Tiny Wooden Hearts for Every Heartfelt Occasion

Okay, so those tiny wooden hearts? They’re waaay more than just some random craft supply. Trust me on this – I’ve been obsessed with them for years now! They’re literally one of the most versatile little treasures you’ll find in your DIY stash. Whether you’re throwing together some cute wedding stuff, making Valentine’s decorations, or just want to add that cozy rustic vibe to your scrapbook, these mini wooden gems totally deliver. The best part? Most of them are eco-friendly (yup, lots are made from reclaimed wood or factory leftovers!) and you can customize them like crazy. Let’s dive into why you’re gonna fall head over heels for these little guys—and where to find the good ones.

Product Spotlight: Why Tiny Wooden Hearts Steal the Show

I swear these little dudes are the unsung heroes of the crafting world. They might look simple at first glance, but omg the potential! Just imagine them painted in soft pastels for a baby shower, or maybe stamped with initials for wedding place cards. I’ve even strung a bunch together to make this boho-style garland that hangs in my craft room now. Their natural wood texture adds this amazing warmth that paper just can’t match.

Unlike those flimsy paper cutouts that fall apart if you look at them wrong, wooden hearts hold up super well to glue, paint, and you can even drill tiny holes in them without disaster striking. You can even decoupage them with pretty patterns using some basic supplies and a little patience – Amy Sadler Designs has a great tutorial that walks you through the whole process. Pro tip from someone who learned the hard way: keep a stash in your craft drawer—you’ll reach for them SO much more often than you think!

Close-up of craftsman's hands sanding a small wooden heart with wood shavings and tools nearby, conveying handmade craftsmanship.

Inspiration: Projects That’ll Make Your Heart Skip a Beat

Stuck on ideas? Don’t worry, I gotchu with some crowd-pleasers:

Pocket Tokens: Write a quick note and slip it with a tiny heart into your partner’s pocket or kid’s lunchbox. It’s such a cute surprise “I love you.” I wood-burned our anniversary date on one for my husband, and he still carries it!
Wedding Magic: Larger hearts make perfect table numbers or escort cards—just add some pretty calligraphy with guests’ names. One of my besties did this for her wedding and guests literally took them home as souvenirs.
Kids’ Crafts: Let the kiddos go wild with glitter and markers for homemade Valentine’s Day cards. Bonus: they’re way sturdier than paper hearts, so they actually survive the trip home from school!
Jewelry: Drill a tiny hole and thread onto a necklace chain for a rustic charm. My niece is obsessed with the bracelet we made together.

If you’re feeling extra crafty, you can even go big and make giant conversation hearts from scrap wood! The Handyman’s Daughter has this awesome tutorial that shows you how to use a jigsaw to create those classic candy-style hearts. They’re perfect for front porch decor or photo backdrops.

Materials & Craftsmanship: What to Look For

So not all wooden hearts are created equal (learned that one the hard way). Here’s my lowdown after buying wayyy too many over the years:

Material: Birch is definitely my fave for its smooth finish, but reclaimed wood has these gorgeous grain patterns that add tons of character (plus you get those eco points).
Thickness: The thin ones (like what Dennehey sells) work great for delicate projects, while thicker hearts feel more substantial for standalone decor. For a rustic, distressed look, Homeroad has a cool guide on creating a weathered heart using thicker wood and a scroll saw.
Finish: Pre-sanded hearts save you soooo much time, but unfinished ones let you really customize the texture. Sometimes I actually like the rougher ones for certain projects!

Fun fact that blew my mind: some shops, like Woodpeckers Crafts, use factory offcuts—so your hearts are basically woodworking scraps given a second chance at life. How cool is that?? I’m all about reducing waste!

Practical Uses Beyond Crafting

Think outside the craft box, people! These hearts can do so much more:

Gift Toppers: Tie one onto a package with some rustic twine and BAM – instant handmade touch that makes even the most basic gift wrap look thoughtful.
Home Décor: I scattered a bunch in a wooden bowl as a coffee table centerpiece, and visitors always comment on it. You could also try making a wood bead heart using the tutorial from DIY Beautify – it uses wire and wooden beads to create a 3D heart that looks amazing hanging on a wall.
Party Favors: Pair with a tea light for instant rustic ambiance. I did this for my sister’s bridal shower and people actually fought over taking them home, lol.

