Inspired by the holiday of Love

 How will you decorate for the celebration?  I hang hearts around my home.

This year I created a mixed-media
heart plaque.

 I began with a wood heart plaque, and painted the base with gesso.  I then added tissue and papers to the top
banner area for texture.  I chose various
papers to go along with my theme, stamps and some lettering. 

 Below is a photo of items I pulled out to possibility
use in the plaque.

 

I glued down the small cut/torn pieces of paper and collage them together over
the heart shape.  I also added gesso to blend and tone down the color.

Sorry for the photo reflections – I work on a glass tabletop that makes cleanup easy. 

 

Next added in some stamping in red and black ink – I used stamps from Stamping Up! and Tim Holtz along with a Mini-Letter set I have had many years.

This photo shows an idea I had for stamp placement . . . that I changed as I continued working.

 When I finished stamping and gluing items for the background, I used walnut ink to stain the edges.  Once it was all dry, I sprayed it with a clear coat of acrylic.

I then used my Staz On black inkpad and stamped the saying, the flower / hearts and the bee on separate papers. I used my colored pencils to color in the images, placed them on with foam tape for a raised effect.  Used a fabric flower with a heart center and done.