Love

By: Dondi Richardson for Styrofoam Brand Foam

In only seven easy steps create love letters. With these letters you can hang wires from them or even your earrings. It's cute and it's easy.

Materials:

STYROFOAM* Brand Foam:
- Alphabet Soup Letters (FloraCraft®), 6" x 1": L, V, E
- Balls, 2-1/2", two
- Heart, open, 6" x 1"
Decorative napkins (for decoupage), several each: pastel stripe; pink; red
Matte-finish decoupage medium
16-gauge craft wire
Beads: red, white, pink heart-shaped pony; red, clear round
Serrated knife
Candle stub or paraffin
Medium flat paintbrush
Disposable palette
Water basin
Paper towels
Scissors
Wire cutters
Low-temp glue gun and glue sticks
Thick, white craft glue

Steps:

Separate top ply of each napkin from remaining sheets; discard unprinted sheets or reserve for a future project.
Wax serrated knife with candle stub or paraffin. Cut foam balls in half to create stands.
Follow manufacturer's instructions to apply decoupage medium to rounded surface of each stand. Using photo as a guide, cover each stand with pink napkin section; use paintbrush and additional medium to smooth napkin over foam surface.
Apply second coat of medium over napkin-covered stand. Cut strip from striped napkin and place around base of stand as shown. Apply third coat of decoupage medium over entire stand; let dry completely.
In same way as stands, apply decoupage medium and napkins to foam letters and heart. Use photo as a guide. Let dry completely.
Glue heart and letter bases to top of stands; hold letter steady until glue sets.
Cut four 12" lengths from wire. Using photo as a guide, thread beads onto wire lengths as desired. Twist or hang wires from letters and heart as shown.