A "Scrap" Happy Valentine ~ by ~ Nancyfangles

A “Scrap”Happy Valentine
❤ Create your own Keepsake Valentines ❤
A Nancyfangles Whimsical Creation

Roses, Candy and Jewelry may be the go to gifts for Valentine’s Day, but these “Scrap”Happy Hearts can say
I Love You in a whole new way! Re-purposed from discarded pieces of wood, scraps of papers and decorative napkins, and embellished with buttons, scrabble tiles, jewelry finding and ephemera, these keepsake valentines can be personalized for the one you love. A great gift for your better half, the kids, your siblings or a special friend.
I had so much fun creating these, and I hope you will too!

Supplies:
A Piece of scrap wood(Or find a heart already cut out)
A jig saw
Sand paper
Modpodge
Scraps of paper/decorative napkins
Embellishments such as; buttons, beads, scrabble tiles, jewelry findings, ephemera, charms
E6000 glue (please use in a well ventilated area)
Distress stamp pad

Technique:
I was so excited to receive a jigsaw from my son this Christmas, (thanks Brian) and couldn’t wait to use it!
In fact this was my first time ever using one. Luckily my husband had a nice scrap piece of wood that he was willing to share and a few pointers on jigsaw use and safety to pass on (thanks Eric).
If you are using a saw, please do so safely, and always wear eye protection.
I started by making a heart template. I drew out one half of a heart on a piece of cardboard, folded it in half and cut it out. When I opened it, I had a whole even heart. Then I used the cardboard heart as a stencil to trace around onto the wood.  Be sure to draw a dark enough line so you can see it good when cutting.
I clamped the wood firmly in place and slowly cut out my design. I sanded the edges to remove any splinters and wiped it down to remove any sawdust.
Next I covered my work surface, layed out my papers and embellishments, grabbed the Modpodge and jumped in!
I used a thin layer of Modpodge to glue down my main background covering the front and the sides and allowed it to dry completely. Then I decorated each heart using E6000 and a selection of embellishments. I cut one heart in half, (a broken heart) and mended it with a metal buckle. I thought it came out cute. I distressed the broken heart with ink to add a little vintage flair. When everything was completely dry, I came back in and added the hanging hardware (I used jewelry findings to add to the aesthetic of the design).
I hope you will give it a try and make a special “Scrap”Happy Heart for your loved ones!