Embossed Metal Heart Art on a Rustic "Pallet"

by Holly Lefevre

I love mixing and matching contrasting textures and looks...that is why I love the combination of the shiny metal with the rustic worn wood. I was asked to create some art for the mantel at my local coffee sop and this is what I did. It is a really simple project with a lot of impact. You can also paint the pallet or you can paint the hearts to suit your decor.

pallet rustic art metal heart embossed, crafts, diy, woodworking projects

This art piece sits on a mantel at my favorite coffee shop! And now I need to make another for myself.

I adore these hearts in all their sizes! I cut a variety of sizes for this project and then placed them on the pallet.

The final result is a piece of art that I just adore - some beautiful embossed metal mixed with the rustic charm of the aged, stained wood. You need the following Supplies:

die cutter; cuttable metal sheets, die of choice (hearts), embossing folder, screw driver/drill; 1-1.5" wood screws; 4 - 6" x 24" wood pieces; 2 6" x 22" braces; finishing nails; hammer.

I stained my wood using my DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Wood Stain.

Step 1:

Make a pallet or create a piece to use the hearts on.

I make my own "pallets" - I will be sharing a tutorial soon, but this is a very basic "template" that I use. I cut each vertical pieces to be about 24" and each braces (horizontal piece) is about 22". I used 1.5: wood screws to secure the pieces to the braces. You can add these hearts to almost anything!

Step 2:

I stained my wood using my DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Wood Stain or Balsamic Vinegar Stain. I rinsed the wood and let it dry, then lightly sanded.

Step 3:

I used my Evolution die cutter, scalloped heart dies, and a Bloom embossing folder to make the hearts. These are from Lifestyle Crafts/We R Memory Keepers.

Step 3A:

First cut the hearts (the largest die does not fit in the embossing folder completely, so I did not use it). Run the cuttable metal sheets with the die, platform, and cutting mat through the die cutter.

Step 3B:

Once the hearts are cut, place them in the embossing folder and run them through the die cutter again to get the embossed look. If you emboss and then cut, you will loose some detail when you run the metal through the die cutter a second time.

Step 4:

Secure the hearts to the pallet with a small finishing nail and hammer. I just pounded that nail right through the center of the heart..

There is no right way to place the hearts...just put them where you like them! I simply used a small finishing nail and a hammer, and secured each heart to the wood.