Love is in the air…. Assemblage
Hello again!
Happy Valentines day for tomorrow! Hopefully there will be romantic gifts aplenty for everyone…… !
My project to share with you today has a heart…but isn’t strictly speaking a Valentine..more of an ‘anytime’ assemblage!
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Another example of my penchant for not using things as they were intended, the main body of my shadowbox is actually the recessed part of a chipboard book box!
Thank you all so much for the kind comments about my last project 
As it seems the step by steps were popular, I’ve done some more for this project too. You may need a few minutes and a cup of tea though, there’s rather a lot of them……..
As I said, this whole thing starts with a chipboard book box. You’ll need to remove the cover like this……
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As we want to hang the heart inside the box, we’ll need to add a hook. Make a loop with wire, and poke it through the chipboard like this…..
Next, cover the base you’ve created with text paper. Could be scrapbook paper, or simply from an old book you found in a charity shop. I’ve used Mod Podge to stick down the torn paper, lots of it as you can see….
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Once this has dried, it’s time to add colour. As with most things, I have started with a layer of sponged on white acrylic paint. Not too much, so you can still see the text.
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This assemblage has a monochromatic feel, so I’ve gone straight for the black accents. Printing with anything that makes a nice shape, using black acrylic paint.
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At this point I decided the black was too intense for the shabby look I was after, so I softened the tone by gently sponging on more white paint.
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That’s the base done. Now, let’s move on to the heart. I’ve used a medium sized wooden heart dangly for this, but give it a bit of texture first by covering it with scrunched masking tape…..
Next, paint it with a couple of coats of red acrylic paint. Make sure you get into all the folds!
Once totally dry, cover it with a thick layer of crackle medium, and leave overnight to dry. Then, it should look a bit like this……..
Now to add some wings. I’ve stamped my favourite pair onto glossy cardstock and stuck them onto the back. You could use metal or wooden wings, whatever you have!
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The winged heart can then be attached into the frame. I’ve used circles of wire like this……..
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Feet next. I’ve used some wooden spools, to which I’ve added text paper and paint…..
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Of course, anything can be used. Blocks of wood, metal, large beads. Whatever you have lying about. They can get stuck onto the frame now. I found to make the thing stay standing, the feet need to be butted right up against the back of the frame!
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Now this poor heart has been forever captured in its frame….so we need to close it in! To do this, cut some acetate the same size as the frame, then stamp flourishes onto it using white paint….
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Once dry (don’t use a heat gun unless you’ve used heat proof acetate!), carefully glue the acetate onto the frame. I’ve used Glossy Accents as it dries clear.
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The detail on top of the frame are die cut flourishes. I covered some chipboard with text paper before cutting them out. These also need to be sponged with white paint…..
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Edge with a little black, then sponge again with white to take the harsh tones away……
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These can then be adhered to the top of the frame. I also added a little text heart in the centre, as you can see…..
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All done…just need to add the text title along the bottom. I’ve used a label making machine, but if you don’t have one its just as easy to print a phrase from the computer, or cut up letters from a newspaper for a funky look!
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Hope you like it…I’ve strayed away from my colourful palette for once, but its good to have a change now and again!
Keep an eye on the blog for another project coming soon!
Ingredients for Love Is In The Air….
Chipboard Book box (the smaller of the pair)
Love Trish xxxxxxxx
Fantastic project. and great step by step too. thank you x
This is wonderful…a really lovely piece and perfect for Valentine’s Day. Emma x
Another stunning project. Thanks for the hints and tips, i need all the help i can get xxx
Lovely work!
Amazing transformation from it’s orginal state, great step by step too, love this lots Trish. x