I started by finding a heart pattern that I liked. Not a long narrow one, but a big, fat heart that was at least 12" high and wide. I experimented with a few slightly different sizes but the one I use now is 12 1/2" high and wide. Big enough to stand out if hung on a wall or door, yet not so big that I could sell it at a reasonable price. It also fits into a USPS standard box, since boxes can add quite a bit to the cost of selling.
Next I laid out the boards side by side in a vertical pattern, then glued and clamped them together. After letting the glue dry overnight, I traced the heart shape. Phew, it's exciting to see the hearts take shape!
I used my jig saw to cut out the heart pattern, clamping it to my work table.
Next, I lightly sanded all over trying to smooth out any rough spots and to add a "worn" look.
I don't trust the glue 100% so I cut out a rectangle from 1/4 lauan, made sure it spanned all the joints then glued it to the back. I nailed a sawtooth hanger on the back and it was ready to hang. I'll be adding more information and pics to this post.
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Some four board hearts, I'm trying out some various wood treatments. |