simple heart art

I wanted to make something small, sweet, and simple for Valentine’s Day this year. Oh, and did I mention on the cheap?

Here’s a sweet little project that took me all of about fifteen minutes, and cost me next to nothing.

It started out with this frame from Michaels:

Silver Frame

When they have a 50% off sale and a 25% extra off coupon on frames, I always check it out and stock up a few of my favorites. These sleek silver frames are among my very favorite, I think they look very classic and elegant. This particular frame is 6″ by 6″ but is pre-matted for a 3″ square. I think I paid about $2.79 for this frame.

I took it apart, and using the insert, I made a template on my drawing paper (from a sketchbook) and also marked where the mat comes in.

Make Template

I originally thought of including something like “Love Is All Around” but given the size of the opening, I decided to just make a heart. Using colored chalk pastels that I already had, I free-handed a heart, and then just added colors as I liked.

Pastel Heart

I blended the colors with my finger, and then gave it a light spray with fixative. (Hair spray can also work to fix chalk pastels). After a short drying period, I put the image in the frame and put it back together.

Silver Framed Heart

At first, I was just going to color the heart, but after trying it out with the mat, I decided to add the red background so the white of the mat and the off-white color of the paper wouldn’t compete.

In it’s temporary home on display in the family room: