Original Sweet Heart Sale...

Hello Dear friends & Happy New Year ~ I know, I know... it's already February!! That said, I'm popping in for a quick post and update. Next week, I will be releasing a handful of original Hearts & Love Bug folk art characters via Newsletter notice. Included will be a free Valentine Printable, so if you haven't done so, please Join my Mailing List. This will be my first V-Day collection, donning the traditional red and pink palette. I look forward to sharing them with you!

Also, many thanks to those that adopted last month's medley of New Year's Snowmen! What FUN!

Love & Hugs,
~ Johanna

Johanna-Parker-Hearts-&-Love-Bugs-Folk-Art-Sale

Art from the Heart


Dear Friends,

As a gift of gratitude to you, I just added a PRINT & SHARE web page that offers a growing variety of FREE printable downloads featuring my art! You can also locate the link directly from my website's Home Page. Just in time for Valentine's Day, you can download several project files including a new pair of Love Bug cards! Add some glitter and lace or maybe personalize with a message and share with your loved ones. (NOTE: for optimum printing, please download the file, save it to your computer and then print from your new file) I appreciate your kindness and support, and this is my gift to you. May my art from the heart, spread smiles and cheer at all times of year! Feel free to email me photos of your finished projects. Perhaps I will compile a gallery page of your shared photos...

Happy Creating & ENJOY!


Johanna-Parker-Valentine-Cards

These sweet cards feature my folk art photography. The Love Bugs were from a small collection of sculptures I made and sold for Valentine's Day 2014. Stay tuned for a few more soon to release this week! JOIN my Mailing List in order to catch one soon!

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Have a Heart! Printable Valentine's Project...

Happy month of LOVE! As a special gift of thanks, we want to share our Hearts with You! Below, you will enjoy a sweet DIY project, including a FREE Printable page of hearts that I have designed. Simply click on the link provided below, print the page and let your creativity flow! For a little inspiration, I am also sharing my step-by-step project with you. It's only one of gazillion paths to take, and we look forward to seeing what you do! Please share your finished Heart creations with us by sending us an EMAIL with images of your crafts. You are welcome to share this link and spread the love....

xoxo,
~ Johanna, JP & Jack

Love-Wire-on-Hand

* The inspiration behind this project started with a long piece of 20 gauge wire and the lovely word "Love." I attempted a few by slowly bending the wire and forming the letters, and then I settled on a size and script style that I liked best...

Share-Heart-Template

* My wire "Love" letters needed a backer plate, so I created a simple heart design on the computer. I included 2 additional hearts at a reduced size and added them all to a standard letter-sized piece of paper.
This FREE Printable can be found at our link:  http://www.johannaparkerdesign.com/Share/Johanna's-Valentine-Heart.pdf

Share-Heart-Print-&-Cut

* I printed the PDF on cream colored card stock and starting cutting along the outer dashed line...

Share-Heart-cutouts

* To add more substance and layers to the heart, I found a scrap of vintage teal wool that I had previously stiffened with glue. Using my existing heart as a template, I drew a slightly larger heart on the wool, and cut out that shape...

Share-Heart-backside-glue

* For an extra touch of texture and whimsy, I glued a strand of fringed red string along the outer edge of the backside of the paper heart.

Share-Heart-backside-assemblage

* Once the glue dried, it was time to position my wire lettering on the front side. Using a pencil, I marked two dots to indicate the exit holes for the wire to pass through on each end of the word "Love." A quick prick with an awl, allowed the wire to pass through to the backside, where I trimmed and looped the wire to secure it in place (as seen above).

Share-Heart-on-the-door

* After a little hot glue, the paper heart fused with it's woolen backer! Another piece of wire, woven  through the wool,  became an easy hanger. And, I was off to decorate with my new creation! I hung it on a kitchen cabinet door....

Share-Heart-on-the-shelf

* I hung it on an antique shelf...

Share-Heart-over-the-shelf

* I hung it on the wall..... and on and on and on....

Simple ideas such as this sweet heart, used in combination with scraps of fabric, wire, string, glue, glitter and other found objects in the home can really add a personal touch and create an endearing gift for a loved one. I hope you find inspiration, print our page of Hearts, put on your crafting hat and get creative... And, Please do share your creations via EMAIL or by posting your projects on our Facebook Page!

Hugs & Happy Valentine's Day!


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Just Flirting...

February is fast approaching, and the month of love has inspired me to create an intimate group of heart-themed folk art characters! It is rare that I make time to create for this special holiday, but the subject matter and palette delight me, and well, I flirted with the idea. Fortunately, I just completed a handful of Valentines friends, and I will be revealing them on the evening of February 1st! I only have six little treasures to offer, so if you are interested, please make sure that you have joined my Mailing List. On Wednesday, I will send out a Newsletter to your inbox announcing that my sale will start within that same hour. For now, I thought I would tease you with what's in store. OH, those little flirts!!!

xoxo,
~ Johanna



Valentines-Collage
* I know, I may be getting a little too up close and personal here! hehe.....