Michele Made Me

Tutorial: Tissue Box Photo Hearts

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Of late, through no decision of my own and just in time for Valentine’s Day, I’ve learned in detail how the heart works. You see, Lo bought the boy a very detailed pop-up anatomy book which the boy now insists we read to him every night at bedtime. Circulation is by far my favourite chapter. It makes sense. It is clear to me. And it doesn’t give rise to any awkward questions, unlike the digestive system, or God-forbid, the reproductive system. The boy and I were eternally scarred by a recent incident in which I foolishly decided to answer all of his innocent but far too probing questions regarding the reproductive system. It suffices to say that he is now elated, and entirely too relieved, to be a boy, loudly and happily proclaiming his boyness at every turn. But the circulatory system? Ahhh… The circulatory system is nothing short of beauty and elegance! And the heart, well… I simply could not live without it.
Should I get to today’s heart craft then? Okay. Let’s get to it, shall we?

Tutorial: Tissue Box Photo Hearts

You will need:
  • Two different (and empty) tissue boxes
  • Scrap of black construction paper
  • Styrofoam tray
  • Hole punch
  • Exacto knife
  • Pencil
  • PVA (white) glue, and glue for foam crafts is also very useful
  • Photos (Note: these will be cut up)
1. From your tissue boxes, cut 3 hearts of the same size: 2 of one colour, 1 of the other. The single heart will be sandwiched between the other two. From the center of the single heart, cut out a small circle. From the center of one of the other hearts, cut out a slightly larger circle. The centre points of these 2 holes should coincide.
2. Using your hole punch, make some confetti out of the black construction paper.
3. Glue the confetti along the edge of the good side of the single heart as shown.
4. Using the hole punch, make confetti out of the foam tray.
5. Using foam glue if available, attach a few pieces of foam confetti to the backs of both holy hearts.
6. Cut out a photo whose image will fit within the smaller hole of the confetti-edged heart.
7. Glue the photo onto the last unholy heart.
8. Glue the confetti-edged heart on top of this photo heart. Glue the big-holed heart on the very top.
And your photo heart is complete!!!

Now you could do one or more of the following with these little gems…
You could:
  1. Add a hanger to your photo heart and make an ornament or gift tag.
  2. Write a little message on the back and give as a Valentine’s Day card.
  3. Back it with a magnet. Fridge magnet at your service!
  4. Make a whole bunch in all different sizes and string them together to create a photo heart garland.
  5. Attach a whack of them onto a wire circle and make a photo heart wreath.

My goodness, the possibility and potential is virtually endless. Go to it! Have a tissue box heart, won’t you?

Here is an alternative tissue box heart design minus the photo!

Now go have yourself a wonderful day, and I’ll see you again soon!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. Amy says

    Oh no! I am laughing so hard. I think I will keep anatomy books out of the house for a little longer 🙂 Your hearts are lovely too!

  10. Michelle L. says

    Outrageously lovely! The 3-D makes them so so cool, and I love that you used the designs on the boxes as embellishment! I am so impressed by the tute, those numbered small photo montages are great. I may need a tutorial on how to do that!!! I am cracking up about the boy and his being entirely too relieved.

  11. The Answer Is Chocolate says

    These are brilliant and I thoroughly enjoyed your anatomy story! There are so many beautiful patterns lately on tissue boxes I have hated putting them in the recycling bin ,but am inspired to do something with them now. Gorgeous.

  14. Heather says

    Oh I love your Anatomay of the heart lesson great job! And I adore the Kleenex heart boxes I will make some of these with an empty keenex box I was saving trying to think of a cute heart box to make, after your cute christmas boxes but now you saved me coming up with my own, I will just copy your design!

  19. feelincrafty says

    This is a great idea. There's another tutorial out there for making little houses from tissue boxes that I love. I never knew tissue boxes could be used for so many things. Cute things! I see the boxes in a whole new light these days. Thanks for sharing.

  20. Emma says

    I love how they are 3-d. They could be the most adorable teeny tiny valentines. I also did a heart focused post today!

  21. PEACHES says

    Well you go and do it again! I can hardly wrap my mind around the idea that those are tissue boxes. Wow-o-wozer those are cool! I would love to have a whole fridge full of magnets like that. In fact, I might just try it out!

    PS: I started cracking up after reading about your anatomy lessons! Sometimes, cats have perks.

  25. alanay says

    sevgili michele tüm çalışmalarını inceledim.harikasın bana ilham kaynağı oldun.tebrik ederim.ellerine saÄŸlık…

  30. SisterDG says

    Punching holes in a styrofoam tray to use as risers?! Good Lord, I can't even handle how genius that is. Best use of tissue boxes ever.