Who says gnomes are for Christmas only?! I love these little fellows for ALL seasons! And this cute little Valentine gnome is just perfect for adding some cuteness when I’m getting my daily coffee fix :).
You know I like to use Mod Podge for different projects? Well, I usually use scrap book paper or serviettes. (Check out these projects here and here for some examples on how you can use a design pad or a napkin to transform an item!) But sometimes you just want to print something and create a quick craft. Just straight from your own printer. So, this was the first time I’d used a printed out design and I must admit, I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out.
Here’s what I used (and you’ll be pleased to hear this adorable little Valentine gnome is a free printable in this post!)
I used a piece of scrap wood (approximately 14 x 14 cm), sanded, cleaned and painted it. I used white chalk paint but you can use any type of paint suitable for wood. Leave to dry completely.
Print off your cute Valentine gnome printable. Make sure to let the ink dry completely and cut to size.
Apply a generous layer of Mod Podge (not too much, but enough to cover the whole area including the edges!). Carefully place your design on top of the wood. Place a plastic bag or some cling film over the design.
When the paper gets wet, it’s super easy to get tears in the design. Adding the plastic as a barrier makes it SO much easier to get rid of any wrinkles or bubbles. You still have to be careful not to be too heavy handed but it reduces the risk!
Carefully work out the bubbles with your fingers or a credit card.
Leave your design to dry fully before adding another layer of Mod Podge to protect it.
adding some trim
You can totally leave it here as a finished project. However, I still had some red Christmas trim left over. Which turned out to be the perfect colour red to match his hat. Just for a bit more of a red “pop” :). Just hot glue it straight on.
And there’s your little Valentine gnome. All ready to be displayed in a little corner or window sill somewhere.
When you look close up, there are a few tiny areas where there is a TINY bit of colour bleeding, but you can hardly see it. If you wanted to, you would sand this down to give it a bit more of a “worn” farmhouse look. However for a project using just an A4 printable I think it’s turned out great!
There is some printable paper especially designed for decoupage projects. You can find it here. I’ve not used it myself, but if you’re going to make your own designs it may be worth spending a few pounds to get it.
How cute does that look in my little coffee corner?
By the way .. See the little riser it’s on? I couldn’t find one in the shops, so I made it with a piece of wood and some old spindles. You can check it out here.
Would you Pin me so others can find it too?
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