Saturday 2 February 2013

Pallet Heart Art

I convinced my husband to pick up a pallet for me, but it had been sitting in our driveway waiting for some inspiration for quite a while now. Finally I decided to make some Valentines art with it, but now I like it so much, it’s going to stay up year round.


pallet art


There is some discussion on the safety of using pallets (see here).  I had my husband cut the pallet so I would have enough wood to make four boards each 12” x 12”.  I then soaked them in hot water with bleach (to kill any bugs) and used an old toothbrush to clean them off.  I left them to dry and then we used wood glue and clamps to glue three boards together to achieve the desired size.  I needed to stain the cut ends so I made some steel wool and vinegar stain, but it was very strong so I needed to dilute it a lot.  

I made a heart shape template from paper and used that as my guide for the first piece.  I nailed nails (appropriately enough) in a heart shape. 


pallet


That looked boring so I then used kitchen string and wrapped it back and forth across the heart until I was happy with the pattern and tied it off.
pallet string art


For the second heart I used some raffia I had and soaked it in water for a few minutes, I then shaped it into two hearts and weighted them down and left them overnight to dry.  I simply used hot glue to attach it top and bottom.

 

The third heart I shaped some thin copper wire around the nails on the first board and twisted wire to secure them leaving a couple of long ends at both points.  I drilled two small holes in the boards and put the ends of the wire through and covered them with hot glue to secure and to stop them from scratching the wall.  I was very disappointed with this one as it didn’t stand out very well.  I decided to put white glue on the board and covered it with some sand we had.  This improved it, but it does look better in person than in the pictures.


For the last board I laid out shells on the template and then slid them off onto the boards, adjusting as necessary.  Using hot glue, I attached them to the board.
pallet raffia


To hang them I drilled pilot holes (I actually made a template with paper to show where to put the holes and to speed up the process) and put in ¾” screws and tied string to them to create something to hang on the wall hooks.

I am so pleased with these and they look great in our master ensuite.  Total Cost:  $0.00

pallet free art heart

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Sharing With:
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Fluster Muster
 
Featured At:
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     Made in a Day

37 comments:

StasaLynn said...

These are beautiful and thank you for sharing how you treated the wood. My son-in-law has been talking about using pallets - I will give him your tips.

Thanks again!

Kathy Shea Mormino, The Chicken Chick said...

Those hearts are very cute. Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week; I hope you’ll join us again!


Cheers,
Kathy Shea Mormino

The Chicken Chick

http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

Atomic Murphy said...

These look great!! great job with the pallets!

Lisa Lynn said...

I love it! I especially like how you repurposed the pallet wood :) I would love to have you join me on The Creative HomeAcre Hop today!
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/02/the-creative-homeacre-hop.html

Funky Junk Interiors said...

What a cool idea! They are all so fun!

Megan Gunyan said...

Oh,I love this idea! The hearts all look great, what a fun project!

Jessica @ A Humble Creation said...

This is beautiful and you are so creative! I'm now following you.
Thanks for linking up at Monday Makeover at A Humble Creation!

I saw some pallets labeled FREE on the side of the road the other day and wanted to take them, but it was raining, trafficy, and I had all 3 of my young children in the car. Wasn't sure if I wanted them to see their mama crazily taking pallets in the middle of a rainstorm, so I had to pass them by. The next day they were gone! If I manage to score some later, I'll be trying your tips.

Mariel said...

Very cute! I would love for you to share this or any of your great ideas at the link party going on now (and every Saturday through Tuesday) at 'Or so she says ...' Also, don't miss the Sweethearts Giveaway with over $2,000 in prizes. Hope to see you there! www.oneshetwoshe.com

Unknown said...

I love the raffia, but the copper wire heart is my fave! Very cool! :)

Shabby Marilyn said...

Pallets and hearts perfect, I would clean the pallets too! Thanks

Lauren said...

These are really cool. Nice job. Not your typical valentines decor. I like it. I am hosting a link party and would love it if you would check it out. Thanks.

http://www.ifitsnotbaroquedesignblog.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

These are just fabulous!
Thanks so much for the invitation to come see - and for following
I'm now happily following back!
Hugs,
Suzan

Diann said...

These turned out adorable! I love the whole look of them. Thank you for sharing this fun project with us at TTF.

Tamsyn said...

Each of these are so gorgeous!! You are so creative!

Christina at I Gotta Create! said...

Can't decide which one I like best - love 'em all!!


Thanks so much for linking up,
<3 Christina @ I Gotta Create!

michelle@somedaycrafts said...

What a fun idea. Love the string heart the best. I am featuring this at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com.

Cassie Bustamante said...

these are all adorable- i especially love the string art!

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Good work. L
ove this heart project
Its nice to see hearts in an textured Earthy setting.

Unknown said...

These are beautiful - I love the natural palate & inspiration. Thanks for sharing :)
Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling

Kim~madeinaday said...

This is really cool! I am glad you found me! I hope you linked this up at my linky this week! I am your newest fan!
Kim

Diana of Diana Rambles said...

I love your creations!! Thanks for sharing this at my Pin Me Linky Party.

Jessica @ A Humble Creation said...

Julie - your fabulous creative project is being featured this week at A Humble Creation. Thanks again for linking up!

Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. said...

Beautiful and thrifty too!

Stacey said...

Very clever - great idea!
Featuring this tonight!
Stacey of Embracing Change

Jenna said...

These are so so cute! I love the string heart!

Jenna @ http://rainonatinroof.com

LJ said...

Those are so sweet, love them. Pinning! Sharon

Stacy said...

I am pinning the seashell heart pallets. I have a beach themed craft room that would be perfect for!! I am a new follower too; found your blog via the not just a house wife link party.

Eclectic Red Barn said...

Wow! these are so cute. Thanks for the info about treating the boards.
Bev

Unknown said...

Great idea! Pinning it up!

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

What a creative and unique idea. I have several pallets that have been sitting outside for months. Maybe it's time to finally do something with them.

Roeshel said...

Cutest heart collection! I love the different textures and ideas. So fun!

Lisa Lynn said...

Thank you so much for sharing this on The Creative HomeAcre Hop! I'm featuring your post this week!Live tomorrow... Here's the link:
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/02/the-creative-homeacre-hop-3.html

Have a wonderful weekend!

Fluster Buster said...

What a cute heart collection. Thanks for sharing at Fluster's Creative Muster. Looking forward to seeing what you link up next week.

Crystelle Boutique said...

I'm pinning! these are fab!

hugs x
crystelle

Unknown said...

These are great and such a departure from what others are doing with pallets. Bravo!
X
Suzanne
www.smallchangesbigimprovements.com

Anonymous said...

These are beautiful! I've been stalking pallet and reclaimed wood art on Pinterest for weeks now and these are top notch!

Thanks for sharing,
Sara

Giovanni Carlo said...

Nice, DIY heart pallet, This is nice to give to my wifey She will be happy with this he he
liquidation pallets