Heart Canvas

I knew I wanted to make some sort of heart accent piece for the mantel but my original idea was a bouquet of heart flowers but switched to this heart canvas.

The finished product doesn't really convey all the layering and textures. But believe me, in person, it looks pretty cool!

To make the heart centerpiece, I used the metal sheets that I was able to get from Lifestyle Crafts via Joann's. I just made a heart template out of card stock. Traced it onto the metal sheets and then cut it out.

Next, I ran it through my Sixix machine. All you do is lay the cut out metal heart inside of this embossing folder (it opens up, just like a file folder, just make sure you measure your embossing folder prior to running it through to make sure it will fit. I used a 4 inch heart).

You layer the black pieces on either side of the folder and run it through the embossing machine. 

And here you can see the embossed heart.

Lightly paint it with acrylic paint and let it dry.

After it was dry, I rubbed a distressing ink on top and immediately sprinkled it with an embossing powder.

Then, use a heat gun to seal it and this is what you get. You HAVE to do the drying as soon as possible after you ink it and sprinkle it with embossing powder. Otherwise, it won't work. I learned this technique at The Little Blue House. Love that place! If you're ever in the DFW area, look 'em up. 

Now for the canvas part. I used modge podge and pages from an old book as a base coat.

Then I used food coloring with modge podge to add a pink glaze on top.

Then I used my distressing pad to add some gray to it.

Then I just went crazy with my brushes and bubble wrap.

After looking at the painting for a while, I decided to re-do the center metal heart using a black ink instead of gray.

I added the metal heart in the center. 

That's it! 

Fun! My problem is knowing when to stop. :)

Linking Up With These Great Blogs:

Alderberry Hill,      Tutus and Tea Parties,      The Rustic Pig Designs,      Or So She Says,      My 1929 Charmer,      Super Handmade Sunday @ A Cat- Like Curiosity,      Lil' Luna          Craft Geek,      Simple As That,       House on the Way,      Sassy Sites,      Mindy May's Market,   Skip To My Lou,        Sugar Bee Crafts,      Cheap Crafty Mama,      Be Different, Act Normal,   Homemaker In Heels,     The Busy Bee's,      Fireflies and Jellybeans,    The Shabby Creek Cottage,     30 Handmade Days,     52 Mantels,     The Shabby Nest,     Lovely Crafty Home,  See Vanessa Craft,     Blissful Bucket List,     Bacon Time With The Hungry Hypo,     Lena B, Actually,     Pocket Full of Pink,     Family Ever After,      I Heart Naptime,     Six Sisters Stuff,  Nifty Thrifty Things,     Homemaker on a Dime,     Under The Table and Dreaming,     Flamingo Toes,    It's Overflowing,    Ivy And Elephants,    Clean and Scentsible,    Creations by Kara,     Tip Junkie,      Love and Laundry,      Create. Craft. Love.,     Sarah Dawn Designs,     One Artsy Mama,      Tatertots and Jello,     The Grant Life,     The Hubby Made Me,     Kitchen Fun With My Three Sons,       The Chiffon Diary,     Manic Mother,     The Thriftiness Miss,     Say Not Sweet Anne,     Becoming Martha,     Too Much Time On My Hands,     Destination Craft,     The Dedicated House,      Katherine's Corner,   C.R.A.F.T.,    Fluster Buster,     Nap Time Creations, The Mandatory Mooch, Lamberts Lately, Made From Pinterest