Alabaster Style Canvas

Alabaster Style Canvas

In honor of my parents 37th wedding anniversary yesterday, I created this alabaster style canvas for them. Congratulations to my loving parents; I am forever grateful for your support, the passed down creativity, and the confidence to pursue my art to higher levels.

After not being able to see much of my parents in the last couple years,let alone make them gifts for things like Mothers and Fathers Day, I have been making up for lost time recently. They always loved the artwork I made them as a kid, they even have a water color painting I made when I was 7 in their safety deposit box. They are my biggest fans despite it all. So, for their 37th wedding anniversary, I wanted to make them something really special.

I googled the traditional/modern gift for the 37th anniversary and discovered a challenge when I learned the gift was alabaster (a type of marble-like stone used in carvings). I pondered what I could possible come up with, and decided to create a raised quote on a canvas in an alabaster color scheme.

I chose Audrey Hepburn's quote, "The best thing to hold onto in life is each other" because it seemed a fitting anniversary message and because my Mom loves Audrey Hepburn. Words chosen, I set out painting the canvas in white and cream with regular acrylic craft paints and added layers for texture with ripped cardstock and decoupage.

Chipboard letters were painted and decorated with various items for added texture and dimension: plastic canvas, lace, tulle, fabric scraps, a brown coffee filter and even a dried bleach wipe (the kind with the cool hexagonal pattern). Each letter "h" was stamped and then embossed in white, and kept the same to honor our family name.

I proudly hid an (upside down) 37 by exchanging and "e" and "l" for numbers. The stencil letter "T" to start the quote was specifically for my Dad, as it was a metal letter piece which I dipped into the craft paint because my Daddy works with metal. The fabric and lace were scraps gifted to me from my Mom, and as she quilts it was important to include those elements. Doubling the "o" with two letters is in representation of wedding rings. Overall, I'm loving the way it turned out, aesthetically and symbolically.

Thank you Mom and Dad for being my biggest fans. Congratulations on your 37th year together. Happiest anniversary wishes. Thank you for believing in me always.

Love,
Celia

Supplies: Apple Barrel acrylic craft paint, decoupage, Zip Dry adhesive, brads, scraps of cardstock and lace, various chip board letters & numbers, "h" stamp is from Technique Tuesday "Providence" font set (large and small)