Copper Wire Heart

Regina started making her own greeting cards as a young child. Today, this full-time bookkeeper not only finds spare time to be a cardmaking machine and creates specialty items, like memory journals. In this project, she crafts a copper wire heart with a lovely special message tucked inside.

Materials:

vellum
copper wire
pencil
wire cutters
ribbon
computer with printer (optional)

1. If using a computer, print your text into a small square area (1-1/2" x 1-1/2") of the vellum and cut it out (figure A). The text can also be written by hand.

2. Wrap the wire around the pointed end of a pencil. Twist the end of the wire around the bottom of the loop to close it (figure B).

3. Use your hands to create the outline of a heart (figure C). From the loop, bend the wire to make the hump on one side of the heart. After the hump is formed, go down about a couple of inches on the wire and bend it to go back up. This will create the V-shape at the bottom of the heart. Go up a couple of inches on the wire and form the second hump.

4. Wrap the wire around the frame of the heart from different angles. The goal is not to leave any large uncovered areas. Once you feel satisfied with the design, bring the wire back up to the loop. Carefully wrap the wire around the bottom of the loop (once) to secure the close. Then use the wire cutter to cut it from the roll.

5. It's time to fill the heart. Slightly bend your little vellum square, being careful not to crease the vellum. Slip it through the biggest gap on the heart (figure D). Make sure the vellum fits nicely inside. Thread the ribbon through the loop and make a bow at the end.

6. Viola! You now have a nice handmade gift to give to someone special.