Our family has a real love of music! Every family member either sings or plays an instrument, or both! And our appreciation for music ranges from elegant instrumentals to classic rock to reggae to pop. I wanted to make a home decor piece that was a nod to our love of music and was a seasonal item I could display in my home. (When we moved cross country almost two years ago I got rid of most of my seasonal decor, so I’m crafting and replacing things!)
Here’s the lineup of the supplies I started with: Some of my favorite Helmar products including Craft and Hobby PVA Glue, Super Strength PVA Wood Glue, and Krystal Kote Gloss Varnish. I also had some sheet music, wooden box frame and heart, craft paint, sponge brushes, sandpaper, and some disposable dishware.
First step was to sand the rough edges on the heart and frame using a few grits of sandpaper. I also sanded away some markings on the wood.
Next I made some decoupage medium by mixing just a little bit of water with some of the Craft and Hobby PVA Glue. I mixed it with a plastic spoon in a disposable cup. Once it was mixed very well, I used a sponge brush to put a thin layer on one side of the wooden heart cut out.
Next, I smoothed down a piece of music paper and pressed firmly to remove any bubbles and help the paper stay flat. I was able to press the edges and see exactly where the heart shape was underneath. After that was dry, I took a piece of the sandpaper and gently sanded the edge of the heart and it effectively cuts the heart out of the paper, perfectly shaped and sized!
I added another layer of my decoupage medium on top of the music paper to smooth down any fibers on the edge and give it a bit of a protective layer on the paper.
I set the heart aside to dry again and started painting the wooden box frame a pretty cherry red color. A little tip: I set the frame on top of an upside down paper plate to let me get all the way to the edge of the frame without painting on the table top! The first layer was a bit streaky, but I know that will be improved with a second coat of paint.
While that first coat dries on the frame, I started painting the bare edge of the heart a pretty candy pink. I covered the whole way around and to the edge of the music paper.
A second coat on both and this time with the pink on the heart, I sort of dry brushed just a tiny bit onto the front of the music paper all the way around. That second coat on both pieces really makes it look nice! It’s important to let both pieces dry very well. I suggest waiting overnight.
Now that everything is very dry, I used my Super Strength PVA Wood Glue and put a thin layer on the back of the heart. I then positioned it in the box frame and weighted it down to dry. Yes, you can laugh at my weighting method . 😉
The final step is to spray the whole project with Krystal Kote Glossy Varnish. This both protects the project and brings the paint to a vibrant luster instead of the dull craft paint finish.
This project was fairly easy and fast, though there was quite a bit of drying time. I think it’s a project that any crafter can tackle with ease!
