Supplies needed to make your own DIY letter decor:
- Paper Mache Letter (I used the 23.5 inch)
- Aluminum Roll
- Embossing Machine
- Embossing Folder (I used a Steampunk Gears design)
- Brown Craft Paint
- Mod Podge
Step one: Cut the aluminum into sheets that will fit your embossing folder. Mine was 4×6.
Step two: Emboss the aluminum. I found that I could place 3 sheets in my folder at one time to speed up the process.
Step three: Use Mod Podge to adhere the sheets to the paper mache letter. First, I wrapped the sheet around the straight edges of the letter. This was the easy part.
For the curved sections, I had to trace and cut pieces to Mod Podge on.
Step four: Lightly paint over the metal, being sure to work the paint into the recessed parts. Use a clean cloth to wipe off some of the paint. This helps give your metal a more aged, interesting look, I think.
You can glue a saw tooth hanger to the back to hang the letter decor, or just let it stand. I used a gear shape for my letter, since it’s for my 11 year old son’s room.
You could use different shapes to make it match the theme of your room or party. There are hundreds of embossing folders to choose from, so it will be easy to make letter decor that is as unique as you are!
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Morena Hockley is the crafty mind behind the tutorials at morenascorner.com. Morena is a stay at home mom to four young children, and crafting is what helps her maintain her sanity. It’s a wonderful outlet and it’s how she gets her “me” time. In a past life, Morena was an elementary school teacher and an assistant principal. She misses teaching, so her blog is in a sense a virtual classroom. Swing by and check out Morena’s Corner!
I love how this came out. Great idea using the gears!