Positively Splendid {Crafts, Sewing, Recipes and Home Decor}

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Quick and Easy Framed Love “Equation”

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In case you missed it, I shared this tutorial last week over at The CSI Project for their typography week. This was such a fun, quick  and easy project – totally doable in the span of an hour! 

The inspiration for this Framed Love Equation actually came from a note one of my little friends wrote in my autograph book (am I the only nerd who had one of those in elementary school?) back in the second grade:

Dear Amy,
You are
2 sweet + 2 be = 4 gotten
Love ya!

This is the perfect last-minute addition to your Valentine’s Day decor, but I intentionally used a color scheme in mine that will allow me to leave it out for a while after the holiday has passed. I think it might find a permanent home in my older monkeys’ bedroom!


For this project, you will need…
Word processing software and printer
Heavyweight fusible interfacing
Fabric (I recommend a something solid, like the denim I used here)
Disappearing ink marker
Coordinating thread
One 8×10-inch frame
One 12×12-inch piece of scrapbook paper
Adhesive vinyl and transfer paper
A die cutting machine
Dimensional foam adhesive dots
Ribbon (optional)
Other: Basic sewing supplies (machine, shears, etc.)
step 1 Make templates to use for your numbers (2 and 4) using your word processing software and print them out. (I used Rockwell Extra Bold font at 300 pixels.) Cut your templates out, and set them aside.
step 2 Cut three pieces from your fabric that are just larger than your templates. Iron your interfacing to the back of each of these pieces according to the product instructions. Using a disappearing ink marker, trace your templates onto the back of these pieces (trace a number 2 on two of the pieces, and a number 4 on the remaining piece), making sure to trace the reverse of each number so it is properly aligned when you cut it out. (See photos below.) Cut your numbers out, and then carefully stitch a couple of times around the outer perimeter of each for added interest. Set your pieces aside.

step 3 Use your die cutting machine to format the following lettering and symbols to cut from your vinyl:

sweet
be
gotten
a plus sign (+)
a line to represent the equals sign for your “equation”

Play around with different sizing and fonts until you achieve a look your like. The fun here comes in mixing and matching different typefaces! I used Courier New (sweet), Engravers (be), and Lobster (gotten). Once you are satisfied, refer to your respective machine’s instruction manual for the appropriate settings to cut your lettering from your vinyl.

step 4 Cut your patterned paper down to 8×10, and place it in your frame. Use your transfer paper to adhere your vinyl lettering and symbols to the glass front of your frame as shown. Place foam dots on the back of your fabric numbers, and adhere them as shown. For added dimension, I stacked two layers of dots on the back of the number four to give it an extra boost. Now, tie a bow from a length of ribbon, and adhere it with foam dots to the top corner of your frame.

All finished!
Project notes… 
Any time you are looking to really make a project like this one pop, consider using the foam dots as I’ve done here to elevate certain design elements. The added dimension will take your creation to the next level!
Take care!

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