Converstation Hearts!!!!

I hate eating these candies, but I love them because they are cute and signify that it is Valentine's time. This project has been a long time coming. I had the idea last year and never got my butt in gear to do it. Inspiration struck on Sunday morning, because procrastination is always the best driver for my creativity.

What you need:

• Wooden picture frames
• Pour on (or another kind of 2-part epoxy resin) I got pour on from Michaels. It is on the glue aisle.
• Disposable cups, paper plates, wax or parchment paper, Popsicle sticks for stirring
• Acrylic paints and a paint brush
• Candy conversation hearts (buy a big bag, or two) You will need more than you think, there will be a lot of rejects.
• Glue
• blue painter's tape
• A mask and gloves
• Other optional supplies- molds that can be used with resin (I used an IKEA ice cube tray and castin' craft mold.), stickers, beads and glitter, candy sprinkles.

**First and foremost--make sure you are working in a well ventilated area! Wear gloves and a mask. Read all of the directions that come with your resin and follow them exactly for optimum results and safety.**

First, Tape up the back of your frame. If you don't care about drips on the back, then skip this part.

Now, set your frame on top of a plastic cup for dripping, paint your frame and let it dry.

While the paint is drying, sort through your candy. Take out all the pretty one and throw the other ones to your dog, kid, or in my case, coworkers.

Glue the hearts onto the frame in any pattern you like.

Set your frame topped plastic cup on top of a couple of disposable plates. You can then set these on top of wax paper in case the resin seeps through. It probably will, so go ahead and put some paper down.You don't want paper plates stuck to your table. Now mix your resin. You really don't need that much. I mixed 4 ounces total. Make sure you mix it as long as the directions say or you'll end up with a mess that won't harden or sticky spots. Pour the resin on top of your candies. Use a paint brush you don't care about, or your stirring stick to make sure the resin gets all over the candies and the frame.

For the second frame I made, I poured the resin onto the painted frame. Then, I sprinkled beads and glitter into the resin.

If you have more resin leftover, you can pout it into molds and drop in candy, stickers, glitter, etc. These can be used to make jewelry or magnets.

I know you will be tempted to mess with it and see if it is hardening, but DON'T! you can leave fingerprints or other spots that can be hard to fix.

Just leave it alone overnight, by then if they haven't hardened, they won't.

...NEXT DAY...

Be careful, because they will probably still be slightly soft and you can leave scratches. Different resins take different amounts of time before they cure to a hard finish. You need to remove any tape and take the molded pieces out. You also might need to cut away any drips that you don't want with an exacto knife. Set everything on a non-stick surface like parchment paper, just in case they want to stick while they are curing.

After the days/hours have passed, you will have very adorable and hard picture frames to give to loved ones for V-day.

What? You hate Valentine's Day and don't have any loved ones? Try something a little more subversive... Write your own messages on the reject candies using an ultra fine point marker.

Follow the same instructions for the cutesy frame and voila...

Yeah, I know mine sends some mixed messages, but that is just how my relationship with Gypsy is. We're a couple of freaks! Now get busy!!! You've got to give your resin enough time to cure!