Wednesday, February 7, 2018

love note

I am a huge fan of handmade valentines.
 There is something so absolutely wonderful about a token of love that has been created with care, for someone special. Handmade love notes seem to be few and far between these days. Today I am sharing "love note," a piece I created with Valentines Day in mind.   


I started with Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Arch Top House Silhouettes. These chipboard pieces are so nice and sturdy. This set could be used to create three individual pieces or used in multiples, as a pair or even a trio.
 I used all three to create my piece.


Once I had an idea in mind, I looked through my stash of paper in search of something that would lend itself to being a good base to build upon. I then coated one side of the chipboard piece with collage medium and placed my paper onto the shape, centering the design. I used a brayer to make sure there were no air bubbles and that the paper was completely flat. I repeated this process for each of the three panels. After allowing the glue to dry completely, I turned the pieces over onto a cutting mat and used my Exacto knife to trim the paper around the edge of the chipboard shape.


Next, I completed this same process for the back side of each panel using a coordinating paper. I inked the edges of the pieces and inner areas of the paper with Distress Ink in brushed corduroy. 
I knew that I wanted the pieces to be "hinged" at the two interior seams when the pieces were situated side by side. Contemplating a few ideas for how I would accomplish this, I settled on using wire.
I first marked the location of each hole. Using a dremel, I drilled four holes onto each panel edge. Be sure to use a cutting mat or board beneath the piece that you are drilling through so that you don't ruin your tabletop. These holes aligned with four holes along the edge of the adjacent panel. I threaded a piece of soft wire through the holes to create an "x" at two locations along each seam.


Now it was time to add all the special details. Using the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Words & Phrases 1, I carefully removed the word "Love." I covered it with embossing ink and coated it with Ranger embossing powder in pink. Using a heat gun, I melted the embossing powder.  I repeated this step three times, giving the word a faux enameled finish. This set of Words & Phrases contains two sheets of different sentiments, and can be used in so many different ways.  


I cut a piece of pink parchment paper and using black soot archival ink, I stamped an image from the Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Nature set and allowed it to dry. I distressed the edges, inked with worn lipstick and brushed corduroy distress ink, and then spritzed with a bit of water and rumpled the paper to give it a tattered look.  


I die cut some roses out of coordinating paper using Tim Holtz Sizzix tiny tattered florals dies. These were inked along the edges and rolled into shape, then glued and set aside. I colored a Tim Holtz idea-ology paper doll with distress ink, Copic marker and distress crayons. Everything was arranged on the panels and manipulated until I was pleased with the layout. I like to play around with the embellishments before gluing everything down. That way I can make adjustments and decide if it needs additional pieces without disrupting everything.


 When I examined the piece, I decided that I wanted to increase interest by adding a few more elements and removing some others. On the first panel, I added an idea-ology sticker from the clippings collection. The sticker was inked around the edges and then layered onto a piece of chipboard that had been inked with worn lipstick distress ink. Using a charm from my stash, I cut a circle of coordinating paper inked around the edges and added the "love" rub-on to the middle. I used a mini hex-head fastener as an "attacher" and glued this onto the face of the panel. I also added a charred gold heart and a couple mini heart cutouts leftover from a different project.


 On the central panel, I decided to add a larger heart to give added height. Using the Tim Holtz Sizzix mini love struck die, I cut a heart out of thin chipboard.  I inked directly onto the chipboard with Distress Ink in worn lipstick. I then embossed around the edges with Emerald Creek charred gold embossing powder. I brushed a small amount of Ranger alcohol ink in gold onto an idea-ology pen nib and then adhered it on the heart to give the impression of an arrow. When the piece was dry, I adhered it to the top of the middle panel with a quick dry multi-purpose glue. I also added some mini hearts that I inked around the edges with brushed corduroy distress ink.


The third panel only needed a few hearts to tie it in with the other panels. I heat embossed a small and a medium heart with charred gold, and combined them with a few mini hearts.  


 Once I was satisfied with the layout, I glued everything into place and allowed it to dry.


Wishing you a love-filled February and beyond, and hoping that this inspires you to create a love note for someone special.
 ~Ann


I am entering this in:




31 comments:

Stacy said...

Ann, this is absolutely ADORABLE! ❤️ Love it to bits! The step by step is great too! Great reminder to have a board when using the dremmel tool 😉 I have a hole in my table due to not remembering that...LOL! Thank you!! ~Stacy ❤️

Jackie PN said...

Hi Ann!
I am so glad that I discovered you on IG! I just love your artwork and I think we share much in common as for products and designs.
This arch piece is just so adorable and oh so pretty in pink!
Happy to come by and see all of the wonderful art you create!
sending hugs,Jackie xx

SewPaperPaint said...

