Glitter Initials

Here's a little "tutorial" on how to make these fun glitter initials.  Pardon the photography---the project is much prettier in real life!  This project is very inexpensive, yet it yields a beautiful keepsake.  In these tough financial times, it's fun to handcraft things that are inexpensive, unique, and much more appreciated than something storebought.  

First, you'll need to print out your initial.  This one was made using Photoshop.  A fun black and white background and a dark initial.  If you aren't Photoshop-savvy, you can duplicate this look by going to the craft store and buying some scrapbook paper in a fun pattern.  Make sure the pattern has good contrast of light and dark so it will photocopy well.  Then, use your computer and print out your initial.  Cut the scrapbook paper into a square (whatever size you desire) and also cut out the initial.  Paste the initial on top of the scrapbook paper and use a photocopier to make a black and white copy.  To make this project come out a little more luxe, we recommend using watercolor paper.  Watercolor paper goes through a copy machine safely and it provides a little texture and heft to the project, which makes the final outcome look more expensive.

Next, you'll need a glue pen.  These can be found at craft stores in a multitude of sizes.  You'll also want to purchase some glitter.  We recommend the Martha Stewart line at your local Michael's.  This glitter is a higher quality than most glitter and will help to make your finished project look more high-end.  For our initials, we used Martha Stewart coarse crystal glitter and Martha Stewart fine white gold glitter.  We mixed the two glitter colors in a shallow bowl and used them together to create a vintage look.  

Carefully outline and fill in the initial with glue and then coat with glitter.  Let that dry for a few minutes and then outline the border of the patterned square with glue and coat with glitter.

Here is a close-up of one of the letters we did.  Again, they are so pretty in person---the photos really don't do them justice!

One tip:  We recommend working in sections because the glue pens tend to dry very quickly.

You can do these large or small!  They turn out great!

The next step really finishes these off:  framing.  Find simple square frames to showcase the initials.



These make wonderful gifts for hostesses, brides-to-be, Christmas, birthdays...whatever!  You could also choose a more casual background and use a pretty colored glitter to do the initial and give it as a gift to a mom in honor of her new baby!  If you don't want to frame these, think of doing small versions and adding pretty ribbon and using them as luxe gift tags, placecards, ornaments...whatever!  Happy glittering!