Materials:

Unfinished wood chest or box
Mod Podge matte decoupage glue
Acrylic paints (FolkArt Wicker White, Baby Pink)
Tissue paper in light pink, hot pink, medium pink, red
2 or 3 foam 1 inch paintbrushes
Clean rag
Tracing paper; masking tape
Cardstock or stiff paper for templates
Black permanent fine-point marker for message
Sharp scissors

Instructions:

--Remove chest-latch hardware or cover it with tape. Cover hinges.

--Paint chest 1 coat white inside and out. Let dry. Thin pink paint about 1:1 with water to make a wash. Wipe onto box with rag to create a film of pink. Let dry.

--Draw 4 small half-hearts as shown on screen. Make additional sizes on a copier if you like. Cut a template for each size from cardstock or paper.

--Stack and fold 2 or 3 small pieces of tissue paper in half. Placing broken line of pattern on fold, trace pattern onto top sheet and cut through all layers, leaving fold intact. (To cut smooth curves, move the paper instead of the scissors.) Cut several of each size in each color.

--Brush a thin layer of Mod Podge on a section of the chest. Place lightest-color hearts at random and smooth down with the glue brush. Repeat on each section. Let dry. Apply next darker color and allow hearts to overlap. Let dry and repeat with each color. Let dry thoroughly.

--Brush on Mod Podge as a finish, following manufacturer's directions.

--Let dry.

--Write a message lightly along sides of lid with the marker.

Tip:

Make a paper pattern first and transfer it to the box by rubbing a soft pencil on back and tracing the letters onto the box.) Reapply latch. Fill box with a paper lining and goodies.