My daddy's birthday was this month, and I wanted to make something special. I wrote a story for my daddy and my eldest daughter on Christmas Eve while my father and step-mother were spending Christmas at our home. While very ill with bronchitis, I sat indoors watching Daddy and Abigail build a bird house together, while Donna and our Selah painted ceramic horses.
I wrote as I watched. Healing in heart depths as I watched.
I copied the hand-written short story and gifted it to my daddy that day. He cried. So I cried. He said it was precious. Healing in heart depths as we smiled through wet eyes.
Husband aware out of knowing his wife's heart, captured a moment of internalizing --
My father is difficult to shop for. But it is well because he prefers to be made for instead. I baked his birthday cake: a homemade triple chocolate cheesecake. It was delicious. But I knew ahead that I wanted to make something more... We sang loudly and his grandchildren assisted in blowing out candles. It was a grand event.When it was time to open presents, this is what the girls and I presented --
A giant, floral-wrapped, colored masterpiece of a gift. He gifted back by later hanging the wrapping on the wall. ;)
I consulted my dear, crafty friend, Carron (who writes thanksgiving from her enchantingly beautiful heart & practical how to's over at Eucharisteo Now). And thanks to her instruction (and fabric she had on hand), I made an 18x24 photo collage from the images Aaron captured from that Christmas Eve day, plus a typed version of the story: Truth Builders.
Here's how it turned out--
Considering that I hadn't ever made anything like this before, I am very pleased with the finished product. :)
My daddy loved it so, so very much. His eyes wet again. And my soul abounded in joy. It was a good gift.
DIY Time!
Pre-upholstery to-dos --
- Choose your photos!
- And a color theme. :)
- Pick out fabric to match.
- You'll need a frame (obviously). FYI - Poster frames are MUCH less expensive than photo frames, and if you look intently you can find some with wooden frames instead of the traditional plastic.
- Upholster the frame backing! I really enjoyed this part that Carron and I did together as our combined 6 children (and growing) played well. :) Here's what you do:
- Warm your hot glue gun.
- Take the backing out of the frame and lay the frame with glass aside.
- Lay the fabric, front side down on a large flat surface.
- Lay the frame backing face down on top.
- Cut the fabric to no more than an inch around all 4 sides.
- Fold the inch of fabric in half on the table top, meeting the edge of the frame backing. (This will create a cleaner line on the back of the finished frame and prevent fraying.
- Then starting on the left of one side (if you're holding the glue gun in your right hand, opposite if your left-handed), Fold the now 1/2 inch of fabric up a over the edge of the backing, little by little, hot gluing as you go.
Post-upholstery to-dos --
- Good job! Now turn it over and experiment with different placements for your collage. Once you're firm on your placement, either use an acid free, photo-safe craft/scrapbooking glue, strips, or "sticky corner tabs" (like I did), to secure your photos in place.
- Replace the completed project back into the glass poster frame, and fasten the back.
- You're done! :)
Linking up today with:

Great Rebecca :) It turned out wonderfully!!!
ReplyDeletei LOVE this idea. what a beautiful heartfelt gift that your father will cherish forever. so, so sweet. thanks for linking up!!
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