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You are here: Home / Crafts / How To Make A String Art Neon Heart Sign

How To Make A String Art Neon Heart Sign

2nd January 2019 by Claire Armstrong 37 Comments

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The post title might say that this string neon heart sign is for Valentine’s. But, I believe that just like love, this gorgeous neon sign is for all year round and not just Valentines day!

I’ve always loved crafting and making stuff. When I was about 10 years old I got a string art kit for my birthday (which happens to be on Valentine’s Day!). Mine was some kind of geometric pattern with gold and silver thread on a black velvet background. It was on my bedroom wall for years!

String Neon Heart Sign for Valentine’s

I thought it would be fun to recreate my own string art but this time using El neon wire to make an illuminated neon heart sign.

One thing that has changed since I was a child is that I’m not such a fan of symmetry. My neon heart string art design is a lot more random than those kits I used to make.

This is a very quick and easy craft to do. I made my own backboard out of pallet wood. But, you can use any old bit of wood.

El wire is very cheap to buy and comes in loads of colours. So, you can make the neon heart any colour you want. In the past, I’ve made my son a fun blue custom DIY Led sign of his name.

 DIY neon heart sign for Valentine's day

This post contains Amazon affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to see my disclosure policy.

What You Need To Make A Neon Heart Sign

  • Pallet wood for the backboard or any other piece of old wood such as a chopping board or cupboard door.
  • Galvanised round head nails approximately 50mm in length
  • 2 X 5m (15ft) Pink Neon El wire with battery pack
  • A piece of A4 paper

Pink neon el wire with battery pack

How To Make A String Neon Heart Sign

  1. The first thing I did was to make a rustic backboard for my neon heart sign by repurposing some pallet wood. I cut three strips of pallet wood to about 40cm in lengths. I then sanded them smooth
Scraps of pallet wood


2. Nail 2 strips of wood to the back to hold the 3 pieces of pallet wood together. Even if you are using a different piece of wood for the sign it is worth nailing one of these wood strips to the back. They make a handy shelf for the battery pack.

Preparing the base


3. Using a sheet of paper, cut out a heart shape to fit the wooden base. Place the heart template on the wood and draw around it with a pencil.

Heart template for neon heart sign


4. Next, using the heart outline as a guide, hammer in the nails about 2-3 cm (1″) apart.

hammering in nails


5. Drill a hole inside the nail heart just big enough for the El neon wire to pass through.

Heart outline in nails ready for neon string art

6. Pull the el wire all the way through the hole in the wood. Leave the battery packs at the back.

Threading el wire through the wood

7. Start crisscrossing the wire across the neon heart as you would with string art. Wrap the wire around the nails as you go. I went for a random string art pattern, but you can be more methodical if you prefer. Carry on until you run out of wire. Secure the end to the wood base with a dab of glue.

Wrapping the El wire around the heart shape like string art.

8. To finish off secure the battery packs to the back of the neon heart sign with tape.

Securing battery pack to back of neon sign.
Neon heart sign made with el wire string art

I love the pink colour that this string art neon heart shines with when it’s turned on. I’m going to hang my heart in the kitchen. However, I might just pop it on my mantle in the lounge when it’s Valentine’s day for a decoration!

Who says pink is just for Valentine’s, I’ve used the same pink neon wire to make a unique spooky DIY skull decoration for Halloween.

I have also made an illuminated Valentine’s DIY lightbox sign before from an old wine box.

If you like this project you might want to check out some of my other illuminated and non illuminated Valentine’s projects.

  • Heart string lights
  • Valentines Light Decorations
  • Pinecone Flower Heart
  • Valentines Bottle Lights
  • Paper Mache Hearts & wall decorations

For more DIY wall decor ideas check out diyideacenter.com

Filed Under: Crafts, Seasonal, Valentines Tagged With: el wire, heart, illumination, light, neon lights, sign, string art, valentine, valentines

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Margaret

    18th January 2021 at 6:36 pm

    Hi there – Such a fun idea! Just curious how troublesome it is to turn on battery packs once they are on back of wood? Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      19th January 2021 at 2:21 pm

      Hi Margret, the battery packs are easy to switch on and off with just a flick of a switch. Just make sure that you can easily get to the back of the sign, mine leans against the wall on my mantle so very easy to get too.

      Reply
  2. Caro | The Twinkle Diaries

    2nd February 2019 at 5:59 pm

    We’ve had these string for years!! We gaffer tape them to our hats so we can see each other at night on a festival field!! I must re-purpose a couple of them and make the boys some wall art. Such a great idea Claire 🙂 #HomeEtc

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      3rd February 2019 at 8:51 am

      Thank you, great idea for festivals.

