Mending Plates Triptych

Steps 1-3

Steps:

1. Cut the 11/16" x 11/16" molding into two 21-1/2-inch lengths and two 6-1/2 inch lengths. Cut the 12-3/4" length of 3/4" x 1/2" molding in half. Glue the two short rails to between the two long rails, using wood glue, to form a non-mitered frame. Secure with a strap clamp to cure.

2. Paint the top and bottom of the wood frame black and the sides’ silver. Set the frame aside. Paint all four sides of each 3/4" x 1/2" x 6-3/8" piece and set aside.

3. Cut acrylic sheet to 18-1/6" x 6-7/16" using a metal ruler and a Plexiglas cutter. Set aside.

Step 4

4. Print three photos out on a piece of matte photo paper. Brush a thin layer of tar gel medium over the surface of the white mat board. Smooth the photo page over the tacky medium and cover with a sheet of parchment to prevent the medium from getting on the brayer. Eliminate any bubbles with a brayer. Let dry.

Steps 6-7

5. When the medium is dry, trim the white edge from the photos with a craft knife and a straight edge. Cut the vertical photo into seven 1/2 inch vertical strips.

6. Keep the strips in the precise order; dip the four sides of each strip in the brown inkpad.

7. Using the lines on the see thru ruler, mark five dots 3/16 inch from the inside and outside edges of the inside and outside strips, 1/2 inch from the tops and bottoms and about 7/8 inch apart. Repeat for both edges of the remaining five inner strips.

Steps 9-10

8. Using a 1/16 inch hole punch or a hand drill with a 1/16 inch bit, make a hole at each mark on each strip.

9. Set a 1/16" eyelet in each hole using the eyelet setter and a hammer.

10. Cut 11 foam adhesive-backed dots into quarters. Use a dot of craft glue to glue one quarter to each space along the back of each strip, between the eyelets. Set aside to dry.

Step 11

11. Cut galvanized wire into 30, 3 inch lengths. Make a hair pin shape of each wire and insert each end from the back of the strips to the front to connect the strips in the correct order.

Steps 12-13

12. Twist each section of wire with needle-nose pliers and trim ends as needed.

13. When all wire has been set, place a drop of craft glue on the back of each foam dot quarter and glue the piece to a 3-1/2" x 4-1/2" piece of black card stock. Set this photo aside.

Step 14

14. Cut one horizontal photo into seven, 1/2 inch horizontal strips, using a straight edge ruler, craft knife and self-healing cutting mat. To keep track of the order, work with one strip at a time or cut the entire photo into 1/2 inch squares.