Give Thanks

Hello, my dear friends!

I'm afraid I have a fairly LONG post for you today!  I won't be offended if you just look at the photos before you leave a comment! ;o)

Unfortunately it's a dark and dreary day here but I can't wait for the sun to share this with you! lol I hope the photos look okay.

When Scrapping Everyday Miracles posted their November challenge, I knew I would participate. The challenge is to create a project using the word or phrase "thanks, thanksgiving, thankful, thankfulness, or give thanks." Here in Canada we celebrated Thanksgiving in October but many of you may know that I tend to see EVERY day as a day for giving thanks! I was very happy to create a "Give Thanks" layout.

I then happened upon a VERY inspiring sketch and used it for my page. I will get into all the details, but first I will show you my work:

Can you tell that I had a WONDERFUL time making this one?  Oh, yes! I certainly did! :o)

When I find an inspiring sketch, I do my very best to replicate it as closely as I can. How did I do? Here is the sketch from C'est Magnifique November Sketch Challenge:

I started with the paper, of course. I used an old Making Memories Autumn Splendor page. Using a Prima mask I inked the bricks where shown on the sketch. The center of the sketch looks like it's been painted, so I did that with a green paint dabber. I cut the fence out of chipboard and embossed it with a wood grain. I colored the chipboard with Weathered Wood Distress Stain, and positioned it on the page. Then I added all the spatters of assorted mists around the page. I didn't have a die that looked just like the one in the sketch, so I found something similar on one of my Slice cards and cut them out in various sizes. I scored them to add texture, and then inked them. Here you can see some of the details:

For my photo, I used this fantastic digital image from Ephemera's Vintage Garden. It's actually a freebie called Chickadee Thanksgiving, and you can find it right HERE. The coloring on the birds inspired me to add all the teal accents on the page. Everything was distressed and inked.

Here is a close-up of my flower cluster. Aren't the flowers beautiful? I didn't have to make any of them! I recently received a package from a dear sweet friend and it was FULL of beautiful I Am Roses flowers! You'll be seeing many more of them on my work. I added some ink to the edges of the flowers, and the orange-y ones were misted with Glimmer Mist. The sketch had just the one random button on it...isn't that fun?

Another detail photo:

Then I added my title. I used the first part of the Scripture verse found in 1 Thessalonians 5:18..."GIVE THANKS in all circumstances..." God is so good! Life can be difficult and get really hard sometimes. Even then, it is important that we always be thankful. It certainly changes our viewpoint and our attitude towards the trying times! :o)

Isn't this banner fun? I gathered up some dies and punches and cut these pieces out of three different colors of cardstock. Using several background stamps and some mini doily stamps I stamped and then inked all the pieces. I positioned them as shown in the sketch and stitched them together across the top keeping the end threads long. I attached to brads to the page and wrapped the end threads around them. I also added some adhesive behind the banner. 

The sketch has a hummingbird hovering above the flower thingy. I didn't have one, and decided that it would be more fun to fussy cut another set of the chickadees out of a second image. Then I sat them on the fence. Finally, I added a few random sequins in matching colors. One final look at the page:

Thanks so much for taking a look at my work! If you have any questions about anything, please ask! Also, please let me know what you think of this kind of detailed explanation for my work...or if you would prefer short and sweet! :o)

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Linking Up To:

Scrapping Everyday Miracles - To Be Thankful is To Be Truly Content

C'est Magnifique Kits November Sketch Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Thanks/Thanksgiving

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Materials Used:

Papers: Making Memories - Autumn Splendor, Bazzill Cardstock;

Digital Image: Ephemer's Vintage Garden - Chickadee Thanksgiving;

Dies: Making Memories Slice Design Card - Bon Appetit!,

Stampin' Up Framelits - Hearts A Flutter, Die-namics - Banner, 

Sizzix - Picket Fence,

Punches: EK Success Border Punch - Notebook,

Stampin' Up - XL Petite Pennants;

Embossing Folder: Tim Holtz - Wood Grain;

Alphas: Kelly Purkey - Alphabet Stickers, 

Making Memories - Tiny Alphas;

Mask: Prima - Brick;

Flowers: I Am Roses - Gift from Joy;

Inks: Distress Inks - Walnut Stain, Vintage Photos;

Stamps: Recollections - Script, Martha Steward - Doilies,

Stampology - Blog Stamps 2;

Distress Stain: Weathered Wood;

Paint Dabber: Lettuce;

Mists: Adirondack Color Wash - Meadow,

Glimmer Mists - Wheat Beer, Mallard, Chocolat Covered Cherries;

Sequins: Lawn Fawn Sequins. 

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