Top Note Harvest Frame

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving day! We enjoyed a delicious dinner at my Mom's house yesterday. Both her and my Step Dad always put so much effort into creating such a wonderful meal for the family each year, so I always try to create a little something for my Mom as a little thank you. Last year I made her this Thanksgiving planner with place cards and napkin rings. This year when I was trying to think of what I could make I remembered this adorable project I had seen while blog hopping. Here is my version of Gretchen's awesome Top Note frame.

I covered a piece of the small On Board Book Basics with some Haiku paper, centered the Top Note die where I wanted it and then ran it through the Big Shot. I sanded the edges and then gave them a distressed look by adding ink along the edges. I added a pocket to the back by cutting a 6 1/4 x 4 1/4" piece of More Mustard card stock and then cut a half circle from the top using the 1 3/8" circle punch. I also created a little stand for my frame by cutting out a piece of chip board using a tag die and the Big Shot. I attached these pieces to the back using sticky strip. Here's a photo of the back so you can see what I'm trying to describe.
To embellish the frame I water colored the Indian corn image from Harvest Home and cut it out...boy, was it fun cutting out those curly little husks! I had to use my X-acto knife for that part. I also cut out a button using the Button Sizzlet and then embossed it with Glassy Glaze. I attached it to the stamped sentiment using Linen Thread. Along the left side of the frame I tied on a piece of More Mustard grosgrain ribbon. The oak leaves were cut out using a leaf die and the Big Shot...have I told you how much I {LOVE} my Big Shot???! I added veins to the leaves by laying them on my foam mat and "drawing" them on using the stylus. I attached them with glue dots and also added some hemp twine and a maple leaf brad I've had in my stash for a while, and I was done...until yesterday morning when I realized I didn't have a gift bag...So I whipped up a matching bag-a-lope using a catalog sized envelope rolled with the Harvest wheel. To decorate the front I added a little envelope cut with the Scallop Envelope Bigz die. On the front of the envelope is a punch out using the Cute & Curly punch bundle which is on sale right now at 30% off. The handles are made from Creative Twist paper ribbon...not sure if they even make it anymore...but I still have some hanging around my craft room.

My Mom loved her little gift and much to everyone's delight, I forced them to pose for a group photo around the dining room table so that my Mom will have a photo of everyone to slip into her new frame. Now, I'm thinking Christmas frames...