Styling Tips: Making Mini Hearts Shine

Wanna level up your heart game? Try these tricks I’ve picked up along the way:

Mixed Media: Combine hearts with dried flowers or bits of lace for a super romantic vibe. I glued some dried lavender to mine and the smell is AMAZING.
Color Play: Try staining a few with coffee for that vintage look (legit just brushed cold coffee on them), or go bold with acrylic paint. Martha Stewart has a great guide on painting wooden hearts that includes some really clever techniques for adding hanging loops.
Layering: Glue smaller hearts onto larger ones for dimension. I did a whole “heart family” with different sizes representing each family member – sounds cheesy but turned out super cute!

Tiny wooden hearts on twine against a pastel background, ideal for heartfelt gifts or decor.

Best Places to Buy Wooden Mini Hearts

Ready to shop? Here are my personal top picks after wayyyy too many craft supply orders:

1. Woodpeckers Crafts

Website: Woodpeckers Crafts

These 1/2″ birch hearts are basically a crafter’s dream come true—smooth, super durable, and eco-friendly since they’re made from plywood offcuts! They’re perfect for those big bulk projects (hello, 200-person wedding favors), though smaller orders might feel a bit expensive.

Heartfelt Perks:

The birch hardwood quality is top-notch
You can use them straight outta the pack – no prep needed
They do bulk discounts and free shipping over $75 (dangerous for my wallet lol)
Their eco-conscious production makes me feel less guilty about my craft supply hoarding
The sizing is super consistent – no weird wonky shapes!

Minor Heartaches:

Their minimum order might be too much if you just need a few
They only have one thickness option (wish they had variety)
You gotta pay shipping for orders under $75 (but I always find a way to hit that minimum…oops)
The popular stuff sells out FAST – I’ve learned to stock up
No custom shapes/sizes unless you’re ordering thousands

2. Hobby Lobby

Website: Hobby Lobby

These are so great for Valentine’s Day projects! Some even come with cute designs like “Love” in cursive already on them. They’re super affordable and you can just grab them in-store (instant gratification ftw), but their seasonal stock can be hit-or-miss.

Love-Struck Pros:

Good variety of decorative styles to choose from
They’re budget-friendly (especially with their 40% off coupon)
You get 54 hearts per pack—perfect for classroom projects!
The in-store pickup option is clutch when you’re in a time crunch
Pre-designed ones save you time if you’re not feeling creative

Heartbreak Cons:

They’re only around during Valentine’s season which is annoying
Some batches need sanding before painting (found this out the hard way)
The designs can vary slightly from what’s pictured online
Shipping isn’t always free unless you hit their minimum
Limited options for personalizing the pre-designed ones

3. Oriental Trading

Website: Oriental Trading

These are a wedding planner’s best friend—you get 50 unfinished 2″ hearts that work perfectly for place cards or table décor. They’re super affordable (like, suspiciously cheap lol), but they only come in one size.

Wedding-Worthy Wins:

The quantity-to-price ratio is insane – so much bang for your buck
They’re completely blank so you can customize however you want
Perfect for large events when you need tons of the same thing
They’re lightweight which makes them easy to work with and cheap to mail
Their shipping is pretty quick for those last-minute panic projects

Nuptial Nuances:

Only comes in one size (wish they had variety packs)
Definitely requires finishing – they need sealant or paint
The design is pretty basic – nothing fancy here
Shipping costs add up for small orders
They go on backorder a lot during wedding season – plan ahead!

4. Dennehey Design Co.

Website: Dennehey Design Co.

These are my splurge hearts! They’re handmade in Texas using reclaimed wood, and the ultra-thin profile makes them perfect for subtle touches. I’ve tucked them into love letters and used them as bookmarks. They’re pricier but sooo worth it for the artisan quality.

