LBT: TooT! DIY "Thankful" Plaque

I'm not a decorate-y person. I don't have boxes in the attic marked 'Valentine's Day', 'St. Patrick's Day', 'Easter', 'Thanksgiving', you get the point. I have 2 lone Rubbermaid containers - 1 for Halloween and 1 for Christmas.

After packing up the Halloweenie decor (can you call Halloween decorations decor???), I realized that the house was bare once again (well, except for about 50 toys strewn all over the place). I felt I needed some fun, festive, Fall decorations to warm up this place.

I have had the idea for my tablecloth in my mind for a little while now. I knew that the tablecloth, while super cool, was not going to just stand on it's own. I am also hosting our family's Turkey Day this year and really wanted a beautiful but clean table display. So on the hunt I went. I hunted Fall leaves for the tablecloth, vases (TooT! to come later) and inspiration.

While I was at the Dollar Tree scoping out Fall leaves and vases I came across an awesome gift bag. I just loved the pattern and colors and knew that it would not only work for Fall but for our house full time. I grabbed it up and immediately realized that I needed to make some sort of plaque or framed art work or something with the gift bag as the background. I then came across a pre-fab'd (fabricated) oval, wooden 'thing' in the crafty area of the $ Tree. I remembered that I had a nice, new black frame at home that I bought at the Walton's Mega Dome (Wal-Mart) a while back on clearance and thus the 'Thankful' plaque was born...in my mind anyway.

Now it's alive and real and ready for you to make one of your own. Let's get started!

This project is so very easy and very inexpensive. I got the bag and the wooden oval for $1 a piece and I already had the frame which I bet you do too.

*You can use an existing frame. Just take out what ever pic you have in it and use the frame during the holiday then put it all back the way you had it when you're ready to.

You probably already have glue of some sort, paint and either paint pens or even one of those ridiculous contraptions they call the Cricut or Silhouette that can do beautiful vinyl letters.

Side Note: Who would ever want one of those fabulous, amazing, SUPER AWESOME machines??? They only do EVERYTHING and are the COOLEST things I have ever seen.

Not me! I'm totally cool with not having one.

NOT !!!

Dear Silhouette,

I heart you, very much.

I dream about you.

I love you.

Just sayin'

Can we do this or what? ;) ;) ;)

Materials

I think we've discussed this already but just in case...

Frame of your choice

Background of your choice - can be gift bag, wrapping paper or scrapbook paper

'Plaque'

Regular Glue (Mod Podge, Elmers) and Hot Glue

Paint

Paint pens or AWESOME vinyl lettering from your SUPER SPECIAL machine

Shot of the oval and gift bag I used

Go ahead and paint your wooden plaque at this point so that it can be drying while you prepare everything else. I used gloss black spray paint. You could use anything though. Maybe acrylic paint or even house paint. Just do it!

My 8 x 10 black frame

Carefully take your bag apart - you can do it, just be patient

Look at all of that awesome pattern real estate!

Trace the back of your frame onto the back of
the paper you are using and then cut out

I cut a piece of cardboard to glue my paper to. I just did this so I
didn't have to use the flimsy board that came with the frame.
We all have cereal boxes, right?

Showing my paper and cardboard cut to size. I then Mod Podged the
paper to the cardboard. I only applied it to the back of the paper in a nice, thin,
even layer and then adhered it to the cardboard.

Add word of your choice with a paint pen for that home-made, not so perfect look. If you have one of those boring machines, *yawn, go ahead and cut your beautiful vinyl letters and stick em on, however you all do that. (just jealous, lucky ladies) =)

Add hot glue to the back of your plaque.
Make sure it's not thick but nice and even and then adhere it to the
pretty, paper covered cardboard piece.

Once dry, put it all in your frame and admire it's beauty!

This thing looks so cool! It's literally 3D and very elegant looking. I do sort of like that the letters aren't perfect and have a touch of that home-made look. Don't get me wrong, I would do a back flip if I could make them perfect with cut out vinyl letters but for now this makes me very happy!

I Hope you are all enjoying your holiday prep and not stressing it. Why worry about tomorrow when today has enough of it's own worries, right? It will all work out the way it's suppose to and you will still be standing when it's over so just throw caution to the wind and have fun with it!!!

If you enjoyed this post or have any questions, please comment me. I would totally love to hear from you!

Happy Thursday and Happy Holiday Crafting!!!

PEACE
LOVE &
Sweet Potatoes - I can't wait for those yummy sweet potatoes!