So, my niece hit the big 1-3 this year and I was faced with the never ending question…what do I get her for her birthday?
Well, I went a little out of the box for her this year. I gave her an altered canvas and a pack of all occasion cards that she can give to her friends or use for just about anything.
Her favorite colors are pink and black. I found a pink and black fairy canvas at a thrift shop. (Sidebar – have I mentioned I volunteer at a thrift shop one day a week? Dangerous work for someone like me who sees possibilities in other people’s cast-offs.) (Sidebar 2 – and did I remember to take a before picture of the canvas before I covered it in stickers and paint? <sigh> Of course not. Sorry, readers – thyroid brain strikes again!) The original canvas was in pretty good shape, with some minor staining in one corner. Not a problem for this project!
If you follow me on Facebook, you’ve already seen the before and after shots of this fun canvas. Here are the details…
Remember my first altered canvas? Well, I learned a LOT from that little experiment! I went much smaller this time, so I was able to use letter stickers. I also used spray paint, versus crafter’s acrylic paint. So, was it easier? EXPONENTIALLY! 😉 But, I still had issues with the letters adhering as firmly as I’d like. I know it’s because it’s a canvas and the adhesive on stickers just isn’t strong enough. I’ll keep working on that issue. But the spray paint solved so many issues and made the painting part a breeze. I definitely recommend it! Oh – sidebar…I used a Spray Grip for the paint. And wow!! It was totally worth the small investment!
I wanted to give more than just the canvas, so I put my thinking cap on. And realized that even in this digital age, a handwritten note is still a treasure.
I went with her fave colors again, lightening them up a bit with a grey tone. Used a variety of stamps (mostly Stephanie Barnard’s The Stamps of Life) and cardstock. They didn’t take very long once I landed on a card idea.
I also made the box for them – using a transparency for the top, to give it a more professional look. A gift card for the birthday girl and I called it done.
(Sidebar 3 – my crafty girl also went with the birthday girl’s favorite colors and made her a matching set of Rainbow Loomed necklace, bracelet and ring. Cute, huh?)
