Like all paper chains, these start with strips of paper. Cutting them all the same size is key here, if you want things to be even. Mine are 1″ wide by 14 inches long.
I also cut some smaller strips and punched a hole in the top. You don’t need to use a decorative punch for this; it won’t really be visible. It’s for hanging the chains when they are finished.
After the strips are cut, fold them all in half. For the first heart, you’ll want to inset the little hanger strip, punched part out, into the fold.
Then staple about 3/4 of an inch from that fold line.
Bend the unstapled part of the strip around so that the two parts meet at the opposite end.
Add another folded strip over those two matched up edges. You want the point of the first heart tucked inside the “V” of the new folded strip.
Staple at that edge about 3/4 of an inch from that fold line. Repeat this process until each chain has as many links as you want. My door decoration has three chains, two each of 4 hearts and one of 5 hearts.
I used a loop of twine through each hanger piece.
To hold the chains on my door, I covered a cardboard tube from a paper towel roll with construction paper. I threaded the twine loops onto the roll (with the longer chain of 5 in the center).
And then I threaded a nice thick piece of silver rope through the center of the paper towel holder. I knotted the top at the correct height for my door.
Love the idea of using the paper heart chain as door décor!