The Hens Den: “What We’re Thankful For” by Moriah

Thursday, November 22, 2012

“What We’re Thankful For” by Moriah

“What We’re Thankful For”

Thanksgiving is a big holiday weekend in my husband’s family. We have lots of birthdays that fall around now and I have a big Black Friday Tree Trimming Blowout at our house. Needless to say, we have lots to be thankful for each year we are together. Every year we write what we are thankful for, pose for pictures (silly and traditional), and everything is added to a thankful album my husband (yup he worked on it too!) and I made for his mom years ago.

This Thanksgiving Day we will see family in Maine too. There are a lot of food allergies in the family we are visiting, so rather than causing a potential disaster by cooking, here is my contribution. I’m bringing place cards that will be used after to create and micro-mini album of thanks. All the place cards are envelopes that have paper tucked into them for each person to write what they are thankful for and then all the envies will be tied together with ribbon for a family keepsake. Don’t stress if you like this idea but know you haven’t time to get it done before the bird is out of the oven. You could spin this idea in time for Christmas or any other celebration coming up. Folks could write favorite memories of the year, wishes for the upcoming year, or even what they love about whatever holiday you may be celebrating at the time. Well, I have babbled on long enough. Here’s the info on making your own micro-mini thankful album from place cards (say that 10 times fast!)

Supplies:

Paper- 6X6 Designer Pad- Everyday Moments (Teresa Collins) & For the Record-Picket Fence (Echo Park), Happy Haunting-Enchanted Garden (Graphic 45)

Brads- Serenity (Bo Bunny)

Stamps- Alphabet (Amuse), Index Card (Memory Box)

Tag base- Envelope Tags (American Tag Co.)

Ink- Rich Cocoa (Memento). Pumpkin (StazOn), Chestnut Roan (ColorBox Chalk)

Paint- Custard (Mr. Hueys)

Adhesive- ZipDry

Other- Hole punch

Instructions:

Preparing your card components:

1. Cut the designer paper in various lengths (roughly 1 ½” to 2 ¾“) and widths (roughly around ¼”). You’ll need 3 different patterns for each tag you make. For these 7 tags I used 12 lengths of Happy Haunting paper (both sides were used on some tags), 2 Teresa Collins yellow patterned paper, 7 lengths from the Picket Fence paper (2 designs were used, sometimes both on 1 tag).

2. To make the banner edge I “eyeballed” it.

3. The lighter papers were edged with Chestnut Roan. They seemed just too white/light for the rest of the palette I was using and the Chestnut Roan helped make them blend better.

Assembling your page/card/project:

1. Stamp all the tags with the index stamp. I offset the stamp so the edging scoop didn’t show, which is to say I lined the edge of the stamp up with the hole that is already punched into the envelope. Don’t worry about the edge showing. You’ll cover it with the designer paper later.

2. Select 3 of your prepped banners. I made them all different sizes for additional visual interest (and because I had different size scraps I was playing with, LOL!) Adhere all 3 in layers at the edge of the envelope that has the pre-punched hole. You’ll re-punch the hole when you are done.

3. Stamp the names with Pumpkin.

4. Punch hole and adhere brad to bottom corner area of banner end.

5. Spritz as desired with Custard paint.

6. Repeat as many times as you need. When done congratulate yourself for making such awesome place cards that will double as mementos later. Don’t forget to get some ribbon or twine to tie everything together! :)