Heart Shaped Beading Tutorials and Projects

As the universal symbol of love, devotion and passion, nothing beats a heart when you want to add a little charm to a design. There are so many different ways to add this fun shape to beadwork, from heart beads, to metal stamps, to beadwork patterns.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, you might be inspired to use some variations of the heart theme in your designs. Though shades of red are a traditional color scheme at this time are year, any combination of colors that speaks to you can be combined with hearts to make beautiful designs.

I searched from some fun and fantastic heart tutorials and patterns, especially those that would work with more adventurous palettes at any time of the year. I’ll try to come up with some unique ways to mix up these patterns, and I hope you’ll make your own suggestions, too! Here are my favorites:

FusionBeads.com’s True Love Bracelet is a fun variation on the leather wrap bracelet. A sprinkling of opaque red glass hearts among ruby fire polish brings to mind cinnamon candies. I like the use of red cord in the original project for a cohesive look, but I prefer a little contrast. I would combine black leather with white or ivory hearts, and fire polish beads in emerald green.

For a fun, textured focal, Anna Nimmity’s felt heart pendant tutorial is a sure hit. Her version is suspended from a simple chain, but could also be combined with beads, silk, or cord for even more texture. I like the pattered red in the original project, but I think it would look fabulous in friendly yellow or an earthy mixture of green and brown.

One of the best things to come around at this time of year is the conversation heart. These little candies look too good to eat! Delighted Momma’s easy tutorial for making candy heart beads from polymer clay is perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth. Instead of a traditional rainbow of pastels, how about minty blues, whites and greens?

A swirled glass heart and luscious crystals combine with chain in this romantic necklace tutorial from Artbeads.com, entitled Everything for Love. For a more tropical approach to romance, I would combine a fiery orange heart with round glass beads in yellow and fruity green. Perhaps it would be called "Jungle Love"!

This beginner friendly Wild Heart Earrings tutorial from Beadaholique is eye-catching in Siam ruby crystals. The simple design leaves lots of room for embellishment, like additional bead dangles or some chain fringe for shoulder dusting Valentine earrings. Instead of red and black, why not turquoise and chocolate brown?

One more fantastic design from Fusionbeads.com, this Wild At Heart peyote stitch pattern is perfect for year-round wear. I love the starburst pattern in the background, which would look equally wild in green, purple and black.

For added Valentine’s fun, I also discovered these great projects:

Lori Greenberg demonstrates how to create a perfect
puffy heart lampwork bead in her fantastic tutorial.



Maria Nerius creates a fun and textural
heart pendant with needle punch techniques.



This Key to My Heart Necklace tutorial
from Little Birdie Secrets is great for Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day.

What’s your favorite way to include hearts in your designs?

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