Monday, November 24, 2014

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.

DIY Thanksgiving craft Thankful Thursday Erin Janda Rawlings Mommy on the Spot


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

DIY Thanksgiving craft Thankful Thursday Erin Janda Rawlings Mommy on the Spot


I used Mod Podge in a glossy finish.

DIY Thanksgiving craft Thankful Thursday Erin Janda Rawlings Mommy on the Spot


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.

DIY Thanksgiving craft Thankful Thursday Erin Janda Rawlings Mommy on the Spot


DIY Thanksgiving craft Thankful Thursday Erin Janda Rawlings Mommy on the Spot


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


DIY Thanksgiving craft Thankful Thursday Erin Janda Rawlings Mommy on the Spot


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.

DIY Thanksgiving craft Thankful Thursday Erin Janda Rawlings Mommy on the Spot


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

DIY Thanksgiving craft Thankful Thursday Erin Janda Rawlings Mommy on the Spot



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


DIY Thanksgiving craft Thankful Thursday Erin Janda Rawlings Mommy on the Spot


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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!

1 comment:

Jacob Werner said...

Great blog thanks for posting