Artisan Advantages:

The reclaimed wood means each one has unique grain patterns
Their slim profile fits literally anywhere (even in cards!)
They use a natural citrus-oil finish that smells amazing
Free shipping if you spend over $72 (easy to do…)
It feels good supporting a small business with such attention to detail

Craftsperson Considerations:

Definitely a higher cost per heart than mass-produced options
Only available in 2×2 inches (wish they had mini ones)
Since they’re handmade, there’s sometimes longer wait times
You can only buy them online – no instant gratification
Custom colors cost extra (but they’re gorgeous)

5. Redefined Kreative

Website: Redefined Kreative

These tiny veneer hearts (they do 0.25″ and 0.5″ sizes) come in this super handy storage tin. They’re perfect for mixed-media artists who want to add wood accents to resin work or collages. I used mine in a shadowbox project and they were perfect!

Creative Kudos:

You get two sizes in one pack which is super convenient
The storage container means no lost hearts (a miracle for my messy craft desk!)
They’re perfect for those super intricate, detailed projects
Affordable enough that you can experiment without crying over wasted supplies
They take inks and stains like a dream – the colors are so vibrant

Artistic Annoyances:

They’re VERY small – not great if you want something that stands out
The veneer can warp if you use too much wet glue (found out the hard way)
You can only buy them online which is a pain when you need them NOW
They definitely need sealing if you’re using them for outdoor stuff
Not as durable as solid wood options – they’re delicate

Tiny wooden hearts arranged in a heart shape on a lace doily with dried flowers and candles, radiating warmth and sentiment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I dye wooden hearts?
A: Heck yeah you can! Water-based dyes work super well, and I’ve even used food coloring in a pinch. If you want deeper, more vibrant colors, try alcohol inks – they’re amazing but watch out, they stain EVERYTHING.

Q: How do I attach them to fabric?
A: Fabric glue works great, or grab your hot glue gun for a quick fix. But if you’re making something washable (like a tote bag), definitely sew through a pre-drilled hole instead. Trust me, glue + washing machine = sad crafting tears.

Q: Are these safe for kids?
A: Generally yes, but you gotta sand any rough edges first. And please, please avoid the super tiny ones with toddlers – total choking hazard! I let my 5-year-old niece use the half-inch ones, but only with supervision.

Q: Can I use wood stain instead of paint?
A: For sure! Stain makes the grain pop in this gorgeous way that paint just can’t match. I’d recommend testing on one heart first tho, cuz the color can turn out way different than expected. My “light oak” experiment turned out practically black, lol.

Q: How long do unfinished hearts last outdoors?
A: Not forever, unfortunately. If you want them to survive outside, seal them with outdoor Mod Podge or spar urethane. I made the mistake of leaving some unsealed ones on a wreath, and after one rainstorm they were warped beyond salvation.

Q: What’s the best way to drill holes?
A: Use a 1/16″ drill bit and go slow, slow, SLOW to avoid splitting. Definitely clamp the heart or place it on a scrap wood block first. I’ve sent more than a few hearts flying across the room from trying to rush this part!

Q: Can I get custom shapes?
A: Some shops (like Woodpeckers) will do bulk custom orders, but expect to pay more and wait longer. If you just need a few custom shapes, honestly it’s probably easier to find a friend with a scroll saw or a local maker on Etsy.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re just dipping your toes into DIY or you’ve been crafting forever like me, wooden mini hearts are one of those supplies that just spark joy every single time. They’re affordable, eco-friendly, and they open up SO many creative possibilities. Plus, they make even the most basic project feel thoughtfully handmade. My personal go-to sources? Woodpeckers for when I need a bunch of reliable basics, and Dennehey for those special occasion splurges. Now go forth and spread the (wooden) love! And if you make something awesome, please share – I’m always looking for new ideas!

AI Disclaimer: I use AI to help create the content and images on this blog. That said, everything gets a human touch—proofread, edited, and checked over—before it goes live. So while AI gives me a boost, you’re still getting content made with care.