This is truly lovely and I am fascinated by your beautiful layering and stunning use of these products. Gorgeous my friend! Hugs, Autumn

sarascloset said...

Ann, I am so grateful you shared this at Frilly and Funkie for two reasons. One I might not have discovered your blog and two, I have been searching high and low for that love letter stamp, and now that you've showed what set it's in, I just may be able to locate it in my stash before Valentine's Day is over! Ha! Ha!

So onto this LOVE-ly expression of LOVE! What a creative way to use those arches and to profess your LOVE! The papers are so romantic, and that little boy makes this so adorable! LOVE is beautiful in pink; shocking though just occurred to me--I don't think I have pink embossing powder! Thank you so much for your inspiration and for playing along at Frilly and Funkie in our All You Need is Love challenge! Hugs! PS I'm your latest follower!

sarascloset said...

PPS This fits perfectly with the current challenge at A Vintage Journey-Melt It. Here's the link:
http://www.vintagejourney.com/2018/02/a-vintage-journey-february-challenge.html

ann barnes said...

Stacy I am so happy that you stopped by to check out my blog! Yes, the block beneath the drilling is a must and I also have holes to prove it! Thanks so much for your kind words, they mean so much to me. xo

ann barnes said...

Hi Jackie I am glad we found each other as well! Thanks so much for your support and encouragement. I always love seeing your creativity and gorgeous work as well. xo

ann barnes said...

Your comments are so wonderful Autumn, thank you very much! xo

ann barnes said...

This comment makes me so happy to read Sara, first because I am thrilled that you have enjoyed my piece and also that I may have been able to help you find a product you were searching for. It means a lot that you would follow my blog, I hope that you enjoy future posts and perhaps find inspiration here. Thank you so much! xo

ann barnes said...

And thank you for letting me know this, I am going to submit it into that challenge as well. hugs ~Ann

Words and Pictures said...

Such a charming triptych and so sweetly romantic! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your lovely comment, and it's great to have you joining us on A Vintage Journey too.
Alison x

ann barnes said...

Thank you so much Alison! I am so glad that I found A Vintage journey, so many inspiring works. ~Ann

Annie said...

such a sweet project with beautifully feminine details. Great to have you on board at AVJ for our Melt It challenge
Best wishes
Annie CG x

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

PINNED...every detail fabulous! LOVE this!

Art by Zowie Dixon said...

So very beautiful,I love this! hugs Zowie xx

ann barnes said...

Thank you very much Annie, so many wonderful projects at a vintage journey-much inspiration to be found! ~Ann

ann barnes said...

Thanks Anita, I am so glad you love it! hugs to you ~Ann

ann barnes said...

Oh thank you so much for visiting my blog and for your kind words! hugs ~Ann

Suzanne C said...

Love and adore the three arches and how you have used them for your Valentine's art! Beautiful! The little metal connectors are so cool! Thank you for joining us in the Frilly and Funkie "All you Need is Love" challenge!

ann barnes said...

Thank you so much for taking time to check it out. There are so many great projects, both Frilly and Funkie to admire this challenge. I loved using the wire to make "x" connectors to hold everything together, so glad you noticed! Thanks again for your kind words! ~Ann

S@ndy Diller said...

Ann, your tryptic is simply fabulous! I love the details you have added. Reminds me of Valentin's Day long ago. Thanks for joining us at A Vintage Journey,

ann barnes said...

Thank you so much for your kind comment and for taking the time to visit my blog. ~Ann

Cec said...

Gorgeous tryptic - very vintage, very romantic and perfect for Valentine's Day. Thanks for joining us at Frilly and Funkie.
Hugs!
Cec

ann barnes said...

I am so happy that you enjoyed my tryptic as I loved creating it. Thanks so much for visiting my blog and also for your wonderful comment. hugs~Ann

Zoe Hillman said...

I just love this. You've captured the challenge perfectly. Thanks for joining us for the "All you need is LOVE" challenge over at Frilly and Funkie, I'm sure glad you did!

ann barnes said...

That is so nice of you to say Zoe, it means so much to me. Thank you. hugs~Ann

Julia Aston said...

What a beautiful tryptic Valentine Ann - love the melted bits, the wonderful flowers, the verse and lovely vintage young man - thank you for sharing it with us at the A Vintage Journey Melt it Challenge! Julia xx

ann barnes said...

Thank you so very much Julia! ~hugs, Ann

sarascloset said...

I am DELIGHTED you chose to add this to A Vintage Journey's Melt It challenge! :):)

sarascloset said...

Yippee! I'm so happy to see your project was selected as one of our Pinworthies at A Vintage Journey! Hugs!

ann barnes said...

I was thrilled to hear this, its so exciting! Thanks so much. hugs