How to Make Rhinestone Art Canvas DIY Heart Painting

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How to Make Rhinestone Art Canvas DIY Heart Painting

If you love over-the-top sparkle, vintage costume jewelry, and maximalist Valentine decor, this jeweled heart canvas project is about to steal your heart.

A Vintage-Inspired Valentine Craft DIY with Glitter, Gems, and ALL the Sparkle!

This small but mighty art piece combines layered acrylic paint, chunky glitter, color-shift accents, and an opulent amount of rhinestones and gems to create a dazzling keepsake that feels like a cross between a retro brooch and a modern mixed-media diamond art masterpiece.

The best part? This project is high impact but totally beginner-friendly.

You don’t need fine art skills—just patience, a love of sparkle, and the willingness to let each layer dry properly.

Whether you display it on a shelf, hang it on a gallery wall, or gift it to someone special, this jeweled heart canvas is a showstopper...and could be your next best seller!

Let’s dive in 💗

The best part? This project is high impact but totally beginner-friendly. You don’t need fine art skills—just patience, a love of sparkle, and the willingness to let each layer dry properly. Whether you display it on a shelf, hang it on a gallery wall, or gift it to someone special, this jeweled heart canvas is a showstopper...and could be your next best seller!

This tutorial and video walks you step-by-step through creating a 5 x 7 inch stretched canvas featuring a layered pink heart, chunky glitter paint, and dense bedazzling inspired by vintage costume jewelry and antique brooches.

Style Inspiration for this Maximalist Jeweled Heart Canvas:

Vintage rhinestone brooches
Mid-century costume jewelry
Maximalist Valentine decor
Mixed-media art with texture and shine

This tutorial and video walks you step-by-step through creating a 5 x 7 inch stretched canvas featuring a layered pink heart, chunky glitter paint, and dense bedazzling inspired by vintage costume jewelry and antique brooches. Style Inspiration for this Maximalist Jeweled Heart Canvas: Vintage rhinestone brooches Mid-century costume jewelry Maximalist Valentine decor Mixed-media art with texture and shine

Supplies Needed for Rhinestone Art Canvas:

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5 x 7 inch stretched canvas (Arteza)
Martha Stewart Acrylic Craft Paint (Various Pinks and Reds)
Color Shift acrylic paint (any pink, gold, or iridescent tone)
Plaid Crafts Glitterific Paint
General Chalk pencil
Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue
Wax pencil (for picking up gems)
Diamond dots
Rhinestones
Flat-back gems
Paint brushes (flat and round)
Paper towel
Palette or scrap paper

Optional: tweezers for extra-tiny gems

Supplies Needed for Rhinestone Art Canvas: affiliate links 5 x 7 inch stretched canvas (Arteza) Martha Stewart Acrylic Craft Paint (Various Pinks and Reds) Color Shift acrylic paint (any pink, gold, or iridescent tone) Plaid Crafts Glitterific Paint General Chalk pencil Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue Wax pencil (for picking up gems) Diamond dots Rhinestones Flat-back gems Paint brushes (flat and round) Paper towel Palette or scrap paper Optional: tweezers for extra-tiny gems

Step 1: Paint the Canvas Base

Start by preparing your canvas.

Using pastel pink acrylic craft paint, paint the entire surface of the canvas, including the edges.

Painting the sides gives the finished piece a polished, professional look and means it can be displayed without a frame.

Step 1: Paint the Canvas Base Start by preparing your canvas. Using pastel pink acrylic craft paint, paint the entire surface of the canvas, including the edges. Painting the sides gives the finished piece a polished, professional look and means it can be displayed without a frame.

Apply the paint in smooth, even strokes. Don’t worry if the first coat looks slightly streaky—craft paint often needs two coats for full coverage. Let the first coat dry completely before applying the second.

💡 Tip: Acrylic paint dries fast, but letting it cure for at least 20–30 minutes between coats helps prevent tackiness.

Once the second coat is dry, you’ll have a soft, dreamy pink background that sets the stage for all the sparkle to come.

Apply the paint in smooth, even strokes. Don’t worry if the first coat looks slightly streaky—craft paint often needs two coats for full coverage. Let the first coat dry completely before applying the second. 💡 Tip: Acrylic paint dries fast, but letting it cure for at least 20–30 minutes between coats helps prevent tackiness. Once the second coat is dry, you’ll have a soft, dreamy pink background that sets the stage for all the sparkle to come.

Step 2: Sketch the Heart

Using a chalk pencil, lightly trace a heart shape in the center of the canvas.

A chalk pencil is ideal here because:
It shows up clearly on painted surfaces
It’s easy to erase or paint over
It won’t permanently mark the canvas

Take your time getting the heart shape just how you like it.

This project leans toward a romantic, vintage look, so a slightly imperfect, hand-drawn heart actually adds charm.

Once you’re happy with the placement and size, move on to painting.

Take your time getting the heart shape just how you like it. This project leans toward a romantic, vintage look, so a slightly imperfect, hand-drawn heart actually adds charm. Once you’re happy with the placement and size, move on to painting.

Step 3: Paint the Heart – Base Color

Fill in the heart using a bright pink acrylic paint.

This will be the main color that peeks through the layers of glitter and jewels later.

Use a medium brush and apply the paint evenly, staying within your chalk outline.

If needed, apply two coats for full opacity.

Let the heart dry completely before moving on.

Step 4: Add Dimension with Highlight Colors

Now comes the fun part—adding depth and richness to the heart.

Using a medium pink, add soft highlights to areas where light would naturally hit the heart.

