It’s not quite Friday yet, so here’s a cheerful idea to lift your spirits: a giant googly-eye heart telegram for Valentine’s Day. You can sing, dance, or simply wave it around to spread smiles.
This project is similar to a googly-eye Christmas tree I made last December, where the goal was the same—stick oversized googly eyes on things to make people laugh. This time, however, we built the canvas ourselves: a large painted heart made from foam core that we covered in googly eyes and turned into a playful, in-person telegram.
Making the heart was fast and fun, and it’s an easy way to surprise someone you care about with a silly, memorable gift. Below are the materials and step-by-step instructions so you can make your own.
Materials:
- Large sticky-back googly eyes (the bigger, the better)
- 48 × 72 inch foam core board
- Acrylic or house paint
- Paint brush or paint roller
- Box cutter or utility blade
- Pen or marker
Instructions:
- Freehand a large heart onto the foam core board, using as much of the board as possible so the heart fills the space. Bigger hearts have more impact.
- Carefully cut out the heart shape with a box cutter or sharp blade, working on a protected surface and taking safety precautions.
- Paint both sides of the heart with two coats. We used house paint and a roller for quick, even coverage, but acrylic paint and a brush work well too. Allow the paint to dry completely between coats.
- Plan the arrangement of the googly eyes. Peel off the sticky backs and press the eyes onto the painted heart in your chosen pattern. That’s it—your heart telegram is ready.
Now you can parade your googly-eye heart around the neighborhood, surprise a friend at the door, or stage a fun delivery. If you want guidance on drawing a large heart shape, a previous project provides a helpful walkthrough for that step.
Have leftover foam core scraps? Cut letters from the scraps, paint them, and spell out short V-Day messages like “U R Cool” or playful phrases to leave on a car or at a doorstep for a secret admirer.
Small painted letter cutouts make a great companion to the giant heart—arrange them on a stoop, windshield, or lawn for an extra surprise.
Photography by Rachel Brewer
Craft production by Amelia Tatnall
Styling and concept by Brittni Mehlhoff
Would you deliver a googly-eye heart telegram this Valentine’s Day, or leave painted letter messages on someone’s car? It’s a playful, low-cost way to make a stranger or loved one smile—tell us if you plan to try it!