My Unordinary Valentine!

I wanted to do something different for my Valentine decoration this year, but what? I was cleaning  out some wood in the barn and created a pile of wood trim pieces that I used for testing paint colors. I hated to throw them away, but they were small pieces and not really "Valentine" colors. My mind started to work and I thought, why not a Valentine plaque. So here is what I created.

Now let me tell you how I did this.
First: I found a piece of wood that would be big enough for my heart. I used a piece of lauan. I cut a heart from paper and then drew it on the front of the board and the back. Why the back, you will see later. Try and make sure they are in the same location.

Second: Do NOT cut out the heart shape at this time.  

Third: Begin placing your wood trim on the heart. Some of my pieces were long so I cut them so I could use them in different locations. I thought I had a picture of putting on the first ones, but I don't. Sorry. 

Here is the picture with the heart completely filled in. Notice that I placed the larger trim across the wide part of the heart and then turned the smaller pieces in the other direction at the top and bottom. I just kept playing until I liked the way it looked.

Make sure that the pieces extend over the heart lines. If you can find them!

Fourth: When I liked the look, I glued all the pieces with wood glue and let it dry over night. I know, how can I wait that long! It needs to be really secure for the next step.  

Fifth:  Now that it has all dried, turn the piece over. I placed it on an old piece of rug so I didn't damage it. Now using the heart pattern on the back, (remember I told you to draw one on the back too) cut out the heart with a jig saw. I had to sand very little when I was finished. The saw will do a nice job if you have a good blade in it. 

Sixth: For the burlap flower, I just gathered a piece of burlap in the middle and tied a piece of string around the center. 

I used a vintage Christmas bulb hanger that I flattened(the bulb broke when I was putting it away) and placed a vintage wooded bingo chip in the center.  Added a piece of ribbon and glued the flower on the heart.

Seventh: I drilled two holes with a drill press in the top of the heart and inserted wire for a hanger.  I hung it on my front door. Make sure you measure the distance down and across where you want the holes to be on each side or your plague will not hang straight.

Well, how do you like my rather unordinary Valentine heart?

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