You Are My Sunshine- Gift

I totally scored with this one.  Made my mother-in-law cry… yup this was gooood  My mother-in-law sings “You are my sunshine” to all the grand kids, all the time.  Especially the ones that live far away, she sings it over the phone.  Its a special thing for them and her.  So I thought it would be fun to use our hands and make a birthday surprise for her.

I know all you scrapbookers out there will love this.  It’s like a giant scrapbook page without pictures.  I saw an idea to do a scrapbook page with “you are my sunshine” as the theme in ScrapBooks Etc magazine a few years ago.  But, could not find it when I made this… I searched so hard but was bummed that they have taken it off their website and I can’t find the July 2008 issue either!  I just had to go with the memory of it- my photographic memory coming in handy.  I also found an awesome layout in my search for the picture that originally inspired me, but (say this next sentence fast and annoyed) someone messed with my computer before I could bookmark it and I can’t find that either to give the lady some props!…so poo…  But!  good news I figured something out using my creativity and supplies I had in my craft closet.  (I used only what I had already-such a good feeling)

This is what I used:

Scrapbook paper- lots

buttons and gems

paper flowers

sewing machine and thread

hot glue

card board- for backing

Tombo adhesive- I LOVE

Cricut machine, Plantin SchoolBook cartridge, Opposites Attract cartridge

Different shades of yellow acrylic crafters paint and card stock for hand prints

How I did it:

My sister-in-laws sent me their families hand prints.  I cut them out and started arranging them on a curve.  I then arranged papers for the sun, glued them together and sewed them for an extra touch

After sewing it I emblessed with buttons, gems, thread, and a sticker that says “family”

I wrote all the names on the hands, because I thought the kids would enjoy seeing which hand is theirs when they get bigger.

I cut grass by just cutting little random triangles out of the paper, then layering with solid colors.  I glued those together with my Tombo and again sewed different stitches and tread colors for interest

Sorry this pic is blurry.  I printed the sheet music out on scrapbook paper and burnt the edges to make it look antique/old

I cut out cloud shapes, glued, sewed.  Cut out some raindrops.  And used my cricut to cut the words out.  My back ground is a piece of scrapbook paper that looks like notebook paper.  I got that idea from the lady I can’t remember/find.  I sewed the same color blue on a few of the lines of the paper to add texture.  The other back ground paper, the teal, is two matching pieces of paper just set underneath everything.

I am not sure why, but this was the hardest part for me.  I knew I wanted flowers, but I didn’t know how to arrange them.  I loved the flowers printed on the paper,  but also wanted more texture.  So, I added the paper flowers and used brads for the center.  I sewed the leaves and made that super cute bumble bee.  I think the bee is my favorite.                                                       I am proud of that little bee

Done!  …………Almost…

Painting/Antiquing the frame!

I used a frame I had bought at a garage sale and never used.  I think it cost $5.

(upside down wedding picture)

I sprayed it with an off-white

Sanded the edges

Then I used a clear top coat to seal it… and it totally bubbled up.  I was thinking, “Man, now I have to sand the whole thing and start over!”  But to my surprise as I started to sand it looked just how I wanted, totally antiqued.  Perfect! Love when mistakes work out.

Then I took it over to my favorite framer- Bill Chumbley of ABC Design here in Escondido CA – e-mail me for his number- he’s great!  He added a little foam core between frame and picture so that the glass wasn’t right on the button or squishing the flowers.  He added a hook on the back and sealed the whole frame up for me.  And here is how it looks all put together!

Give a gift from your Bad Self!

Allie thanks for letting me use your sewing machine!  I promise I will get my fixed soon