St Patrick’s Day Blessing Heart Plaque

I always decorate my foyer with a seasonal theme so I like to design things I can hang or just set on the entry table. There are so many St. Patrick’s Day blessings and Irish proverbs that you can use.  Simply search the Internet and decide on one or use the ones I have provided. 

You will need:

Home computer and printer

Printer paper

Heavy corrugated cardboard scrap

Laser cut rectangular wooden frame with hanger (available inexpensively at craft stores)

Mod Podge decoupage glue

Metallic green acrylic paint

Small paintbrush

Tacky craft glue

Pencil

Scissors

Wax paper to cover work surface

1.     In any word processing program, set your font size at 36 pt. and the color green.  You may want to make the words bold type. Decide on a quote, blessing or proverb. Choose your font.  There are even quite a few St. Patrick's Day fonts that you can get for free on the interent. Use your home printer to print out the page on all-purpose computer paper.  This will be your decoupage print.

2.     Place your frame on top of a piece of heavy corrugated cardboard.  You can pick up lots of heavy cardboard free for the taking at any Costco type stores. My cardboard was white on one side and tan on the other. Trace the inside dimension of the frame with pencil.  Cut the cardboard rectangle out making sure you cut out ½” larger around than the pencil markings. (See photo) Just follow the outline and with a ruler measure ½” bigger.

3.     Protect your work surface by covering with a sheet of waxed paper or newspaper.  Brush on a coat of metallic green acrylic paint on the front of your frame.  Let dry.  When it is dry apply another coat and let dry.

4.     Place the corrugated cardboard rectangle on top of the computer print out and trace with a pencil around.  Cut out

5.     Brush some ModPodge on the cardboard rectangle and immediately place the prepared printout on top.  Smooth with your fingers, and then apply another coat of the Modpodge.  Let dry.

6.     Turn the wooden frame to the back and run a bead of tacky glue around the edge.  Attach the decoupage rectangle onto the back and let dry.

7.     If the frame has a hanger attached you are done, glue on a piece of ribbon or

A well-known Gaelic blessing follows:

May the road rise to meet you

May the wind be always at your back

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

The rains fall soft upon your fields

And, until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.