You + Me = Love
I love using materials that already have character and show the weathering of time. There is something about transforming found, abandoned, and discarded items into new pieces that brings me joy.
My husband loves it too and is always on the hunt for items we can transform into artwork and home decor. Our date nights consists of more time hunting materials and creating art in our home workshop (aka: the garage…and occasionally the kitchen table 🙂 ), dreaming of a day when such work could sustain us.
I wanted him to help me build frames for signs. So when he brought home an old door with individual panels, I had a plan!
We quickly cut the door into sections to make the framed boards. I was so excited to cut the door that I forgot to take a before shot (just imagine all these panels being connected).
Since I planned on staining the outside (frame) section, I taped it off to keep any paint adhering to it.
I added grey and white acrylic paint to the middle section. Then, I added the sentiment in pencil before painting it on. At first, I was going to paint “Love Lives Here,” but “YOU + ME = Love” popped into my head.
So I took the advice of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Trust your instinct to the end, though you can render no reason,” and painted it instead.
To give it a bit of a weathered (distressed) look, I took fine grade sandpaper and gently brushed it in the direction of the grain.
I added a chestnut stain to the outside to complete it.
I’m glad I listened to Mr. Emerson! ♥
We are very fortunate to have this outlet for our creative talents, and look forward to what we can make of Happy Heart Made. We have some local events coming up in the Spring and plan to open an online shop soon. I’m very excited about this and I’ll be sharing more regarding that in the near future!!! Thank you for your support and for being a part of this journey with us!
Artwork shown on Linkup Parties:
Blessings, Michelle ♥
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01/28/2016 @ 3:50 pm
Michelle, this is a beautiful piece of wall art!! The “you + me = love” was a good call…way to trust your instincts! 🙂 I’m excited for you to have those pieces of that wooden door to repurpose!! Fun times are ahead for you and your husband!! Blessings to you!!
01/28/2016 @ 4:35 pm
Thank you Keri for your kindness…so glad you like it!!! Hoping to get a few more done this weekend (between laundry & cleaning!). 🙂
01/28/2016 @ 4:03 pm
Michelle I love it! So beautiful and what a great idea to use those doors for this! And the weathered inside of the sign is so so nice! I have a crush on signs!!! 😉
01/28/2016 @ 4:30 pm
Thank you so much Katrin for stopping by and for your inspiring words!!! I am excited to get going on the others! 🙂
01/28/2016 @ 4:07 pm
I like this piece! Is that a very fine brush or some type of pen you are writing with in that one photo?
01/28/2016 @ 4:26 pm
Thanks Kim!!! It’s a small brush…I am definitely not a 1-stroke painter! 🙂
01/28/2016 @ 10:05 pm
I love everything about this! It turned out so cute!
01/30/2016 @ 8:07 pm
Thank you Carlee…your encouragement means so much!!! 🙂
01/30/2016 @ 4:18 pm
This is really pretty and I like your choice of wording. You’ll be able to make plenty of those from all the panels of the door!
01/30/2016 @ 8:06 pm
Thank you so much Mary! Having a lot of fun painting the boards! 🙂
01/31/2016 @ 8:05 pm
Wow! I would never have thought that these were parts of an old door! I love rustic too and these turned out so nice. Year round decoration, not just Valentines!!!
02/01/2016 @ 9:40 am
Hi Nikki! Thank you so much…my husband is a master with the saw! It would be a nice piece to have up all year long–thanks for stopping by and for your encouragement!!! 🙂
02/01/2016 @ 7:38 pm
Michelle, This is such a great idea and it turned out beautifully! I would love it if you shared it with us at Brag About It Link Party. Tuesday link party that starts Mondays at midnight.
02/02/2016 @ 9:16 pm
Michelle, Thanks so much for linking up with us! Welcome! We are delighted to have you! I adore your project and will be featuring this at our next week’s party! Hope you will be able to join us!
~Laurie
02/03/2016 @ 8:58 am
Awe…thank you so much Laurie!!! Enjoying reading and getting to know the other ladies at Brag About It! 🙂
02/04/2016 @ 8:22 pm
I’ve never seen a door like that before. Such a great find!
02/05/2016 @ 10:05 am
Thank you so much Stella…having fun transforming it into something new!
02/10/2016 @ 7:18 pm
I love it!!!! Nicely done ❤️
02/11/2016 @ 8:48 am
Thank you for stopping by Jenny and for your kind remarks…you are a blessing!!! 🙂
02/20/2016 @ 9:39 pm
Get out of town! This is so cute. I would have never thought to used a cabinet door. Everything you did is perfection! Thanks for linking up with us at Your Home Decor and More Link party!
02/22/2016 @ 8:59 am
Thank you so much Sara…you made my day!!! 🙂 Enjoying your blog…so glad you stopped by!