The Making of a Collage

I finally figured out what to do with one of the two large window frames I bought last year for $10.00.  I decided to make a collage of my kids and use the window as the frame.  I know, this is nothing new, but I wanted to share my "creation" with you.

I started out with this...

One side had glass and the other did not, so I took a hammer and smashed the one remaining pane out of the frame.  Once the glass and all the sharp edges were removed, I sanded the entire frame to clean it up.  I had plans to paint it, however, the green paint on the frame actually matched (almost) perfectly with the green I had painted my entryway, so I decided to leave it as is and apply a dark walnut stain to the surface to enhance the wood grain showing through the bottom.

Next, I cut two pieces of glass to fit inside each window panel.

Now the hard part...finding enough pictures of my kids to make a large collage and, I have to admit, this was the tough part.  I've never been one to take alot of pictures and I discovered that I didn't take very many as they were growing up.  (regrets!)  Anyway, I gathered what I could and started attaching them to acid-free foamcore.  I then matted each collage with a creamy white matboard.  I secured the collage behind the glass and attached picture hanging hardware to the back.

I then cut the letters "love" from 1/4" mdf board using my scrollsaw and a small heart from scrap plywood.  I covered the heart with sheet moss and stained, painted and sanded the letters.  I attached the letters with hot glue and used jute twine to attach the moss heart to the frame.  The window frame already had a hole in it so I thought I'd get some use out of it.

I'm quite happy with the way it turned out.  It measures 5 ft. x 30" so it covers a large area in my hallway.  Now I just need to figure out what to put on either side of it.

Thank you for stopping by...I hope you have a great weekend!

Lesa

Sheet Moss Heart

Here is quick and easy project to create that you can use pretty much anywhere in your home...its a sheet moss heart.

First, make yourself a heart template out of paper...any size or shape.

Then, trace it onto a piece of wood.  I used plywood, but you can use any type of wood because it will be covered.  After cutting it out, quickly sand it to remove any rough edges.  Next, drill a hole at the top of the heart.

Cut the sheet moss into strips and start gluing to the heart.  I just covered the top and the sides and left the back bare.  Once it is entirely covered, staple chicken wire to the back of the heart and trim.

Thread a piece of ribbon or burlap through the hole and tie a bow.  Now its ready to hang.

Thank you for stopping by...have a great week!

Lesa

Rustic Heart

I wanted something rustic looking to lean on the shelf in my entryway and this is what I put together out of, your guessed it...pallet wood.

It was a quick and easy project...I cut these pieces from pallet wood and bought four (4) hinges:

I stained the wood with a dark walnut stain and spray painted the hinges with oil-rubbed bronze spray paint.   (make sure to spray paint the screws as well!)  I then gave the heart a coat of creamy white paint.  When it dried, I sanded some of the paint off to reveal the wood underneath using 100-grit sandpaper.  I then drilled a 1/2" hole at the top of the heart...large enough to thread a piece of jute through the hole.

After gluing the frame together, I attached the hinges at each corner.  At this point, I wasn't sure how I was going to suspend the heart...but I decided to attach a piece of chicken wire to the back of the frame.  Now I can attach the heart to the wire with a piece of jute. 

Very easy and very simple...and, if I get tired of the heart, I can easily remove the wire and insert a picture!

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you have a great weekend!

Lesa