For my friend, mentor, partner in ‘crime’, inspiration…my Mom

This Mother’s Day present was a year in the making.  Last year I made a 3 panel wall hanging for my Mother-In-Law.  My Mom has been hearing for the past year about all the ‘wall art’ with pictures I have made for family members.  This year for Mother’s Day, I hope she will be surprised to be getting one of her own.  By using a 20x20 canvas I was able to get an 8x10 group shot of my four kids, four individual 5x7’s of my kids, and a 5x7 of my brother’s two kids, so that all six grandkids were together (even if we couldn’t be together for picture taking). 

All products are CTMH unless otherwise stated.

20x20 canvas (local craft store)

Deckle edge scissors by Fiskars (craft store)

Glimmer thread (Sulky metallic thread found with the sewing notions in my local craft store)

Matte Mod Podge (craft store)

Scotch Advanced Tape Glider adhesive (craft store)

Paper retired Veranda paper pack

Sunflower and Daisy White cardstock

Edge Distresser (Z1090)

Stamp sets Bohemian Alphabet (E1019) and Simple Blossoms (C1247)

Colonial White buttons (from the mini medley Z1276)

Two sizes Bitty Sparkles (Z1104)

Black and Sunflower Exclusive Inks

Liquid Glass (Z1313)

 

I took a nontraditional approach to putting this together.  Most people would dive right in from the beginning using Mod Podge.  I however decided to play it a little bit safe because, let’s face it, a canvas this size is not cheap!  So I adhered the paper with my tape gun first, then put some matte Mod Podge on top to seal it.  I then used the tape gun again to adhere the pictures.

For the title I used the Boho alphabet and Sunflower ink, used my edge distresser then added some sunflower ink for a little ‘pop’.  It was still looking a little naked, so I decided to add some of the smallest Sparkles to the center of any flower in the Boho stamping.  I then stamped the bunch of three flowers, cut them out using my deckle edge scissors and again distressed with Sunflower ink.  I had to add a little bling and it fit perfectly where the stem and the flower meet.

I next moved onto the paper rose. (Compliments of Michelle Auten)  BACKSTORY ALERT!  My moms dad had the most beautiful peace roses I had ever seen.    I struggled to get the shading just as I had remembered, but in the end had to settle for more subtle shading.

I have found myself addicted to adding this thread to any and all buttons I use on my projects.  It’s very fine and almost hard to see, but gives the buttons that little touch of attitude.  But they too still looked a little naked, and when in doubt I turn to bling, in this case Sparkles.

I attached the paper rose and the buttons using Liquid Glass, and finished the whole thing with more Matte Mod Podge.

Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who showed me: how to be soft and strong at the same time; how to love with all my heart; and to this day inspires me to be better than the day before.

I love you Mom.

2010                               2011

Enjoy!