Changing planes on Southwest Airlines last year, I spotted this super creative — and super ambitious — DIY Valentines candy Sweethearts® sculpture at the entrance to one of the gates in Baltimore. Supersize me: This thing is like 12′ feet tall. The creator seems to be Colleen — see her name on the ‘box’ that’s pouring out all the heart candies. As you can see, she’s written clever Southwest- and airline-related messages on them, including “Bags Fly Free.”
What would it take to do this project? I’m thinking: Very smooth, tight-cell styrofoam… an electric carving tool to shape the hearts… a digging-out tool to carve the messages, spray paint and acrylic paint to paint the hearts and then the red message… and a hot glue gun to glue the hearts together. A less ambitious plan, of course, would be to do just few hearts — but I think that for impact, yes: Glue them together and make a little “installation.” If you want to do the box, too, you will need cardboard and more paint.
I love Southwest, it is hands down, my preferred airline. It’s so civilized that they let you changes flights without a rigamarole. Yup, two bags fly free; now, in comparison, when I step up to other other airline counters and am charged $25 a bag, I am angered. I think their customer-friendly policies help Southwest’s attendants stay in a good mood — which keeps us in a good mood — so it’s all a virtuous circle. It really helps make flying more fun. Yes, it is still possible: Luv Is In the Air.