Thankful Thursday: DIY Thanksgiving Craft

I have totally taken to crafting to help me relax.  I am reluctant to say that I’m a crafter; I think there is a connotation that would imply that I have a really strong skill set and everything turns out perfectly.

This is not the case. 

What I make up in actual skills, I make up in a sense of adventure.  Who knows how this is going to turn out?  Who cares if it doesn’t go according to plan?  I’ll just try something else.

I guess crafting has taken on the metaphor of how I hope to embrace life one day: who cares what happens as long as I am enjoying myself in a healthy way (and don’t inhale too many glue and paint fumes).

I am thankful that crafting has given me an avenue to explore what a carefree life could be like.

Before this craft, I had never used chalkboard paint before.  But I was curious about it, so I decided to try it out on chipboard.  I wanted something that could be made for Thanksgiving, but could stay out all year, too.

First I took a chipboard and spray painted it with chalkboard spray.

Then I cut strips of scrapbook paper to cover a canvas.

I used Mod Podge in a glossy finish.

I wanted to to make the chipboard with chalkboard paint pop (that I wrote on with chalk and sealed it with a matte sealant), so I decided to matte it to some brown and patterned cardstock.

I used the Mod Podge in a glossy finish again on the canvas.

Then I used Mod Podge with a matte finish to adhere it to the canvas.  I was hoping it would add contrast to the glossy and make keep it looking more like a chalkboard.

But it didn’t.  The fine chalkboard dust I created did not stick.  But that’s OK.  I still like how it turned out.

Have you used chalkboard paint?  Or have you done any crafts lately?  I would love to try something new!

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Know what else I'm thankful for?  Huffington Post published my piece about Thanksgiving and how I use food to express my love and acceptance. I would love it if you clicked on over and read it!