With all of my Heart

Ahh--another month, another project!   Although my plan is to post altered art projects more frequently,

until the dust settles (literally, as we are painting the house), I hope this project will inspire you.

This wood plaque caught my eye at Michael's, and because it has a nice wooden frame and a sturdy wire hanger for embellishing, I decided to give it a go, even though it was one more item I didn't need.  After this, I hope vow to create projects from my existing stash.  Is there an organization out there for us arts & crafts collectors hoarders, maybe with a 12-step program?  As long as I can embellish and mod podge the list, I promise I will try to follow it...maybe.  However, in all fairness to my art budget, I spend less on all my stash than my husband spends on one of his ski weekends. 

Starting with this mundane 7" x 9" wood frame,  I chose vintage scrapbook paper, and cut out a 5-1/2" x 7" piece for the frame center.  Before podging this, I picked out a beautiful buttery yellow paint for the outside frame edges, and a chocolaty brown color for the inset.  (Hmm, butter and chocolate--sounds like it's time to bake some cookies.)  After lining the inside frame with painter's tape to help me paint straight edges, I applied two coats of each color, allowing the first color to completely dry before applying the painter's tape for the next.  

And now for the really fun part: choosing embellishments. 

I picked out flowers, buttons, a heart clip, a metal "xoxo", L-O-V-E punch-out letters, a "with all my heart" sticker, clothespins, a metal tag, and coordinating ribbons. 

Here are photos of the finished frame.

 I modpodged the letters to slightly larger buttons
and used  a small button in place of the "O' sticker

 Because I love the idea of being able to interchange photos,

I adhered a 5" x 3-1/2" clear acrylic frame to the board. 

 and inserted pretty paper, which looks nice until a photo takes the spot.

 I mod podged complementary paper to the clothespins

and to one of them, I tied a metal tag that reads, "with love."

And the before and after, a project true to my tag line,

"Transforming  the mundane one embellishment at a time."

Just joined.

Welcome to my new sorority sisters!

Linking to:  Rook No. 17