Fun using patterned paper on canvas!

At the beginning of December, I was aching to use some of the canvases that I've had hanging around my studio. They've literally been in my house for more than a year and traveled to the new house with us when we moved in August. I got them when they were on sale and knew that eventually, I would find some inspiration to start working on them.

Also at the beginning of December, I went to a showing of a documentary called, The Fragrant Spirit of Life: Misery and Hope in Uganda. One of the reasons that I wanted to see this documentary was because I spent 2 months on a missions trip to Uganda when I was 14. It was a life changing experience that was desperately needed at that age. The things that I learned back then are things that I've carried with me throughout my life.

As I watched the "Sam and Esther" segement of the film (Click here to see it on YouTube: Sam and Esther), I found the inspriation that I've been looking for all during 2008. Every time I looked over and saw those blank canvases, they called out to me, but the inspiration I needed hadn't come yet.

Last Friday, I took one of the canvases out and got to work. In a week's time, I've now started on #4. In between working on these canvases (which I'll eventually get to showing you over time), I took a smaller one out to work on a gift for friends in Indiana. They are expecting baby #2 and I wanted to do something special for them that their girls could share.

Their first little one is named Avery and their second little one (due in just a couple of weeks) is going to be named Aidan. They both will share the same middle name, "Grace." I'd never heard of siblings sharing the same middle name until now and thought it was such a sweet way to start these two little girls out sharing something so special.

I created this canvas to put in the room they'll share and hope that this will be something they love to look at with all its bright colors.

I painted the canvas first and then started cutting out patterned paper to create the little girls in their dresses. I added some buttons for their hair and flower buttons for some extra dimension. The patterned paper came from the "Die Cuts with a View" Spring stack. It's such a fun and playful set of papers for little girls.

I had so much fun making this and I can't wait to show you what else I've been working on.

Happy Creating and Happy 2009!

-Stampin' Mama

Comments

[Mary C. Anderson]

I love what you have done with the canvas Erika.You are so creative. I also love that the girls both share the same middle name Grace. I am looking forward to seeing more of your cnvases.

Mary

[Kim]

Erika - this is just adorable! What a special gift!

[Tanya]

Wow, what a great gift!