Tutorial: In All Things Give Thanks

Hello dear friends!  I wanted to take a moment today to say “Thank YOU!” for all of your love, support, and kind words throughout the year.  This year on Thanksgiving I am reflecting on how blessed I am to call this blog and this art “work”.  Each day I get to live my dream by getting to create and share.  I couldn’t do that without all of you who are so kind to take your time to take a look at what I have to share.  I am so very thankful for all of you who come, read, comment, and create along with me.

Today I have a quick and easy decor project tutorial to share.  As I was creating this piece I found myself reflecting on the holiday and thoughts of gratitude.  I wanted to create a piece about “thanks” but not about being thankful on just Thanksgiving, but for every single day.  I think the final piece is so happy!  I love it and I hope you will too!

For the base of the piece, I used a 6″ x 8″ artist canvas panel.  I purchased these panels in a 5 pack for $4.99 at my local Michaels store.  They make a great sturdy base for decorative projects and are inexpensive.

Cut a piece of pattern paper roughly to size of the canvas.  Apply adhesive to the back of the paper (I used my Xyron machine).  Adhere the paper to the canvas matching the right edges together.  Sand the edges of the paper to help them blend into the surface of the canvas. (Paper shown: Pebbles- From Me to You Cardmaking Pad.)

Use an ink blending tool to apply Walnut Stain Distress Ink to the edge of the paper and canvas.

Tear a second piece of pattern paper to fit the left half of the canvas.  Ink and curl the torn edges.

Adhere the paper to the canvas, overlapping the first piece of pattern paper.

Sand the edges of the paper to so that the paper blends into the edge of the canvas.

Use an ink blending tool to apply Walnut Stain Distress Ink to the edge of the paper and canvas.

Fold a piece of vellum in half.  Die cut the vellum using the Tim Holtz Vintage Doily On The Edge Die.  Place the fold of the vellum along the bottom edge of the die where it doesn’t cut.  Die cutting with a fold will create an oval doily.

Adhere the doily to the lower left of the canvas.  Adhere a leafy Floral Ephemera stem to the canvas in the center of the doily.

Add a ribbon bow to the base of the stem.  (I used dyed Tim Holtz Crinkle Ribbon.)

Adhere assorted Botanica Minis around the stem and bow.

Snip apart the beaded stem.

Adhere one part of the beaded stem at the top of the floral cluster, tucking it behind the other flowers and leaves.  Adhere the second part of the beaded stem to the bottom of the flower cluster, tucking it behind the other flowers and leaves.

Use an ink blending tool to apply Walnut Stain Distress Ink to the edges of a small manila shipping tag.

Mist the tag with Antique Linen Distress Stain place in a mister bottle.  Allow the stain to soak into the tag a minute before blotting the excess with a dry cloth.

Dry the tag with a heat tool.

Mist the tag with Bronze Perfect Pearls Mist.  Allow the mist to sit a moment before blotting the excess with a dry cloth.  Dry the tag with a heat tool.

Use an ink blending tool to apply Walnut Stain Distress Ink again to the edges of the tag.

Use letter stamps and black archival ink to add a sentiment to the tag.

Crinkle, curl, and tear the edged of the tag.  Adhere the tag to the canvas.  Tuck the end of the tag into the flower cluster.

The flowers in the Botanica collection are so beautiful!  I love flowers for my projects that look real and this collection does!  I love how vibrant the colors are and how much texture they have!  They sure add a special touch to this project!

I hope you enjoyed this project tutorial!  It turned out so lovely and really was quick to assemble!

Many wishes to you and yours on this Thanksgiving Day!

With much gratitude and thanks-

Feel free to pin this project on Pinterest!  While you are there, I would love for you to check out my boards!