How to Make a Moss Covered Heart

I've always loved using natural elements in seasonal decor and floral arrangements. If it's made of twigs and moss, dried leaves, nuts, acorns, pinecones, dried flowers etc. I'm on it. When I can create something that's holiday related and I can use it year after year, then all the more fun.

Back in 2016 I'd been seeing a lot of gorgeous heart forms covered in moss on Pinterest and in boutique vintage markets and floral shops. Whether it was cardboard, a paper mache puffy heart, wooden cutout, grapevine wreath, or a variety of other forms... I was determined to come up with my own mossy heart creation. Here's a post where I shared How to Make a Moss Covered Heart from 2018.

Here are some pics and a few basic instructions from that 2016 post.

This is what I started with: a large paper mache puffy heart form that's hollow on the back. I had wanted a fully formed, front and back, but couldn't find one, but this one worked out anyway. just don't look at the back!

Michael's

If you've worked with loose moss before, you know how messy it can be. I had some sheets of moss, and some bits and pieces left over from a flower arrangement I'd done the week before, for the mantel. This unfortunately wasn't the kind of moss that comes with a webbed backing. It would have been much easier if that was what I was working with. Some tutorials said to use a hot glue gun, but since I was working with different sizes of clumps I thought some white glue would be a better adhesive. I just used some Tacky Glue watered down a bit.

google images

That idea of loose moss was really hard for me to work with. I managed to make one heart with the loose moss, and one with a roll of moss mat and cut around the form leaving plenty of room to mold it to the form. The latter was much easier, but a bit of a different look.

Leave at least 3/4 of an inch all the way around the form.

Peel off the paper backing...

My first attempt was to try hot glue, but as you can see that just didn't work well. It started drying too quickly and I didn't have time to adjust the moss around the molded form. (and yes, it does look a little odd from this angle) This time I used Tacky Glue which is like a thicker form of Elmer's.

Once you've fitted the moss matting around the paper mache form, you can trim the mat closely to the edges. I cut "darts" like in sewing, to allow for the proper fitting.

Then I used clothes pins to make sure that everything stayed well in place. I left this to dry completely for 24 hours, but you could give it a short time if you just are careful not to tug or move the moss matting.

After the clothes pins were removed I had a perfectly shaped moss puffy heart.

I have a Pinterest Board called Mossy/Woodsy Things where I've collected some pics of the detailing on some of the moss hearts. Many of them used several layers of ribbon, thread, and twine to wrap around and corral any loose moss, which is a perfectly beautiful organic look.

olive green organza ribbon

I had seen examples of hearts wrapped with thread and twine, giving the moss a little more  containment. I love that organic look, and I definitely needed more "stay-put power". I had a section of olive green organza ribbon that I had used the last Fall, and it added one more layer of security and texture. 

Then came the olive green sewing thread, wrapped around and around. Don't do it in a circle, just cris-cross and work it around quite a few times. Click on the image and then again for a BIG close up.

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Then gardener's twine.

I unraveled the twine and just used one section. 

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Then I rummaged through some of my loose florals and found a few silk rosebuds, hydrangeas, and ivy. I wanted it to look like spring, but I also wanted to be able to change out the flowers with some fall leaves and berries. I ended up just tucking the individual pieces into the ribbon and yarn wrapping. Lately it's been used exclusively as a Valentine's Day decor piece.

Check out the 2018 version HERE for instructions with the moss. Sorry I couldn't take my own pics of the process, I was on my own and I looked like the "Abominable Moss Man". I didn't want to get near my camera.

How I'm using it this year...

Here we are back to this year, out in the Garden Room hanging on the Holiday Cupboard for Valentine's Day. Each time I use it, it changes up a bit. I add a bird, or different flowers, but this year I changed out the bird then added in small pink rosebuds and tucked in a small Valentine.

At some point I changed up the ribbon to hang it with a stamped "LOVE" red graphic ribbon. After this season I'm going to have to restring some of the gardener's twine as this has become a bit loose.

Earlier in the week when I posted my Valentine Pocket Pillow, I shared a bit of the sitting area with the wicker settee and a red toile quilted coverlet. Here's a closer look.

I have the moss covered heart hanging on the Holiday Cupboard.

On the coffee table/bench...

The wooden coffee table/bench my dad made me years ago has an old crate with a transferware Churchill teapot and a basket filled with faux paperwhites. A ginormous old candy box from the 40's or before, and then a rare very old Nunnally's chocolate box.

A red and white vintage fleur-de-lis tea towel adds a bit more Valentine vibe.

Old garden tools are gathered in the grocery store metal hand basket under the table.

The LoveBirds Pillow cover is from Elliot Heath Designs

Did you catch my last post with my Valentine Pocket Pillow?

Here are a few more posts over the years where I've used my mossy heart.

Vintage Valentine's Day Entry

Farmhouse Tabletop Valentine's Tableau

Moss Covered Heart on the Old Door

Hope you'll come by the link party on Monday evenings.

joining in here:

The House on Silverado,  Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda, 

All About Home at Common Ground and Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia 

 Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch 

  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life  Home Imagined at the Antique Journey

Wednesday Link Party at Our Tiny Nest

Whimsy Home at  Fifth Sparrow No More

 Wonderful Wednesday at Eclectic Red Barn

Turnabout Tuesday at My Wee Abode,  Centerpiece Wednesday at Karin's Kottage

Share Your Style at French Ethereal,  Vintage Charm at Our Hopeful Home,  

Thursday Favorite Things at Follow the Yellow Brick Home,  

Home Matters at Southern Sunflowers, Grace at Home at Imparting Grace

Farmhouse Friday at  County Road 407  Fabulous Friday at WM Design House