Today I am excited to share some beautiful and easy Valentine’s dish towel ideas with you. These dish towels are a perfect way to add Valentine’s Day touches to your kitchen. They also make great handmade gifts for the loved ones in your life. Not only are these Valentine’s dish towels beautiful and functional, but they are quick and easy to make too. Let’s get started!
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Beautiful and Functional DIYs Are My Favorite
If you’ve been here for a while, you know that my favorite kind of DIY is one that is not only beautiful but functional too. I also never share a project that I wouldn’t display or use in my own home. Today’s Valentine’s DIY is no different.
There are several things in the farmhouse that I declare with conviction, “You can’t ever have enough…” Included in these things are candles, plants, dish towels, and pillows… just to name a few. The Valentine’s dish towel idea that I am sharing today fits right into this declaration. You can’t ever have enough dish towels!
Beautiful and Easy Valentine’s Dish Towels
Eraser Stamped Valentine’s Dish Towels
Supplies:
- Flour sack dish towels
- Fabric paint (color(s) of your choice)
- Scissors
- Freezer paper
- Heart stencil
- Pencil with a new (unused) eraser on top
- Iron
Version 1: Heart Burst
Instructions:
First, trace a heart shape on the NON-shiny side of a piece of freezer paper and cut it out.
Next, place the heart stencil where you want it on the dish towel, SHINY side down. I put mine in the middle of the towel so that when I fold it in thirds it can be seen, but you can also put it in a corner. Note: If you put the heart in a corner, just be sure to leave enough room around it to fan out the stamped dots in order to create the “burst” effect. Then, using a hot iron, iron the heart onto the dish towel.
Important reminder: Put another piece of freezer paper or a piece of cardboard on the other side of the towel to keep the paint from bleeding through.
Finally, dip the pencil eraser in the paint and start stamping around the heart stencil. I put the dots closer together around the heart and then faded them out. I also dipped the eraser in the paint for each stamp around the heart to make the red color bolder.
Once the heart was outlined, I didn’t dip the pencil eraser in the paint each time, this made more faded dots helping to create the hombre look.
Allow the paint to dry completely. Once the paint is dry, peel off the heart.
Follow the instructions on the fabric paint bottle to set the paint. I used a hot iron to set the paint about 24 hours after it dried by ironing the dish towel on the side without the paint on it. You can also use a pressing cloth. I suggest not washing it for about 72 hours after the paint is set.
Version 2: Ombré Heart
The supplies to make the ombré heart dish towel are the same as what was used above. However, this version uses three colors instead of only one color of fabric paint like I did on the heart burst towel. I used red, magenta, and white. Overall, the directions are the same with a few changes.
Instructions:
First, trace a heart shape on the NON-shiny side of a piece of freezer paper, cut it out, and set it aside. Instead of ironing the heart onto the towel like before, this time the outline of the heart on the freezer paper will be used. I used tape to put it back together after cutting out the heart.
Next, lay the freezer paper with the outline of the heart on it, SHINY side down on the dish towel and iron it on. (And yes, you CAN reuse and re-iron on the heart templates for other towels. As I am doing here.)
Important reminder: Put another piece of freezer paper or a piece of cardboard on the other side of the towel to keep the paint from bleeding through.
Then, dip the pencil eraser into the red paint. Begin by stamping bold red dots at the bottom of the heart. Continue to dip and re-apply the red paint making your way up the heart to about a third of the way. Add a few random dots higher so the red merges slowly into the next shade of magenta.
Now wipe off the excess red paint and then begin the process over again with the magenta (adding a few random dots of the magenta into the red dot section.
To create the light pink color add some white paint to the magenta. Repeat the same method as above with the light pink color. Finally, you can finish the heart with light pink or even add a few dots of white at the top. It’s up to you!
Allow the paint to dry completely. Once the paint is dry, peel off the freezer paper heart outline.
Follow the instructions on the fabric paint bottle to set the paint. I used a hot iron to set the paint about 24 hours after it dried by ironing the dish towel on the side without the paint on it. You can also use a pressing cloth. I suggest not washing it for about 72 hours after the paint is set.
Now it’s time to sprinkle the Valentine’s dish towels around your kitchen and enjoy!
But Wait! There’s More
Not only does this stamping method work great on dish towels, but it works equally well on cloth napkins, pillow covers, and tote bags too. You can even make Valentine’s Day t-shirts. These would all make great gifts too! I plan to make some cloth napkins this week to use on the table for Valentine’s Day dinner.
Beautiful and Easy Valentine DIYs That Make Great Gifts
These beautiful and easy DIY Valentine dish towels (and more) make wonderful homemade gifts for the loved ones in your life. Consider adding a bottle of pink liquid hand soap or dish soap with the towels. Include a cozy throw blanket with a Valentine’s pillow cover (maybe a good book to read while using them). Everyone can use a tote bag and a t-shirt! Have fun getting creative while giving.
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Looking for more beautiful and easy Valentine’s DIYs, you might also LOVE these:
Frosted Glass Heart Candle Holders
Sweet Valentine’s Day Floral Arrangement
I love this idea so much Meeghan. I’d love to share it on my weekly wrap-up on Sunday. I can’t wait to try and make this.
I’m so happy you love the idea, Kim. Thank you! I appreciate you sharing it. Have fun making some of your own!
[…] Beautiful and Easy Valentine’s Dish Towels […]
Instead of painting the heart on a dish towel I did it on a t-shirt for my granddaughter. It came out great!
Oh I love that idea, Ronnie! Thank you for sharing it with me.
Do you think i could use parchment paper instead of freezer paper
The beauty of freezer paper is that you can iron it on, Kelly. Therefore, it stays in place while you apply the paint. Unfortunately, parchment paper cannot be ironed on, so the lines in your designs won’t be as crisp.