Happy Hearts Unite!

The last time I played with my Air Dry Clay I turned out a pile of stuff!  I made the mermaid head/torso’s, these hearts and some flower shapes all at the same time.  I have been patiently waiting to make something with the hearts.

 

There is no wrong way to paint the hearts.  I have really enjoyed working with Art-C brand acrylic paints you can squirt out a bunch or use it to make little dots.  Before I apply paint to the hearts I like to seal them with a coat of ModPodge so the paint doesn’t soak in and is easy to make light and darker areas by wiping off the excess.  If the clay isn’t sealed it soaks up the paint.

 

 

An idea popped in my head to suspend the hearts in a “shadowbox”.  I confess I keep a box of Russell Stover pecan candy in the studio!  Two pieces are often my 5pm treat with a hot drink which used to be coffee, but it seems I have developed an intolerance for it….boohoo.  The box lid would be perfect to decorate and suspend the hearts.

 

Use 20 gauge wire to suspend the hearts and secure with a bead on top.

 

Decorate the box with scrapbook paper and washi tape.  Poke three holes in the box and put the wire through with the bead on top and “swirl” the wire so it stays in place.

 

 

When it was time to attach the Scrabble pieces I didn’t like the look, so I got out my new gold ArtEmboss and printed out “Everyone Needs a Happy Heart” so I could trace over it to emboss the metal.  When I commit to a saying I am thinking of my customer.  A mixed media assemblage with this saying and these colors will fit into so many rooms of the house. I like to have uplifting encouraging messages in my pieces.  :  )

I added the Ranger Brand corners to upscale the assemblage further.  Some Stickles glitter glue add a little sparkle!  I am adding this 12 x 4.5″ mixed media piece to my Etsy shop: WhimziVille.