Valentine LOVE blocks

For this week's Creative Cutting Challenge DT project, I made these wooden blocks to fit the two week long "LOVE" theme.  Made of scrap 2 x 4 lumber, this project was super easy to make. The rosette accent is removable, and the blocks reversible...a piece you can leave out all year.  (You'll have to check back later this week to see the flip side.) 

 Here's a close up of the removable rosette accent.  I punched the larger rosette and then used my Martha Stewart score board to make the rosette.  On top of that is a pink scalloped heart layer I cut with my my electronic cutter.  Then another smaller rosette topped with the cupid file from my Valentine SVG set.  A stamped banner was added between the layers and I used gold and red Stickles on the accent layers.  I hot glued the whole thing to a painted wooden dowel and added a punched cardstock circle to the back to finish it off.

Here's how I made the blocks...

 I grabbed these blocks from my in-laws new house scrap pile...already cut .  I knew I could make something out them!  I just lightly sanded the edges and drilled a hole to fit the dowel I wanted to use.

 I painted the dowel, block edges and slightly up on the fronts and backs in an off white acrylic paint color that matched the paper I was going to use.

 I cut the paper slightly smaller than the blocks and attached to the wood with Studio Multi-Medium Matte.

Next I used  coordinating red paint to shade along the edges of the paper and a fine black Sharpie to create the hit and miss border.  I also took more of the off white paint and blended areas in the middle to emphasis the letters.

I cut the letters from red cardstock and also cut a shadow layer from black cardstock using my electronic cutter.   I attached the letters to the blocks with Multi Medium and then went over the top of the letters with red Stickles.

And there you have it...a LOVE-ly project that you can use to decorate your home this Valentine season!  Or change the accent to a bridal theme and use as a wedding or shower decoration.  

If you use an electronic cutter, I hope you'll join in the "Love" Challenge.  Just click Here for information.

Entered into the following Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday--Love Notes
The Cheerful Stamp Pad--#79 Love/Valentines Day
Anything But A Card--#32 Tic Tac Love --Red-Recycling-Glitter
Country View Challenges--#12 Painty Pleasures
Rhedd's Creative Spirit--Anything Goes
Seemacrafts: February Valentine/Love
All Sorts Challenge--#244 Love is in the Air
Sugar Creek Hollow--#79 Love and Adore
Frilly and Funkie--Valentine's Day With a Twist