Vintage Valentine Ornaments

...Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or Bends with the remover to remove.
O, no! It is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests and is never shaken.
It is the star to every wandering bark,
whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

-- William Shakespeare

These are some fun Vintage Valentine Rosettes I made for a design team trial for Sakura Hobby and Craft. Hang them on a present, bouquet or a door. Lots of fun and a neat way to mix and match scrap you have laying around.

The first thing I did was cut out some vintage images I had lying around, you can also print some free ones off the internet from a website like Graphics Fairy.

Next I covered them with Crystal Lacquer to give them an enamel look. The first image I covered completely, the second I just did her bows ribbons and shoes, and the bows on the kitties. (this top photo really shows the glossyness and dimention of the Crystal Lacquer. Then I set them aside to dry while I prepared everything else.

To make the rosettes, I used regular old party streamer style crepe paper. Scrapbook stores sell some fancier kinds, you can also accordion fold paper if you like. I had found this light pink roll lying around from some birthday or other, so it had a fun weathered, antique look to it, which I furthered with some Glimmer Mist, or whatever similar product makes you happy. This first one I used a light, iridescent shell color, the second was a darker pink pigment. Do all the distressing after you make the rosette, to give it more texture and dimension.

Making the Rosettes is simple, take about 2 yards of crepe paper ( I just roll it out the length of both my arms stretched out in a T and tear) Fold in half, take a needle and thread and do a running stitch up one side of the folded crepe about 1/4" in from the edge. Pull the strings to gather it as tight as you can, so it forms itself into a pleated sort of circle, tie the thread ends together and trim, voila!
While those all dried, I cut the heard and word ADORE out of scraps I had using the Cricut and I added dots of Crystal Color Lacquer in blue to the word ADORE. Once everything was dry, I used the Crystal Lacquer as an adhesive and glued down the heart, the word ADORE and pop dots for the Valentine Image.

For the second one, I added dots to a scallop circle cut from phone book paper with the Crystal Color Lacquer in blue, and traced the oval of the word SWEET from a set of words, in the blue as well. I also cut a flower shape from on the Cricut using scrap. Once everything was dry I adhered it using Crystal Lacquer, the Scallop Circle, then the flower then the little girl with the kittens, the word SWEET, and the buttons. The pink button/brad I stuck on with a pop dot to give dimension.

For both, I attached the ribbon loop on the back and over that I adhered a 2' square of cardstock, just to give it a good base in the back, and cover the ribbon ends. I used the Crystal Lacquer as adhesive because it's strong, and flexible and gives this dimensional project a little more stability.

For more project ideas using Crystal Lacquer or for Sakura Craft products Check out these links!