|
MAKE A HEARTFELT PHOTO FRAME WITH DECORATIVE PAPERS
By BARBARA HERTENSTEIN
Post-Dispatch Home Editor
02/14/2004
A collection of photographs in heart frames. (Hillary Levin/P-D) |
HERE'S A colorful way to frame your sweetheart: Surround someone you love with beautiful decorative paper shaped like a heart.
This Valentine's project was designed by Sharon Wisely of Red Lead, 10041 Manchester Road, and is easy to make using simple supplies.
"People like that this is a small project," says Wisely. "You can do it even if you have a small area to work in; you don't need a studio." It's easy to complete at your kitchen table, for instance. "And it can be simple or more elaborate," she says. "You can do a lot to it or not."
Wisely's sister and co-owner of the shop, Chris Schwartz, likes the project because it's beautiful and personal. |
"We use wonderful papers, and they're beautiful when they're done," says Schwartz of the hearts. "We have thousands of decorative papers, handmade papers, scrapbook paper, and people use all kinds to make these hearts. The base is foam core, so you don't have to be perfect, and that's what makes them neat."
But the best part may be how personal they are.
"People put their own family photos in them, and they remember back," Schwartz says, and if the memories are romantic, so much the better for Valentine's Day.
(For information on Red Lead classes, call 314-822-8288 or see www.redleadstl.com).
Here is how to make the hearts in a frame pictured here.
- Fold and cut paper hearts (just the way you did in first grade). Make several sizes, according to the size of your frame. Make each heart large enough to allow a cutout for each photograph. Trace hearts onto foam board and cut out.
- Choose some decorative papers, trace the heart shape onto each one and glue into place on the foam. Measure photos, and cut a circle or square out of the center of the heart. Cut out more papers to decorate each heart.
- Chose some fancy trims, such as ribbon, cord, metal charms or other three-dimensional pieces to give each heart an individual look. You might want to add clippings of old paintings, flowers or other romantic images. You can also paint or spatter-paint the hearts.
- Paint the frame gold and distress it if you like (or just chose a prepainted gold frame).
- Arrange several hearts on a background sheet of paper-covered cardboard inside the frame; place one or more hearts on the edge of the frame if you like that effect.
Download PDF version
REPORTER BARBARA HERTENSTEIN
E-mail: bhertenstein@post-dispatch.com
Phone: 314-340-8236 |
 |
|
