"Love" Wall Hanging

Hi, having had somewhat of an unintentional break over Christmas, it's now time to get back to it, and post the first of a few things I've recently made.  I hope you enjoyed the Christmas break and the New Year celebrations (my New Year's Resolution has to be to try to post twice a week, but once at the very least :-)). Ours was very quiet, but lovely as it it was our first Christmas with our little grandson, Ethan.

I'd like to share with you a gift I made for the lovely Karen at TLS, as she's just moved into a new home:

This was made using one of the offcuts of mdf I've had stashed away for a while.  It was undercoated with Gesso then a couple of coats of Chalk White chalk paint was applied, sanding between coats.  I then used various stamps to make the background, masking some of them and using the second stamping impression, and coloured the La Blanch rose stamps, which I've had for ages, with Inktense pencils.  Another coat of chalk paint over the stamping, followed by good sanding, and the background was finished:

I stamped "LOVE" from the Oxford Impressions large alphabet, adding some lace beneath, and screwed two little "o" hooks (used for curtain wire) into the top for hanging from (with some soft rope style cord), and one into the centre at the bottom, which I attached a TH pearl to. Other stamps used are by La Blanche (Rose stamps), Stampin' Up (Script), and Stamper's Anonymous/TH (Text Stamp).  Once finished the hanging was edged all the way round in Metallic rub on paste, using the 2nd spot along from the left - although not noticeable, this stuff is invaluable and crops up on so many creations.

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Fashionable Stamping Challenge - Surprise Us (Anything Goes)
Live and Love Crafts - Something Old (mine are: La Blanche Stamps, mdf scrap, and vintage style)
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Ladybug Crafts - Anything But A Card
Loves Rubberstamps - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations Paint - Anything Goes
Happy Daze - Recycle (I used a piece of mdf, which was an offcut from a builder at work, who kindly
                       saved me all the offcuts from the job :-))

I hope you like it.

Maria xxxxx