Easy Vintage Valentine Banner From Old Paper and Lace

Old book pages, a scrap of lace and some jute twine come together in a soft, old-fashioned banner that looks right at home from February on.

There's something about February that makes us want to pull out the old paper scraps and the lace we've been hoarding in a drawer. A vintage valentine banner is one of our favorite ways to dress up a mantel, a hutch or a kitchen window for the season, and it doesn't call for anything fancy. Old book pages, a little color, a bit of lace and a length of twine are all it takes to get that soft, sentimental look you see on old-fashioned valentine cards.

This is a project you can finish in an afternoon at the kitchen table, and it's a good one to do alongside kids or grandkids since there's plenty of cutting and gluing to go around. It also makes good use of damaged books and loose pages that would otherwise end up in the recycling bin.

Before you start, gather up your paper and pick a spot to hang the finished banner so you can size it right. The supplies and step-by-step instructions are just below.

Finding the Right Paper for a Vintage Valentine Banner

The paper does most of the work here, so it's worth being a little choosy. We look for books that are already falling apart: water-stained novels, hymnals missing their covers, or old dictionaries with loose signatures. Thrift stores, library sales and the back corners of flea markets are reliable sources, and estate sales often have boxes of tired books priced for next to nothing.

A few things to look for:

• Warm, creamy pages. Pages that have mellowed to an ivory or light tan read as vintage right away.
• Interesting type. Old fonts, music notes and poetry all add character. Sheet music and hymnal pages are especially pretty; if you love that look, our post on tea stained hymn pages walks through aging them.
• Pages that aren't brittle. Paper that crumbles when you fold it won't hold up to glue and twine. Save those for framing instead.

Please don't cut up a book that might have real value. First editions, signed copies and old family Bibles with records in them deserve to stay whole. If you're unsure, set it aside and do a little research first.

Design and Styling Ideas

Once you have your hearts cut, the fun part is deciding how they come together. A row of plain hearts in book pages and red cardstock looks clean and classic. If you'd like a little more interest, try alternating heart sizes or mixing sheet music with printed text so the banner has some rhythm to it.

Color is up to you. Traditional red is cheerful, but faded pinks, dusty rose and even soft cream-on-cream give a more antique feel. We like pairing book pages with one solid color and leaving the lace white or ecru so it doesn't compete.

Where you hang it matters too. A few spots that work well:

• Across a mantel with a stack of old books and a jar of dried roses below
• Over a kitchen window, framed by white curtains
• Along the front of a hutch or open shelf with vintage dishes
• Draped across an old window frame leaned against the wall

If you want to carry the theme further, pair the banner with a stack of wrapped books from our valentine book decor project, or tuck a few old family snapshots in a vintage photo holder nearby.

Variations to Try

The same basic method works for all kinds of banners, so don't feel locked into hearts.

• Pennant style. Cut long triangles instead of hearts and add a small heart cutout in the center of each.
• Fabric hearts. Use scraps of ticking, feed-sack fabric or old linen. A light coat of fabric stiffener or iron-on interfacing helps them hang flat.
• Doily banner. Fold small paper or crocheted doilies over the twine and add a single red heart to each one.
• Mini mantel garland. Shrink the hearts to 2 inches and string them on baker's twine for a tiny garland that fits on a tiered tray or a bookshelf.
• Year-round version. Swap the hearts for stars in red, white and blue and you've got a summer banner. Our rustic patriotic decor post has more ideas in that direction.

Care and Storage

Paper banners are surprisingly sturdy if you treat them gently. Keep them out of direct sun, which will fade colored cardstock fast, and away from humid spots like a bathroom or right over the stove. Hang them a safe distance from any lit candles or a working fireplace, since dry paper and lace catch quickly.

When the season's over, lay the banner flat between two sheets of tissue paper, or loosely coil the twine and stack the hearts in a shallow box. A dry closet shelf is better than a damp basement or a hot attic. Stored that way, the same banner can come back out year after year.

A Few Safety Notes

This is about as gentle as DIY gets, but a couple of reminders still apply. Use sharp scissors carefully, especially if little ones are helping, and give kids safety scissors and pre-traced hearts. Very old books can be dusty or musty, so work in a ventilated spot and wash your hands after handling them. If a book smells strongly of mildew, it's best to skip it entirely.

When you're ready for your next project, browse the rest of our blog or try the DIY project finder to match a craft to what you already have on hand.