Hi! I’m Rhonna Farrer, one third of the House of 3 with Heidi Swapp and Janet Hopkins. Today, I want to show you a new product we have that is so versatile and fun—we just love it!
It’s a paper-covered heart shadow box that has a clear acetate front so you can see inside. The kit comes with a chandelier dangle, one yard of black sateen ribbon, one heart top, one heart bottom, two rub-ons and a sheet of die-cut chipboard tags. Imagine all the possibilities—adding a large photo to the back of the heart to peek out and adding embellishments to make it pop, or creating fabulous, handmade gifts. I think grandparents would love a box dedicated to photos of their cute grandkids.
The best news of all? We are giving away 3 of these kits! (We love the number 3!) Just leave a comment here and tell us what you would do with this box, and we’ll pick 3 lucky CK winners. Now, let’s get creating . . .
Today, I’d like to share an idea I had for a family project called Love Notes using the box kit and photos. I wanted to creatively display an interactive reminder of our love for each other, and what better way than a “drop box” for us to to hang in our entryway where everyone passes by each day. In the jar on the table below the drop box, I have blank tickets and a pen for them to write little love notes to each other. There is a slit in the acetate so they can drop their love notes in. Each week we plan to gather together and read them to strengthen our family. So far, everyone loves it!
Ready to put one together for your family?
Supplies needed:
- House of 3 Heart Box kit
- House of 3 French Oo La La Vintage Tickets
- House of 3 Printables digital backgrounds (optional—replace with patterned paper if desired)
- 2 sheets of Sticky Back Canvas by Claudine Hellmuth for Ranger Industries
- Scissors/craft knife/ hole punch
- Inkjet matte photo paper or white cardstock
- 2″ x 3″ photo
- Tulle
- Embellishments (your choice)
- Photo editing program (optional)
- Computer
- Printer
Step 1: Gather supplies. If you don’t want to use the digital/hybrid version I’ve got here, you can always use patterned paper for the background and actual fabric for the top and sides. But if you are game, try the hybrid thing . . . you’ll love it!
Step 2: Print. In Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, open up two of your favorite House of 3 digital backgrounds. Print the JPG files on the Sticky Back Canvas. On a coordinating background, type “Love Notes” 3″ down and 1″ from the right so it will be positioned properly. (Note: If you are using patterned paper, print directly on your paper and attach it to the Sticky Back Canvas.) Add any brush swirls or anything you wish. This is the time you can customize with names, quotes or whatever you want to peek through.
Step 3: Trace. Choose the Sticky Back Canvas pattern you want on the top of your box, turn it on the back, lay the heart box down and trace as shown in #3. Trace the acetate insert onto the background on the cardstock for the inside of the box.
Step 4: Cut out. Cut the inside of the shadow box heart and the larger outline you’ll use for the top of the box. Adhere the heart back into the box interior.
Step 5: Peel. Separate the backing of the canvas and peel off the outline heart. (You’ll have the other piece of heart left over.)
Step 6: Attach top. Gently press on the heart canvas to the top of the box. Once it’s set, use a bone folder, file or burnisher to smooth the edges and make sure it’s secure.
Step 7: Cut strips. With the leftover paper canvas pieces, cut 1 1/2″ wide strips of various lengths. You’ll fit them randomly on the side of the box, so no need to measure too much now.
Step 8: Adhere strips to sides. Peel the backing off the strips and alternate patterns, gently pressing on until you have gone around the whole box. Trim as necessary.
Step 9: Cut holes. With a hole punch or craft knife, cut openings where the heart box has the holes on top and bottom of box. (Hint: Work from the inside so you can see the holes.)
Step 10: Thread ribbon and cut slit. Measure and cut the ribbon for hanging. On the top of the box put ribbon through holes and knot. With a craft knife or scissors, cut a slit for the drop box.
Step 11: Add ribbon and embellishments. Thread ribbon through the bottom holes of the box and add the rub-ons to the acetate. Adhere the acetate to the inside of the box. Attach the chandelier jewel to the bottom of the box.
Step 12: Finish as desired. Accent your small photo with some chipboard elements. Punch a hole in it and tie onto the hanging ribbon. Add tulle or any other embellishments you’d like. For mine, I added a foil flower I made from elements in the Girls’ Loft July kit and a cute little bird I got at a craft store. Just be creative and add anything you’d like!
Hang your project somewhere your whole family can see so it can remind you to focus on the love you have for each other. Don’t forget to set a time to read your notes to one another.
Don’t you love that creative rush you get when you make something? I love creating things I can use in my everyday life that beautify my surroundings! While I’m here, I must tell you about an upcoming event in Salt Lake City on November 6 & 7 that has just this type of attitude in mind—Spark the Event.
