DIY Dollar Store Valentine’s Day Photo Backdrop (Under $10!)

Thank you for joining me for the Valentine’s Day Blog Hop! I’ve joined with 13 other talented bloggers to share Valentine’s Day crafts on a budget. Each blogger was given a budget of no more than $10 and challenged to create a Valentine’s Day craft using items from the dollar store or dollar section of their local stores.

Because I’m all about keeping things simple, fun, and budget-friendly, I decided to make a DIY Valentine’s Day Photo Backdrop—a super easy way to create sweet, frame-worthy memories without spending a fortune.

I love any excuse to take pictures of my kiddos, and since I tend to slough off on Valentine’s day, this was an easy way to add some glam to the holiday.

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Why a DIY Photo Backdrop?

Confession: I tend to forget Valentine’s Day decor. It’s not that I don’t love the holiday—I just don’t always get around to decking out the house with pink and red before February 14 sneaks up on me. But a cute photo backdrop? That, I can handle.

I love any excuse to take pictures of my kids (when they cooperate), and having a festive backdrop makes those last-minute Valentine’s photos look intentional—even if I threw it together the night before.

Best part? It cost me less than $10, took maybe 20 minutes, and I’ll be using it again for future Valentine’s Days!

Supplies You’ll Need

(Everything here was snagged from my local dollar store!)

✔ Foam hearts (various sizes and styles)
✔ Hole punch
✔ Yarn or ribbon (whatever you have on hand)
✔ Tape or glue dots
✔ Scissors

How to Make a Valentine’s Day Photo Backdrop

Step 1: Prep Your Foam Hearts

Pick up a variety of foam hearts in different sizes and designs. I went for a mix of reds, pinks, and sparkly ones (but not actually glittery, because I actually don’t like glitter!! 😲).

Use a hole punch to add a few holes around the edges of each heart. This will make it easier to string them together in different ways.

Step 2: Thread the Hearts Together

Cut a few strands of yarn or ribbon (I used yarn because that’s what I had, but ribbon works just as well). Thread the yarn through the holes in your foam hearts to create hanging strands.

To keep them from sliding, add a little piece of tape on the back of each heart to hold them in place. No one will see the back, so it doesn’t have to be perfect!

Step 3: Hang Your Backdrop

Find a well-lit spot where you’ll be taking pictures. I taped my strands to the wall, but you could also attach them to a curtain rod, doorway, or even a foam board for a portable option. I also mixed in some regular old crepe party streamers to add some extra flair.

Once everything is up, step back and adjust as needed to make sure the hearts are spaced out nicely.

The Final Result? Adorable.

This project turned out so cute and made our Valentine’s Day photos feel way more festive. If you’re like me and sometimes forget about holiday decor until the last minute, this is the perfect quick and easy solution.

Even better? You can reuse this backdrop for future Valentine’s Days or switch up the colors to fit other celebrations—think birthdays, baby showers, or anniversaries.