How To: Make a Heart Bokeh Filter

I love DIYs.  I read blogs like Centsational Girl and wish on falling stars I could make goodies like that.  But, somehow, any project I attempt always ends up looking like it was done by a 5-year old.  Actually, it ends up looking like a 5-year old could have done it better!

I've heard of others making heart bokeh filters.  When I read one how-to I thought, "I can actually do that" but I worried it would still be a challenge.  Lucky for me, it's even easier than I thought.  If I can do it, you can definitely do it!

What You Need:
Black construction paper
Scissors
Tape
A lens

1. Trace a circle the size of your lens onto a piece of black construction paper then cut out.  Leave little tabs on the edges so you can attach it later.
2. Cut a small heart (about 1/4 of an inch wide) out of the center.
3. Cut a 1/2-inch strip of construction paper and make a ring.  Attach the heart circle to the ring with the tape.
4. Slip onto your lens and shoot away!  Manual focus is much easier than automatic with this filter attached.  You may also need to compensate with your aperture for the darkness.  Also, be careful not to cut the strip in Step 2 too thick, otherwise you'll get a weird tunnel/vignetting thing in your photos (which can be cool sometimes, but mainly results in blurry too-dark shots).