A Valentine Ornament
I am a scavenger, a great hunter-gatherer, and a genetically-predisposed packrat. I haunt secondhand/thrift stores, antique malls and flea markets, and attend auctions once or twice a week. No matter where I am, I'm always looking for raw materials and ideas, and I'm always thinking of ways to repurpose items. I found these great kraft papier mache heart ornaments at the local Michaels store (99 cents each) just before Christmas. I thought they would make up into great (easy and quick) projects using the Valentine's Studio release stamps and papers for my Gifts From the Heart class on either January 11th or 18th.
I began by coloring the edges of the heart with a gold Krylon pen, overlapping just a little bit onto the front and back of the heart. I then took another heart and traced its outline onto two pieces of the Gossamer 6X6 paper (10055), one for the front and another for the back. I stamped the Branch Heart (E1310) in Memories ArtPrint Brown. I used the same ink to stamp the Nesting Birds (D1315) and clear embossed them (Faith's). I added hearts from the Tree of Love (D1312) in Memories Ruby ink above their heads. I then adhered the papers to the heart, the stamped and embossed paper on the front of the ornament. Later I will add a brief Valentine greeting and sign my name on the back.
To change it up a bit, one might use a red or silver Krylon pen for the edges and choose different paper patterns than the one I used for the front and back. I love using the Branch Heart as the focal image, but a different look could be achieved by adding the Owl Always image and sentiment (C1314) or the Tree of Love (D1312) in the center of the heart. The Lovey Dovey Tree (E1308) with its hearts made from other Gossamer papers would create another unique ornament. Think of ways to add embossing or glitter--I'm thinking I might use chunky glitter on the edges just for fun or emboss the hearts or even Stickles them! Add Pearls or Jewels to the hearts on the Tree of Love! Or place them on the outside edge of the heart! Or add them to the Branch Heart! Oh, my! I think there's another trip to Michaels in my immediate future!
Happy Stamping!