Beaded Heart Pendant: My Whimsical Valentine's Gift Idea (Full Process Video Inside)

With Valentine’s Day on my mind, I started thinking about a gift that feels personal, a little quirky, and truly one of a kind. That thought became this beaded heart brooch: soft, bright red, and covered in tiny sparkling beads that catch the light.

The Spark of Inspiration

I wanted a heart that doesn’t look flat or “cookie-cutter,” but something tactile—like you can almost feel the texture just by looking at it.

​The deep red beadwork creates a gradual, juicy-looking gradient, and the small teardrop charm adds a gentle movement when you wear it. ​
If you’re looking for something unique (for a partner, a friend, or yourself), this is exactly the kind of Valentine’s gift I had in mind. Wear it as a brooch on your collar or as a pendant on a chain, ribbon, or thin leather cord—the drop charm adds gentle movement either way.

Key creation moments

The process begins with shaping the heart and building the embroidered base so it stays plush and dimensional.

​Then comes the slow, meditative part: adding beads one by one to create shine, texture, and that slightly “sugared” surface.​
Finally, I finish it with the drop detail and assemble it into a pendant that sits neatly at the neckline.

​Watch the full video

See my 8-minute beaded heart process video — from sketch to wearable pendant! 

In the video, I show exactly how to make this versatile heart that works as both brooch and necklace.

If you enjoy behind-the-scenes craft videos, you’ll find more of my work on lenakataeva.com, where I share my illustration projects and the jewelry I create.
Let me know in the comments what you’d love to see next—more hearts, or a different “whimsical” motif.

What do you think — would you wear this heart? Drop a comment below. Subscribe to @LenaMadeThis on YouTube for more behind-the-scenes.

With love & stitches,  
Lena