Remember last week when I shared my Valentine’s Day vignette and the love story of how my husband and I first met?
You may have spied the typography heart artwork and thought it was made from pallet wood.
But it’s not! No power tools were required in the making of this sign!
Just craft supplies!
Let me show you how I made it.
Supplies
1 sheet 1X12X36-inch FloraCraft® Make It: Fun® Foam
FloraCraft® StyroCutter® Plus
2 tubs FloraCraft Smooth Finish®
DecoArt Americana Multisurface Satin Paint in Steel Grey
DecoArt Americana Multisurface Satin Paint in Battleship
DecoArt Americana Multisurface Satin Paint in Overcast
DecoArt Americana Multisurface Satin Paint in Cottonball
2 sheets newsprint scrapbook fabric (newsprint scrapbook paper would also work)
DecoArt Decoupage medium
Use a ruler or a T-square to divide the foam sheet into 18X4-inch planks. Use a marker to create cut lines on the foam sheet.
Heat the StyroCutter® Plus and slowly slice the foam into planks. (You’re probably wondering what happened to my marker lines. This shot is actually for another project I’m working on using the foam sheets. Just pretend the lines are there!)
When cutting with the StyroCutter® Plus, be careful not to burn yourself and don’t force the wand through the foam or you could break the thin metal cutter. Just move slowly and the foam will melt like butter.
Once your planks are cut, coat the front and sides of each board with a thin coat of Smooth Finish. I like to use a putty knife to apply it and smooth it. Smooth Finish has the consistency of cake frosting, but it dries hard with a slightly chalky feel.
You’ll find a great video tutorial for how to work with Smooth Finish at the Make It: Fun® website.
For my project, I applied two thin coats of Smooth Finish to my foam planks. Be sure you let the first coat dry completely before applying the second one.
Next, I lightly sanded the planks with a sanding block, front and sides. I wasn’t too concerned about getting a perfectly smooth finish, as I wanted to replicate the rustic, rough look of pallet wood.
Then, I used hot glue to attach the planks to one another. To give my faux pallet wood sign more stability, I did add two thin foam boards to the back, running perpendicular to the seams.
Finally, I painted the sign using craft paint. I started by layering on the darkest color of gray paint, then streaking on lighter colors, then adding dark highlights here and there to mimic the look of wood. It’s really just a process of trial and error, until you get the look you want.
Now, this is where the project got interesting. My original plan was to create a knockoff of a this striped heart plaque from Ballard Designs, but ultimately I wasn’t happy with the result.
I will say that I was sick with the flu when I decided I hated the painted heart. I felt like a major craft and creative failure, so I decided to go back to the drawing board on this one. (Please tell me I’m not the only one who struggles and is plagued with creative self-doubt.)
My fix was to cut a heart out of newsprint scrapbook fabric I had in my stash and decoupage it to the foam faux pallet sign.
That actually turned out to be a great choice. It was definitely the right creative choice for me, because it inspired me to create this romantic newsprint-themed Valentine’s Day vignette.
It’s perfect for us because my husband and I met while we were both working as newspaper reporters!
This was not my first time working with FloraCraft products. I kinda fell in love with the possibilities in the fall when I was decorating for Halloween.
I made a version of the Sleepy Hollow sign using these same supplies. You can check out that tutorial here.
For more great projects, visit Make It: Fun®. #MakeItFunCrafts
Sandra Carroll
I just love the whole setting
Anita
This is a great idea! You are not the only person who questions your creativity, and you have done a great job of showing how to complete this project. I’m sitting here wondering how to make this seasonal, to remove the heart and replace it with, say, a spring thing. I was thinking Velcro, but then again that might not stay stuck to the foam board. Hmmmm. More thinking to do. Also, I love the oval mirrored frame with the birds – any idea where I could find one like that? Very cute and would go nicely with my bird theme. Thank you again!
Atta Girl Amy
Hi Anita, so sorry for missing your comment earlier. Did you ever figure out a way to make the sign seasonal? Like you, I’m not sure Velcro would work on the foam. Maybe integrate some kind of clip into the design so you could switch out the image. Or maybe use some pretty push pins? Those would definitely work with the foam.
You also asked about my little bird mirror…that was a birthday gift from my mom, but I think she got it from HomeGoods or a local gift shop I will doublecheck with her, though, and let you know if I find out differently.
Have a wonderful, creative week!
Jan from Bear Mountain
Hello..enjoyed your creative project and the finished project even more…just as Sharon mentioned above the fact you and hubby were journalists..GREAT! I did not want to leave comment on Hometalk for it had nothing to do with your tutorial…but as your glue gun starts to cool down (still warm but ok to touch) take a dryer sheet and wipe it down…trick I came up with many craft teachings ago..gets it looking like new! Enjoyed your site, Jan
Atta Girl Amy
That’s a great tip, Jan. As you saw, my glue gun is all grungy from using it with moss. Boy is that stuff messy! I’ll definitely be wiping it down with a dryer sheet the next time I use it. Brilliant idea! Thanks for sharing.
Donna
Wow, what a wonderful idea to share this time of the year. This could be a beautiful idea for Valentines Day also. Thanks for sharing…it looks like I have a new project to put on my list.
Donna
http://www.dazzledideas.com
Sharon
Great tutorial, and beautiful project. I love knowing that you and your husbands were journalists, too, which adds extra meaning to the craft. Thank you.