      Reply
  3. Mother of 3

    31st January 2019 at 12:46 am

    What a great project idea! We have tried string art a few times but I have never heard of neon wire. I bet my boys would love this. Thanks so much for linking up with us at Share Some Love. Pinned.

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      31st January 2019 at 7:11 am

      Thank you. Your boys could spell their name with the wire. My son has a neon sign of his name.

      Reply
      • Mother of 3

        13th February 2019 at 12:07 pm

        That’s a wonderful idea! I was stopping back by today to let you know that his post is one of my featured favorites from the Share Some Love party. Thanks once again for sharing with us.

        Reply
        • Claire Armstrong

          13th February 2019 at 7:31 pm

          Thank you so much, that’s lovely to hear.

          Reply
  4. Michelle Leslie

    28th January 2019 at 8:38 am

    I am soooooooo saving this one until I can find some of that wire. What a really cool idea. My daughter is going to love it!!!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      28th January 2019 at 4:25 pm

      Thank you. The wire is widely available on both eBay and Amazon.

      Reply
  5. Emily

    24th January 2019 at 3:16 am

    This is so, so cool!! Thanks so much for sharing at our Merry Monday party. I’ll be including it in my Party Features next week 🙂

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      24th January 2019 at 4:25 pm

      Thank you, I look forward to see it.

      Reply
  6. creativejewishmom/sara

    17th January 2019 at 2:06 pm

    Another brilliant one Claire, my gears are turning thinking about all the amazing possibilities! thanks for sharing on craft schooling Sunday as always!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      17th January 2019 at 7:25 pm

      Thank you, el wire is fun to play with,

      Reply
  7. Julie

    14th January 2019 at 9:48 am

    I did not know that neon string was a thing, how cool is that?!
    I love your string art sign .

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      14th January 2019 at 4:27 pm

      Thank you. Yes it is and you can get it in loads of colours.

      Reply
  8. Kippi

    13th January 2019 at 5:33 am

    Wow! This is really cool. I had no idea that this neon string even existed. Now I want some to play with. Happy New Year, Kippi #kippiathome

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      13th January 2019 at 8:47 am

      Thank you and you can get it in loads of lovely colours.

      Reply
  9. Cecilia

    12th January 2019 at 10:01 pm

    So fun, Claire! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      13th January 2019 at 8:47 am

      Thank you ?

      Reply
  10. Lins

    12th January 2019 at 3:11 pm

    This would look so amazing against the dark grey walls of our office!! Thank you for linking up to #HomeEtc Claire X

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      12th January 2019 at 3:23 pm

      It’s currently hanging up in my kitchen wall, thank you.

      Reply
      • Fran

        19th February 2021 at 1:17 pm

        You should make these to sell Claire….I really want one 😃

        Reply
        • Claire Armstrong

          19th February 2021 at 7:47 pm

          Thank you, Fran. They are really easy to make you should give them a go

          Reply
  11. Peg

    11th January 2019 at 10:26 pm

    ?Love it❣️ Need to make for my home but passing on to oldest son,great gift for him to make for his girlfriend

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      12th January 2019 at 11:11 am

      Thank you. I’m sure she will love it, especially as it will be handmade!

      Reply
  12. Erlene

    11th January 2019 at 3:17 am

    What a fun project! I’m loving the neon string, which is something I haven’t worked with before.

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      11th January 2019 at 5:49 pm

      Thank you. The neon wire is great fun to play with.

      Reply
  13. Becky at PinksCharming

    10th January 2019 at 10:03 am

    Ah I LOVE this! I have been planning to make a neon sign for ages, but couldn’t decide on the words to use so maybe I’ll swap to a heart instead. It looks absolutely fab x #HomeEtc

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      10th January 2019 at 8:33 pm

      Thank you. It was very easy and fun to make.

      Reply
  14. Angela

    7th January 2019 at 12:25 am

    I didn’t know you could get that wire I thought you had add a light to it

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      7th January 2019 at 7:15 am

      Yes the wire is very affordable and comes in loads of colours.

      Reply
  15. Amy AKA The Hippy

    3rd January 2019 at 2:07 pm

    This is amazing. I would have never even known they made such a material, let alone that you could use it like this. Now my creative juices are flowing to come up with something similar to hang above our mantel. Thank you so much for the inspiration!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      3rd January 2019 at 5:51 pm

      Thank you. El wire is fun to play with there are so many things you can make with it.

      Reply
  16. Tina Corzine

    3rd January 2019 at 1:32 pm

    This is such an awesome idea. I’m always looking for cool craft projects to try. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Claire Armstrong

      3rd January 2019 at 5:54 pm

      Thank you so much ? It was fun to make.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 20+ Valentine Crafts and Recipe Ideas for the Heart Day says:
    30th January 2019 at 7:37 pm

    […] String Neon Art Heart via Pillar Box Blue  […]

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