You don’t need to blend; visible brush strokes actually enhance the handcrafted, painterly feel--and does what computer generated art cannot do, be created by humans.

Step 4: Add Dimension with Highlight Colors Now comes the fun part—adding depth and richness to the heart. Using a medium pink, add soft highlights to areas where light would naturally hit the heart. You don’t need to blend; visible brush strokes actually enhance the handcrafted, painterly feel--and does what computer generated art cannot do, be created by humans.

Next, add small touches of red acrylic paint to deepen the color and give the heart a lush, romantic glow.

Focus the red near edges or select areas to create contrast.

This layered approach gives the heart visual complexity, even though much of it will later be covered with glitter and gems.

Let all paint dry fully before continuing.

Next, add small touches of red acrylic paint to deepen the color and give the heart a lush, romantic glow. Focus the red near edges or select areas to create contrast. This layered approach gives the heart visual complexity, even though much of it will later be covered with glitter and gems. Let all paint dry fully before continuing.

Feel free to use all the colors of your choice for this fun over-the-top heart canvas.

Step 5: Chunky Glitter Time ✨

Once the painted heart is dry, it’s time to bring in the chunky glitter paint.

Using Plaid Crafts Glitterific paint, apply chunky swatches of glitter directly onto the heart.

Pink glitter for cohesion
Gold glitter for warmth
Holographic glitter for that jaw-dropping sparkle

Apply the glitter paint generously.
Don’t spread it too thin—thick applications give better texture and dimension once dry.

Using Plaid Crafts Glitterific paint, apply chunky swatches of glitter directly onto the heart. Pink glitter for cohesion Gold glitter for warmth Holographic glitter for that jaw-dropping sparkle Apply the glitter paint generously. Don’t spread it too thin—thick applications give better texture and dimension once dry.

Here's some fun ways to add the glitter paint:

Dab for concentrated sparkle
Swipe for blended glitter areas
Layer different glitters slightly overlapping
Color Shift Border

Using a small brush, add color shift paint around the border of the heart.

This creates a glowing halo effect that changes depending on the angle and lighting.

This step is subtle but magical—it makes the heart feel luminous and extra special.

Here's some fun ways to add the glitter paint: Dab for concentrated sparkle Swipe for blended glitter areas Layer different glitters slightly overlapping Color Shift Border Using a small brush, add color shift paint around the border of the heart. This creates a glowing halo effect that changes depending on the angle and lighting. This step is subtle but magical—it makes the heart feel luminous and extra special.

Let the glitter paint dry completely.

Chunky glitter paint can take several hours to fully set, so patience is key here.

Just set it to dry overnight.

Step 6: Prepare for Bedazzling

Before adding gems, make sure:

All paint layers are fully dry
The surface is no longer tacky
You have your embellishments sorted by size and type
Pour small amounts of gems onto a tray or dish so they’re easy to access.

This is where the project transforms from cute to utterly decadent.

Step 6: Prepare for Bedazzling Before adding gems, make sure: All paint layers are fully dry The surface is no longer tacky You have your embellishments sorted by size and type Pour small amounts of gems onto a tray or dish so they’re easy to access. This is where the project transforms from cute to utterly decadent.

Step 7: Glue the Gems

Using Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue, apply tiny dots or short lines of glue directly onto the canvas.

Work in small sections so the glue doesn’t dry before you place the gems.

Don't over think where you will put gems and plan it all out.

Let this be creative and just place gems randomly and sporadically.

Step 7: Glue the Gems Using Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue, apply tiny dots or short lines of glue directly onto the canvas. Work in small sections so the glue doesn’t dry before you place the gems. Don't over think where you will put gems and plan it all out. Let this be creative and just place gems randomly and sporadically.

Use a wax pencil to pick up each jewel and gently press it into the glue.

Fill the heart—and even parts of the background if you like—with:

Diamond dots
Rhinestones
Tiny gems
Sparkly embellishments of all kinds

There’s no such thing as too much here.

The goal is an opulent, jewel-encrusted surface reminiscent of vintage costume jewelry and ornate brooches.

Fill the heart—and even parts of the background if you like—with: Diamond dots Rhinestones Tiny gems Sparkly embellishments of all kinds There’s no such thing as too much here. The goal is an opulent, jewel-encrusted surface reminiscent of vintage costume jewelry and ornate brooches.

Mix sizes and shapes to keep the design dynamic.

Cluster gems tightly for a luxurious, high-end feel.

💡 Design Tip: Start with larger gems as anchors, then fill in gaps with smaller rhinestones.

Step 8: Let It Dry (Again!)

Once all the gems are placed, let the canvas dry flat for several hours—or overnight—to ensure everything is securely set...last time drying!

Avoid moving or tilting the canvas during this time. Trust the process!

Step 8: Let It Dry (Again!) Once all the gems are placed, let the canvas dry flat for several hours—or overnight—to ensure everything is securely set...last time drying! Avoid moving or tilting the canvas during this time. Trust the process!

Finished Piece

Your finished jeweled heart canvas should feel:

Rich
Textural
Sparkly from every angle
Completely unapologetic
Human element and creativity
Spark joy and love

This piece works beautifully as:

Valentine’s Day decor
A handmade gift
Shelf or mantel art
A gallery wall accent
It pairs especially well with vintage frames, pink glassware, or other maximalist decor elements.
Girls Craft Night activity

Tips for Success

Let go of perfection: Just add all the gems with the confidence of a 7-year-old in a princess dress!
Layer patiently: Dry time matters for durability.
Go maximal: More gems = more magic.
Trust your eye: There’s no wrong way to place jewels.