Duetica Glitter Monogram

I bought this frame a while ago at Ollie’s for $1.49. I loved the flower at the top and knew with a fresh coat of paint, a beautiful font, some glitter and a little elbow grease, this could really be something special.

You will need:
access to Duetica Lettering system
frame with glass
paint (Cloudless and White by Plaid)
Stickles (turquoise)
Copic markers
white paper
Sizzix Big Shot machine
Sizzix Textured Impression folder: Lace by Eileen Hull (coming in December!)
pearl embellishment- Queen and Co

Instructions:

1. Paint frame and dry brush white on top for vintage look. Color carved flowers with Copic markers for accent. Add pearl to flower center.
2. Run white paper with Textured Impression folder through Big Shot. Using an almost dry stencil brush, lightly highlight raised images with aqua paint.
3. Go into Duetica Lettering site. If you have not been here before, take a minute to watch the quick tutorial that explains how the system works, then sign up and give it a try. So easy and cool!
4. Select desired font (I used Mandolyn- my all time fave!). Scroll through capital letter you wish to use as a monogram.  Be mindful of the area you have available to work in. Letters with long swashes and high ascenders and decenders may not work for this project (although they are SOOOO pretty!)
5. Import letter into your design program. I used Illustrator and created a template that was 4″ x 6 inches. I added a black border and arranged the letter to a size (270 points) and position that I found desirable.  Print on a piece of copy paper.
6. Lay glass on top of letter, using 4″ x 6″ border to align.
7. Take Stickles bottle and (with a steady hand- no diet Coke before this!) , start tracing over the letter allowing the glitter to follow the thick and thin of the letter. Put in an out of the way place and allow to dry.
8. Assemble frame, glass and paper. Hang on the wall or set on your desk.

Other options for assembly might include backing frame with pretty fabric, vintage lace or table linens. Book page flowers might be added for a more dimensional effect on the top of the frame as well as ribbons or trim.

This “E” reminds me of how my Grandma Mamitsch used to write my name. She had such beautiful penmanship! I have a small leather notebook in her perfect copperplate hand where she wrote bird and butterfly names next to stamps with their pictures on them. She later gave it to me and I love looking through it. I think that’s where my appreciation of beautiful fonts and writing began.

Stay cool my friends! It’s going to be a hot weekend…