Bit by a bug

...and it's been a little fun!

I've had this on my to-do list since May...but I had to wait for a little one to arrive, then I had to find the perfect canvas, then I had to find the time.

This was super easy!  I got a canvas for cheap (24 x 36 inches) at a family reunion auction...painted over the ugly design about 6 times, til the original picture didn't show through.  I used "Light Buttercream" from Americana's line.  (I bet you could find one at the D.I., thrift store, Ross, etc.)

Then I printed out the silhouettes of my boys (remember this?), cut them out and placed them where I wanted them...eyeball...it's easier...and traced them.

Then I printed the words "Behold your little ones." in High Tower Text, size 200 and outlined the letters, so I didn't waste a bunch of black ink.  I cut apart the words, lined them up how I wanted and taped them together.  I proceeded to make a carbon copy of the letters by scribbling with a pencil on the BACK of the paper (easier if  you hold it up to a window, so you scribble on the back, and you can see through the paper to where the lines are) and then when I lay in on the canvas, I just traced the letters, and the carbon from the lead was transferred to the canvas.

Then I painted.  All the black painting took about an hour and a half...but I had thought through this process in my sleep since last spring, so it went fairly quickly for me.

After all the black was dried, I 'antiqued' it with a brown gel.  I did this LAST in case I needed to do any touch-ups with white paint.

I am IN LOVE!  I think I need a bigger apartment  house for all these HUGE crafts!  ...Dear Santa...


I did a fun little garland that says "gratitude"...

I traced the letters (same font, size 150) but onto black paper, then cut them out with scissors...time consuming, but VERY therapeutic for me.  I used some of my dyed twill tape from here and stitched it up in no time!  (To color plain twill tape, I put a glob of desired paint color in a plastic cup with some water...depending on shade of ribbon, (less water for darker color) and stirred it around, then 'squee-geed' with my fingers all the water off and hung them on my shower curtain rod...there's still paint on it, but it'll wipe off, right???)

I did put a twist on the pennants, and inked the edges...I think it will be a while till I do more. I like them but not for EVERY holiday.  ;)

And these fun "thanks" letters.

If you live near Idaho Falls, ther's a  new store called "Cut It Out" and I assume you could get ANYTHING cut out!  I let the boys help me paint the letters (it was easier than listening to the whining) and then sanded them down, modge-podged the paper on, and antiqued them with the same gel-stain I used on the canvas.  Every morning I come in the living room to find Tanner has turned every letter around.  :)  Little turkey!  Love him!

I think I'll need to get started on some Christmas Stockings soon, so this might be all the "Thanksgiving" decor I do right now.  It's fun to be home and be able to craft as it's been about two years since I've had this 'freedom' and 'time'!