Confession time. We moved into our current home about 2 years ago and I've been so busy since then that I haven't really began to decorate until recently. (To make matters worse, I actually just unpacked a box that had been sitting in my office this whole time too, LOL!) In our family room we have a bunch of family photos up on the wall mixed with a few small pieces of artwork, but we had a little spot still left open that had been driving me nuts this whole time so I decided it was time to finally make something that would go there...and coincidentally I got an assignment from Faber Castell to play with some of their new stencils and create a video for them (you can watch that video here).

So here's how I created this piece....you can follow the step-by-step directions below, or check out this video:

Supplies:

• Metal heart frame (I got mine from Michael's)
• Sticky Back Canvas
• Ephemera (I used old music paper)
• Acrylic Paint
• Gel Medium
• Various Stencils (I used ones from Faber-Castell's 101, 102, and Doodle Stencil Collections)
• Black Chipboard Letters
• White Pen
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Charcoal Pencil
• Paint Brushes
• Makeup Sponge
• Small piece of white cardstock
• PITT Artist Pen with the medium tip
• Double Sided Foam Adhesive

Instructions:

1. Take your piece of Sticky Back Canvas and collage whatever type of ephemera you are using onto it using gel medium.

2.  Apply various colors of acrylic paint to your canvas to create a background.
3. First stencil layer: Using this pattern from the 102 Collection of Stencils, take a baby wipe and remove the acrylic paint that shows through the stencil to create a pattern.

Another confession, I never clean my stencils so I had some orange spray mist on there that transferred onto my canvas...a cool serendipitous art moment!
Second stencil layer: Using this stencil from the 102 Collection of stencils, continue to remove paint using a baby wipe.
Third stencil layer: Using a make-up sponge apply various acrylic paints from the same color family over this stencil from the Doodle Collection of stencils.
Fourth stencil layer: Using a baby wipe apply white acrylic paint to this stencil from the Doodle Collection of stencils. 
Fifth stencil layer: Use this stencil from the 102 Collection of stencils to add another layer onto the canvas.
4. Use bubble wrap dipped in acrylic paint to add texture and patterns to the canvas.
Sixth stencil layer: Lastly, use this stencil from the Doodle Collection to add a final stenciled layer to the canvas.
5.  Add some brush strokes of acrylic paint to the canvas and then allow it to dry.
6. Once dry, use a charcoal pencil to create marks on the canvas and then use a wet paint brush over them to give them a painted look.

7. Trace the heart pattern onto the backside of the canvas and cut it out.
Remove the backing on the canvas and then insert it into the metal frame.

8. Embellishing: Use a white pen to doodle onto the black chipboard letters and allow it to dry before adhering it to the canvas with double sided foam adhesive. On a scrap of white cardstock write "sweet home" and then cut it into a pennant shape and adhere it to the canvas with foam adhesive. Tie a ribbon through the whole so it can be hung up.

And here's the final piece!