I really wanted to make an origami heart… but every time I tried, it just felt too small. Cute? Yes. Jumbo and dramatic? Absolutely not. So instead of settling, I figured out a way to make a big, bold, jumbo paper heart that actually makes a statement. The kind you can hang up and admire from across the room.
This version keeps all the charm of a folded paper heart but scales it up in a way that feels fun and doable. No fancy tools or complicated steps required. If you’ve ever wanted a paper heart that’s more wow than aww, this one’s for you.
🎥 I also made a video about these Jumbo Paper Hearts. You can watch the YouTube Video Here.
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Supplies Needed to Make Jumbo Paper Hearts
Supplies for this craft are quick and easy:
- Two sheets of 12×12 cardstock – Using the same color or pattern for both sheets works best, especially since they’ll come together to form one heart. Thicker cardstock gives the heart more structure, but you can absolutely use thinner paper if that’s what you have on hand.
- Yarn or Thread – This is to hang up the jumbo heart once it’s finished.
- Glue – For this craft, I found that my hot glue gun worked best with cardstock because it holds the design well. However, regular craft glue works just fine if you’re using lighter paper.
Folding the Jumbo Paper Heart
This heart is made by folding the same shape twice, once for each half. Once you get the hang of it, the second one feels much easier.
Start by placing your paper design-side down, since that design will end up on the front of your heart later. Fold the sheet in half and open it back up.
Then fold one side in toward that center crease so your paper is folded into a quarter, and repeat on the other side. After opening it up again, you’ll use those crease lines as guides for the rest of the folds.
From the bottom corner, fold each side up toward the center to create a large arrow shape.
Once that’s done, move to the top and fold the outer corner down toward the outer crease you just made, making a smaller triangle in the top corners. Repeat on the other side. This is where the heart really starts to take shape.
The next fold is the trickiest part, so take your time here. Starting at the tip of the small triangle we just made, fold the top half downward, stopping right at the middle-of-page-crease.
You don’t want to fold the entire thing over. This creates that soft curve, or “bump,” that gives the heart its rounded top.
Repeat the same fold on the other side, and you should see a V shape forming in the center.
Before moving on, create a small hole near the top-center of the heart. A hole punch works great, but scissors do the job just fine, too. This hole is for the hanging string later. Once that’s done, repeat the entire folding process with your second sheet of paper.
Now repeat the above steps on the second piece of paper so that we have two sides to our heart.
Attaching a Hanging String
With both heart pieces folded, it’s time to prep the yarn. You will need approximately 1-2 feet of yarn, depending on where the item will be hung. Fold the yarn in half, tie a knot in one end and create a loop so there’s enough length to hang your heart. Thread the yarn through the hole in ONE of the heart pieces and tape it into place on the back. This will keep it from shifting while you glue everything together, which makes life much easier.
Do not pull it through the second hold yet!
Gluing the Heart Together
Now for the fun part, turning two flat pieces into one big, dimensional heart.
Apply glue to the four triangular sections on the back of one heart piece. Hot glue works especially well here because it grabs quickly and holds the cardstock securely.
Once the glue is applied, carefully place the second heart piece on top, lining everything up as best you can. Wait a moment before carrying on.
After the two pieces are attached, pull the yarn through the second hole at the top.
You’ll notice small openings along the sides—these help you gently pop the heart into shape and make it easier to pull the yarn through. Fold along those pre-made creases so the top of the heart forms its rounded humps.
This step can feel a little wonky at first (totally normal). I like to use a pencil or pen to gently push and shape the paper until everything sits where it should. Once you’re happy with the shape, apply glue underneath the top folds to hold them closed. This is another spot where hot glue really shines, since craft glue can loosen over time.
And that’s it! Your Jumbo Paper Heart is Complete!
Some Final Thoughts and Lessons Learned From Making this Jumbo Paper heart
And finally, now that this amazing jumbo paper heart is done, it’s time to talk about what we learned.
- Once the glue is dry, your jumbo paper heart is officially ready to hang. If you notice any spots that look a little flat or tucked in, grab a pencil, pen, or even a crochet hook and gently pop them back out.
- I have a hole at the sides of the heart. I wanted to add a flap and close it off, but then there would be no way easily adjust any folds. If you want, you can glue them closed afterwards, but they don’t really show up when hanging, so I’m leaving them as they are.
- When making the hole for the yarn. I made them while folding the paper. If I had waited until after the first glue application, I could possibly have gotten a better seal at the top of the heart, but as these are hanging above my head, I’m not worried about that.
- The only thing I wish I could do is make these even bigger! They are currently just under 12″ tall, but I don’t have any paper that is bigger, and I wasn’t interested in gluing four 12″ x 12″ papers together to make it bigger. But it’s the perfect size to hang in my dining room.
Did you enjoy making this Jumbo Paper Heart?
And that’s it—you’ve made a jumbo paper heart! This is one of those projects that looks impressive but feels relaxing to make, and I love how it encourages you to slow down and create something just for fun.
Did you enjoy making this Jumbo Paper Heart? Let me know in the comments if you tried this out and how it went!
If you enjoyed this craft, be sure to check out:
🎥 I also made a video about these Jumbo Paper Hearts. You can watch the YouTube Video Here.
Happy crafting 💖
