USA Patriotic Door Hanging

Like many of you, I like to display some sort of seasonal wreath or decoration on my front door. I have one for almost every season with the exception of summer. I used to have a sunflower wreath but that thing died long ago. So I decided to utilize this week's Grungy Monday Challenge #10 over at the L3 Studio as my starting point to make a patriotic door hanging. Grungy Monday celebrates all sorts of Tim Holtz products and techniques.

The challenge this week was wide open: Use distress inks. Anyway we like, in any fashion we choose.

My project starts with some craft products...

A basic wood plaque from the local craft store, some thick chipboard letters, a vintage-style bell, and several Tim Holtz products. Although I show this stamp set in the photo (Curious Possibility), I actually ended up using School Desk instead. (You'll see in a minute.)

Here's what I came up with... 

Now I'll fly through the steps...

Gesso the board.

Add Tim Holtz Seasonal Paper.

Sand the edges HARD and the overhanging paper will pull off easily.

Paint the edges with a Barn Red acrylic paint, then ink distress with Walnut Stain over the whole piece. Follow up with a coat of Studio Multi-Medium matte.

Cover the letters with Tissue Tape on the outside edges (a bit tedious) and then cover the fronts of the letters with paper from Tim's Seasonal Paper Stash. Stamp desired images over the tops. Ink the tissue taped sides with alcohol inks and ink distress overall with Walnut Stain. Finish off the Studio Multi-Medium matte as well.

Add all the great Tim Holtz Idea-ology doodads with some good strong adhesive. I like to use E6000. That stuff is cement, in my opinion.

I tea-dyed a striped ribbon and added that old-looking bell, and now it's complete. I love how it looks on my front door. Now if I can just keep my Tim Holtz-loving-customers and neighbors from "lifting it" when I'm not looking!

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by.