Thursday 14 November 2013

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:




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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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30 comments:

Georgia Ehrmann said...

Nancy,
Your creation is simply spectacular! I am honored to be on the same DT with you girl!!!!
Hugs,
Georgia
PS I might have to "case" your sketch now!

blsd2scrp said...

this is such a gorgeous page! love, love, love the banner and the details are just so lovely! I love that you shared this with us over at SEM!

Ardilla said...

Hi, Nancy!
What a gorgeous project!!!
I like the attitude of being thankful everyday, we don´t need only one day to be.
Hugs,
Ardilla :)

Kelly said...

Great page! I love the banner and leaves. Love the bricks behind the poem. The colors are so beautiful and would look great framed on a wall. Thankful you are my friend!
Hugs Kelly

Mary J said...

How gorgeous Nancy, the details came together beautifully!

Susan M said...

This is just gorgeous Nancy ! I can tell how much you enjoyed creating your page! I love the autumnal colours and the blue is just so striking with the other hues. The brick mask is fabulous and love that banner and the lovely flowers and the picket fence ,everything works beautifully together!

Marsha Fisher said...

WOW!! This is absolutely gorgeous...Love, love, love it!

Cely said...

this is so cute nancy!!! LOVE all the distressed/splattered parts. and the leaf stamp in the background is fabulous!

Unknown said...

Fabulous take on the sketch Nancy. Now, you won't have any idea what I'm talking about now, but your page reminds me of a wall plaque my Nanna had that I would stare at for hours. The relief work and detail fascinated me for hours. I loved it and I love this page for taking me back in time and remembering that plaque and the delightful childhood I enjoyed. Thank you. xxx

Tfriday said...

Wow, your layout is simply stunning. Great job on the sketch, you nailed it. Love the background with the stencil. It turned out Awesome. You used a lot of product on this one. Wow... :D

undertheshuswapsun said...

Over the top.... can't say enough!! Beautiful Nancy!

Marilyn said...

This is a fabulous page Nancy and I love all the textures and colours here. Every time I look at it, I see something I missed before.
Plus, I am scouring your comments for clues... but you already know what a bad spy I am so I probably won't get any hints.

Cara G said...

This is just beautiful Nancy...all those extra touches really make your layout shine. It is such a wonderful take on the sketch you used. We are so very glad you decided to link up with us this month at Scrapping Everyday Miracles for our "thankful" challenge---great job!!

Penny said...

Exquisite, Nancy! Love the design, the die cuts, the layers, all the details you added, and that fabulous background! :^)
Hugs, Penny

Kat W said...

This is really special and I personally love that you shared all the details and lots of photos. There is so much to inspire here even if you don't scrapbook - I really love the little banner and could see myself using this on a card.
The colours are so beautiful and really capture this time of year :-)

Big hugs, Kat xx

papercrafter45 said...

Stunning!! Each and every detail is absolutely lovely! Such a wonderful, contemplative piece that truly evokes thoughts of giving thanks. :)

Gemiel said...

Nancy, this is GORGEOUS!!!! The detailed explanation of your page is great. You used some techniques that I'd like to try so thank you for the instructions. I really love how you created the banner with all the different dies and punches. I would have never thought to do that and it looks awesome! I could go on and on, but let's just say I love this page!!

CardsbyMarianne.blogspt.com said...

Gorgeous! I think you did an awesome job of taking the sketch and making it your own. You've inspired me to try one of these someday soon!

Jennifer said...

This is just stunning! I love the wonderful way you've combined all these wonderful elements together! Beautiful poem and birds!

Tracy said...

Your card is stunning.
I love the these colours and how you used this sketch :)

Tracy said...

sigh.....I could just stare at this all day. It's so beautiful Nancy. You did an amazing job with that wonderful sketch. The masked bricks and all those layers....just yummilicious! :-) Hugs!

Unknown said...

stunning layout. such wonderful details! Thanks for playing with us at SEM.

Unknown said...

This is absolutely beautiful. The details are insane, so much to see.
Thanks for sharing it with us at SEM

debby4000 said...

Oh what a beautiful layout, such lovely details and wonderful sentiments.

Thank you for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.

luv

Debby

Jonia said...

Another beauty Nancy. I had seen most of these through e-mail, but had not had time to comment with all that has been going on. But glad I was able to stop by today.

Roberta; mother of 4, GiGi to 1 said...

Love all of the detail, the dimension, the layers! I would love for you to be a quest designer for us as Scrapping Everyday Miracles! Thank you for entering at Scrapping Everyday Miracles - and please join us on December 1st for a Christmas project challenge!

Helen Gullett said...

Fabulous layout! WOW! I am so inspired by your work, Nancy! the layering and clustering are amazing. Thank you for playing with us at SEM this month!

Jessica said...

Your layout is beautiful! I love the inked bricks and the lovely fall colors. Thanks for playing along with us at Scrapping Everyday Miracles!

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness! I had to scroll down forever, or it seemed like it anyway, to find the comment box :D Seems I'm not the only one that loves this page :D

There is so much detail on the page. I'm so glad you took many different shots of it and explained what you did and why. This page is my most favorite of all you have done. Don't get me wrong, I so love the work you do. This one, the joy you felt in making it and seeing the finished page, reached out an touched me as I looked at it. Your joy is tangible in this page.

Pure AWESOMENESS!!

Love you my friend - Leslie

chanya13 said...

Beautiful LO - love how you used maps. Wonderful colors and embelishments, hugs

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