Our Subway and Canvas Board Gifts

I promised I would share some of the Christmas presents I made.  I was just getting my energy back, when I caught a cold and didn't feel like doing anything again.  Late is better than never though, right?

I was making these Subway style quote boards for the kids, they were cooking up some handmade gifts for us that blew us away...but more on that later.  I asked each one for a quote from a song or bible verse that was special to them.  My daughter had pinned these boards on her pinterest.  I wanted to combine the two, using a silk cherry blossom (her favorite flower).

Source: mamamarcie.blogspot.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Here's the one I made for her:

It was an easy process using my new Cameo Silhouette.  Yes!!!  I got one for Christmas!  I thought I had blogged about it, but in looking back through my posts I couldn't find it.  I can't believe I haven't told you yet.  I am in serious love...with a machine.  I made several Christmas gifts with it (I got it early).  It cuts up to 12 inch wide material.

I used plain white contact paper for the lettering.  Instead of making a stencil, I did the reverse.  I wanted the words to be wood and the rest painted, so I adhered the letters to the raw wood first.  I made sure to place some of the letters on the natural knots in the wood.

Then I painted the board with Plaid Apple Barrel paint in Caribbean, toned down with a little brown paint.  After it dried,  I dry brushed the whole thing with watered down brown paint to age it.

Finally I let it dry and pulled the letters off to reveal the wood underneath.  I could not find just what I wanted for a flower, so I left it blank for now.  Jamie is pretty creative and may just find or make something herself.

Here is the one I did for Tyler.  

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Again, I centered some letters over a knot in the wood.  I think it gives it character.

After it dried I gave it a light sanding to age it a bit.  

Jared's favorite song is the contemporary version of Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone), by Chris Tomlin.  We sing it often during worship at our church.  This is the board I made for him.

I didn't sand his.  It's more in keeping with his room.

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Christmas morning I had them tucked behind packages.  I removed the packages and they loved them.  I didn't even have to tell them which was whose.  A few minutes later Ken and I got a big surprise.  Our precious children had made two very special gifts for us.

One day before Christmas they all headed over to my mom's house.  I was led to believe they were wrapping gifts for us there, and helping Grandma with a project.  They were actually working on these gifts.  When I opened mine I almost cried, and I am not a cryer.  They are the most special gifts we've ever gotten besides the gift of our children themselves.  Take a look for yourself:

For Ken

I love their hand prints superimposed over top of one another!

For me

I was blown away!  I have the best kids in the whole world...of course I am a bit biased ;) They are hanging in our bedroom facing the bed.  When I someday get around to remodeling our bedroom, I'll show you.

I will share some other Christmas gifts I made later.  Have an awesome day!

I've joined in these fabulous parties:

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