« LOVE Letters - Cardboard »
Monday, February 11, 2013 
I think that I like decorating for holidays like Valentine's Day more in theory than in practice. For instance, I had ideas for projects out the wazoo, but in the end I would decide to spend my crafting dollar somewhere else. After all, decorating up for every holiday is fun but it can get pricey. Besides I don't exactly have closets upon storage sheds upon garages of extra space to hang on to everything.
And when I was working it out I figured, why would someone who doesn't craft partially for a living want to spend their crafting budget the same way? The answer I came up with for myself was, they probably wouldn't. So, while I'm not trying to put thoughts into your head, I'm also not making a V-Day mantle decor that'll cost you $30.
Why? Because I don't think you'd do that craft and it's silly to make stuff that you aren't going to dig... So this project is ridiculously cheap. In fact if you craft, EVER, you should already have everything you need on hand. Ready for the project list:
- cardboard
- X-acto Knife
- tape
- acrylic paint in 2 colors + black
- paint brush
- Mod Podge
- glitter (similar in color to one of the colors)
- free LOVE printable
First take your printables and piece them together. You'll have one letter on two pages.
Tape the letters down onto your cardboard.
Take your x-acto knife and trace the lines of the letters. You'll cut the paper and score the cardboard underneath. Push hard enough to make your mark on the board (peek under to see) but not so hard that you cut all of the way through, or shred your paper guide.
When tracing the outer lines, feel free to push a bit deeper. You can see how once my pattern was removed the cuts made are visible. Most of your marks will be kind of faint, so it is best to do this when you have good lighting so that you can see your marks easily.
Cut the letter out according to your marks for the edges. If you are having trouble discerning, look at the PDF on your screen to make sure you're cutting where you should.
Next paint your letters. I prefer to go with my black paint first even though most consider that backward. After your letters have their first coat eyeball it to clean up any iffy lines or edges. Also think about how porous cardboard is. My black and white paint colors were nice, thick paint and one coat was enough. My pink was runny, though and required close to 4. Yikes! Bikes! Fruit Stripe Gum!
Next, use your brush to spread Mod Podge onto the bottom sections of your letters. If you're wondering why we bothered to paint when we were going to glitter it is because otherwise you'd have cardboard showing through.
You'll have to work in sections, spread the Podge and then sprinkle the glitter. I like to work over plain old white printer paper because I can pick it up, roll it and pour the glitter that didn't stick back into the jar!
Isn't it blingy and fantastic? Oh, and it's cheap. Can't be forgetting that!
If you want to make the same letters say something else, you can download the font I worked from at DaFont - Cast Iron.
Glitter, Tutorial, Valentine's Day, Wall Art 
Reader Comments (2)
Way to bring that font to 3D glitter-fab life! This is an AMAZING finished product...and you'd never guess you made it using cardboard and paint. This is MY kinda project. Well done!
Thanks, lady! To be honest I was pleasantly surprised at how well they turned out. Like to the point I kept setting them up in different parts of the house saying "they look so awesome... can you believe that is cardboard?" I think I was a crazy maker that day. :)