I (Heart) Bug Bytes {frame}

I am a Guest Designer today on TheBugBytes!!  I transformed my $1 wooden frame into a beautiful project with a little help from my Gypsy!  Let me show you how:

I picked up this frame at Michaels along with these Martha Steward flowers.   I added some paper, paint and mod podge from home.

The first thing I did was to turn over my pretty paper and trace the frame on the back side in pencil.

Then I cut it out.

I set the paper aside and painted the edges of the frame red.

I used Glossy mod podge to stick the paper to the frame.  I brushed a sort-of-thin coat on the frame and put the paper on top.

I smoothed down the paper as it likes to bubble a bit.

For the top of the paper, I used sparkle mod podge.  If you don't have sparkle mod podge, you can add glitter to your regular mod podge.

You can see there is a spot that wrinkled a bit.  It doesn't help that my paper is thick.  No worries, I will show you how to cover that right up!!

I pulled out my stash of ribbons and buttons that match my color scheme.

On mh Gypsy I find the images I want to use from my Sweethearts cart.  I finally bought this one (glad I did) as I have been eyeing it for the past year!!  I put "Love" and the lock and key on the mat.

I tapped the plus sign and opened up a second layer.

I put a rectangle on the second layer to represent the frame to the right of the heart cut out.

I unlinked the chain between Width and Height (called the Aspect Ratio Link) so I could specify the width and height of my rectangle.

I also tapped the Real Dial Size button so my rectangle is a true size.  I am using a rectangle from George and Basic Shapes and I know from experience that I need the Real Dial Size!! 

I set my width to 3.5....

and my height to 6.00.

Then I tapped on Layer 1 and sized the word LOVE to fit my rectangle width.

The key looked smaller than the lock, so I moved it closer to the lock and rotated it -40.0 so I could get a closer look.

I enlarged the key to 1.72w x 1.89h.

Then I moved the pieces where I thought I would want them on the frame.

While the pieces were cutting, I started placing the flowers on the frame.  I knew I would not have enough for the entire heart and I bought the last pack, so I filled in the spaces with buttons and ribbon.

Once I had everything laid out, I used glue dots to glue them down.

This is the paper I used for my cuts!  Love this shimmer stack!!

I did want to show that I moved my cuts to the top left corner to cut in order to save paper.

Here are the cuts ~ very pretty but a little light in color.

I couldn't decide which ink color to use, so I did a test on the scrap piece of my top 4 choices.  And the winner is........my aAcient Page Stampin Up cranberry pad from a looooong time ago!

I used my Fantastix to ink around the edges.

I kind of like the look on the scrap piece too!

This part took forever....finding a photo to go inside the frame!!  I took this one of my husband and I on a carriage ride at the Phoeniz Zoo looking at Christmas lights.  Don't you love our sweatshirts?!?  I used the heart insert to trace and cut out the photo.

I used lace to help cover up that wrinkle.  I tied the key to the lock with some thin ribbon.

I put the LOVE at an angle.

I love how it turned out!!!

Thanks Pam for having me at the Bug Bytes today!!!