“She used to tie her hair up in ribbons and bows/Sign her letters with X’s and O’s/Got a picture of her mama in heels and pearls/She’s trying to make it in her Daddy’s world” I grew up listening to “An American Girl” by Trisha Yearwood and I still sign my letters with X’s and O’s. Nothing says Valentine’s like cards or letters signed with hugs and kisses and there’s a whole lotta love when those letters are 12 inches high right? That’s what I thought when I made this pretty paper project for a Valentines Craft…and threw in a little Jerseylicious for good measure!
These letters would be great on a Valentine’s mantle but because my mantle was already complete I used mine on a side table.
What You Need to Get Your Craft On:
Paper Mache Letters found at any craft store including Consumer Crafts*
Scrapbook Paper
Mod Podge and Brush
Scissors
Pen
Washi Tape
The paper mache letters come in various sizes but I chose the 12 inch for a statement piece for my Valentine display on my side table so I chose the 12 inch scrapbook paper to fit. Make sure the size paper you choose accomodates your letters. My Valentine’s mantle was very pretty and romantic with a slight rustic feel and so for my side table I wanted to go for a more fun edgier feel. I chose black, white, and red as the colors and threw in some zebra print. Animal print out of control! The zebra print paper is contrasted by a vintage Valentine print, but over all the style is fun and funky. My X’s and O’s were inspired by Clumsy Crafter’s HoHo. I had remembered them from Christmas and thought how well it would work for Valentine’s with X’s and O’s or LOVE!
To Get Your Craft On Do This:
1. Place your papermache letter on top of your scrapbook paper and trace around the letter.
2. Cut out the letter you’ve just traced. I used a blue pen so I could see my outline against the black paper so had to trim up some of the ink left behind. After you’ve cut the letters, having a shapes lesson with the scraps with your toddler is optional.
3. Once you’ve cut out the letters, coat the back of them with a generous but not too think (or the paper will tear) coat of Mod Podge and position your paper letter over the paper mache letter to cover the face. Smooth out any bubbles in the scrapbook paper.
4. Trim any excess paper overhang. Even though I just traced the exact letter and you would think the fit would be perfect I had to do a little trimming! User error I’m sure. 
5. Bobbie from Clumsy Crafter covered the sides of her letters in glitter and I saw them in person and they are so pretty but either it’s another user error or I just haven’t found the right glitter, either way glitter is the gift that keeps on giving long after the project is over. I find it where I did the craft. I find it where I diplayed it. I find it where I stored it. I find it in my hair….oh wait maybe that was the New Year’s Eve party? So I decided I would not be going with glitter for the sides. I tried something I never tried before- Washi tape. Crafters talk about this stuff like it’s sliced bread and now I know why. I was able to find it in black, red, and pink for about $3 per roll (can also be found cheaper online) and this stuff was so easy and forgiving to wrap the sides of these letters with! It took a bit of straightening and I had to tear and start over in some places, but all the edges blended nicely and would fold over to cover any cardboard. The outside of the letters took the equivalent of about 1 roll so I have 2 more rolls for other projects! I am now a Washi-ite!
The project was really easy- trace letters, cut, mod podge, and wrap those sides like it was a sprained ankle- and the cost was around $17. You can bring the cost down by using smaller letters though as they are over $4 each for the 12 inch at the craft store or they are $2.27 at Consumer Crafts.
The paper project letters turned out really cute and when my husband came home from work he asked where I bought the letters. Sheesh. That’s his seal of approval that the Valentines craft turned out great! When will he ever learn? Step back non-believer!
*Disclosure: I am not an affiliate of Consumer Crafts, however I am participating in a campaign for them through Blue Print Social. All opinions expressed are my own.
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I really like the crafts you made. I think I will leave the x and o designs up all year
Thank you! The X’s and O’s were so fun to make! Thanks for stopping by!
I have done this but using material from old favorite clothes. We wrapped them and glued with fabric glue so it stays on. We used beads, charms & trinkets to decorate but this is an inexpensive way and quick and easy for kids too.
How fun! I bet it would look great with trinkets and beads! Thanks for stopping by!
Great project, I like the colors of paper you selected!
I just started a new link party and would love if you would come on over and share your post or social media sites. http://designeddecor.com/talkin-about-thursday-link-party4/
DeDe@DesignedDecor
Twitter: LesleyBShops
says:
Love the idea of using Washi tape for the sides! I just cut paper for and Xs and Os project I’m doing and wasn’t sure what I was going to do about the edges. Thanks for the tip.
Thanks so much! It was really easy to just wrap the sides and they have so many pretty patterns. And so much less messy than glitter! Good luck with yours!
Twitter: peacoatsnplaid
says:
Too funny, I got to shop the ConsumerCrafts.com site as well through Blueprint Social, and I chose some paper mache letters too! I have mine in mind for a project for my kitchen. Yours turned out awesome and super cute!
Thanks! I can’t wait to see yours. I am actually doing homemade soap for the project but their price on the paper mache letters was so great I thought I would pass it along. I will be back to P&P again soon!
I was in one of the craft stores the other day and they had glitter glue. I am curious what glitter method you used. So true that glitter is crazy messy. How difficult do you think it would be to use scrapbook paper on the sides instead of the tape?
I used the mod podge and shake glitter method and it was pretty messy…and stayed and stayed. I have some glitter glue but it doesn’t come out as nice and opaque as it looks in the bottle. It looks like glue with glitter in it. What I am interested to try and might have worked for this project is glitter mod podge. I think paper would have worked for the outside but I think it would have been tough to cut and make it look nice in the center of the O and the grooves of the X. The flexible tape was even a bit tough for that. I liked the pattern of the tape and I realized I didn’t get a good photo of it. Once the sun comes up I will get one and add it. I will see if I can find the glitter mod podge.
What about sealing the glitter on with a spray sealer? I have some Mod Podge spray I used for something else. You might have to do it first since you are using the paper on the front and wouldn’t want to spray it.
Twitter: daspencer06
says:
OMG! Too Cute! I’m so glad you posted this before I wrote my Inspire Me! post for tomorrow! This is definitely going to be included!!!
Kudos to you girl!
Thanks so much! I will definitely stop by!