Enter With A Happy Heart

Pattern

Instructions

Preparation
After individual pieces of wood have been cut out, sand each piece. No wood sealer is necessary, because we want the grain to show through.
Carefully transfer pattern onto an 8 1/2” x 11” piece of watercolor paper. No detail is needed at this time. Cut image to size after it has been painted.
Painting Instructions
(for paper)
You may not be used to painting on watercolor paper instead of wood but it is pretty much the same, only the paint dries faster on paper. It’s nice to use paper because, if you want to make more than one, you can simply copy the design onto the paper with a copy machine.
1. Start with the washes in each section of the picture. Pre-wet the area to be painted. The area around the star is Antique Teal, around the words is Mink Tan, and around the far left section is a darker shade of Mink Tan. Use about 20% paint and 80% water to create washes. If color is not dark enough, add more paint to the water or give it a second coat.
2. Load brush and carefully paint around outside edge and let paint diffuse into the wet area. Be sure to not paint the brackets in the middle section because the white of the paper is the only white needed.
3. Paint the star Golden Straw in the same manner. A lighter area in the middle makes it look like light is hitting it.
4. The red border around the outside is Cranberry Wine mixed with a little Russet.
5. The blue border is painted with Wedgewood Blue. After this has dried, use a #8 Shader (flat brush) to paint the checkerboards with Williamsburg Blue.
6. The last thing needed is to sideload a brush with Payne’s Grey and shade around the white brackets. This will make the brackets seem to pop out.
7. Use the stylus and Cranberry Wine to make the 3-dot pattern around the words. To make the hearts in the far left section, again use the stylus. Place two dots of Russet close together and pull them down to a point to form the heart.
8. Outline complete drawing using the .50 Rapidograph. Add all stitch marks, etc. Use the .70 Rapid-ograph for the lettering.
Painting the Wood
3 1/4” x 8 1/2” plaque. One coat of Williamsburg Blue. Hearts: Cranberry Wine. Base birdhouse with Sand. Roof line: Wedgewood Blue. The checkerboard stencil is Williamsburg Blue. Use .50 rapidograph to add stitch marks.
Finishing Instructions
Lightly sand all wood parts around the edges to get a worn look. Cut the watercolor paper to the correct size and glue it to the wood using the Mod Podge. Use a pen or dowel to curl the 18 gauge wire for the hanger. Tear gingham fabric to make bows and glue onto the hearts. Also glue on buttons. Glue Spanish moss into the 3/4” hole in the birdhouse. tie a raffia bow on the wire hanger and you are done.