinyl letters or letter stickers (optional to turn your hearts into conversation hearts)

Begin by removing any stickers or price tags from your hearts and painting them.

 Once dry, use a utility knife to cut a 2″ by 1″ rectangle in the top of the heart.

Gently reach inside and remove the internal cardboard stabilizer.

Glue your small heart to your large heart and once the glue is dry, you can add all your faux flowers to your vase.

If you want you can also use your letter stickers to add your own “conversations” to the hearts.

Because this vase is cardboard, you can’t really add real flowers to it unless you place one of those water tubes on the bottom of each stem, but when you can get fake flowers that look this real, why mess with the real thing?