It’s a creative event that encompasses that innate desire to create. We’ll be creating with jewelry, mixed media journals and fabric while we focus on capturing photographic memories in new and creative ways! Come and join Margie Romney-Aslett, Elizabeth Kartchner, Jefra Linn and me for an amazing creative journey. Registration is open now. For more information, check this out!
Thanks for letting me share this creative journey with you . . . come on over to my blog and be sure to enjoy your process!
Rhonna
Thanks for showing this project…really nice!
Hi Rhonna
I came over from the Hof3 blog. I would Love to win one of these! We just moved from the US to Kuwait & I’m working on making the house a home
I’d put a family portrait inside with the love quote from the quotes rub on kit printed out. I’ve never made my own paper from your digital brushes, but I think I’d try one with the house edges brush kit (or maybe the damask kit I have sitting in my wishlist!)
Or I could get one for me & each of the kiddos. We could put our “loves” in them, then hang in their rooms. I’m getting so many ideas! Thanks for the inspiration!
Awesome project. I am so loving HO3, bringing together 3 of my favorite artists!
Very cute! Love all the Hof3 stuff!
Found this via Liz Katchner, via your site and now here instead of doing laundry and brother-in-law’s birthday gift. But, I would use your creative sparks, and your kit, to decorate the just about to be christened art project/homework desk for our two dear daughters!
So adorable…would make such a cute decoration in my house!
What a great kit and fabulous project. I would love to
use it to do a great photo of our family and hang it
in our family room. Love what you did with it.
What a great kit and fabulous project. I would love to
use it to do a great photo of our family and hang it
in our family room. Love what you did with it.
I was missing something for my last frame from the Houseof3. Now I know exactly what to do with it. Thank you. Angelica
Oh my, I LUV this heart frame! It looks wonderful placed inside the frame on the wall…awesome project…can’t wait to get my hands on one!
I love what you did with the heart shadow box! I have the perfect empty wall in my family room that is screaming for that shadow box. It would be a great focal point on that wall. Thanks for the inspiration!
This is such a cool little project! There are so many things to do with it! Thanks for the continued inspiration!
Love the fun kit. Hope it will be available soon. Thanks for the opportunity to win one. See you at Spark!
Be still my HEART, how I would love to win this…
That is such a cute project. Wouldn’t it be lovely with a family photo in the middle. So many ideas come to mind.
This would be a perfect shadow box for a college freshman’s room. Favorite Bible verse inside with a family pic.
I think these would make awesome wedding guest gifts, or bridesmaid gifts too!
AWESOME kit! I would love the opportunity to own one! Fingers crossed!
This is a fantastic idea! I have several love notes from my hubby, but I think this would be perfect for my 17 year old son to give to his girlfriend or he can keep it himself. Love it!
Dh had to take a job out of state back in april, so I’d do something to remind him that he love him and think of him every day.
This project is beautiful! I want to do one with my beautiful grand daughter’s picture inside!
Love this little box! We’ll decortate it as a family (with my direction of cours) and then use the love note idea with a twist. I’ll add a love note and then hide the box somewhere the person the love note is for can find it easily, like in there dresser. The love note message in the design will explain that if you find this box you are to write a love note to someone in the family and hide it for them to find later. I know fun huh!!!!
would love to make this for my mom. we live 5,000 miles from her and she misses me and her grandchildren every minute.
Celebrating my 34th wedding anniversary monday 9/14 what a great project to help show case our special day! Still get butterflies, must me love…….
I would make this for my craft room and put the love notes my little grandson sends me…so special!
WOW great project and colors Woul give it to gramma as she can’t have enough hangings of her grandchildrenL OL
Great project, would love to win so keeping fingers crossed
beautiful project!
This is such a gorgeous idea. Very beautiful.
I love your work.
From an Aussie fan
xo
I would use this for a picture of my beautiful granddaughter!
I’ll do a wonderful album with me and my boyfriend photos during our 4 years of love!!!!!!!
Hugs
This is a fabulous kit! I would love to win this and bring some fresh colors and design into my home! Thanks for the ideas!
This is really just great. A beautiful and creative unusual kit. I would love to have it.
Please pick Me! I need some love.
I saw this and wondered, what would I do with this…. Then I saw some of your ideas! Wow! Can’t wait to make some!
How cute. I can think of several ways to use this. We have a wedding coming up and I think I will make this up for the couple and then put candied shots of the wedding in a little book for them to put inside.
Thanks for the giveaway! I would put my fam in it.
OM GOSH! A MUST HAVE…i WOULD PUT SCRIPTURES INSIDE THE HEART..(WEEKLY) I NEED TO ORDER THE KIT.. WHERE?
THANKS FOR POSTING AND THE GIVEAWAY OPTION
KISS KISS
I would put my family in it! We are having our pictures taken soon! It would be perfect! Thanks!
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