If you’ve been following along with the Gratitude Documented project this month, you know that today’s theme is gratitude. We’ve been expressing gratitude for a different part of our lives each day & today I’m supposed to show gratitude for gratitude itself!? It seemed weird to me. A bit redundant. But it made me think & dig deep past my normal level of praise, and that’s a good thing. After thinking on it for awhile, I decided to interpret it as a big blanket category of showing gratitude in all seasons.
Shanna created a free printable that corresponds to the Gratitude Documented project with a suggested scripture for each day & the one for today fit perfectly with my interpretation of the prompt:
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” -1 Thessalonians 5:18
I mean HOW PERFECT IS THAT!? It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the season of thanks but then after November is over… then what? Gratitude isn’t just a theme for late autumn– it’s something we should be focusing on in ALL seasons. We can’t squeeze all the thanks we need to give to Him into one month. Hello! We can’t squeeze it all into one LIFETIME! But the best we can do is to show gratitude in all seasons; to give thanks in all circumstances.
The entire time spent making this page, I just thought deeply about all the ways He has provided for me & for my family, & I let it all come flowing out onto the page. I used so many gorgeous supplies & even picked up a few mixed media items I don’t usually reach for. For the background, I mixed swatches of acrylic paint & gelatos, then I used matte Mod Podge to seal it & add a piece of gorgeous polka-dotted tissue paper.
I created a little prize ribbon rosette using one of the pieces from the Oh So Grateful digital set by Brave Little Taylor. I attached some dove tailed paper strips to the back for the ribbons & used my sewing machine to create messy stitching around the inside of the scallops, sewing in some craft sequins as I went. The hearts on the page are all a mixture of Illustrated Faith products including clear cuts, stickers, & stamps!
If you only make ONE page for this project, let it be this one. Flip to 1 Thessalonians & just show the Lord your gratitude on the page! This will be a page you will come back to season after season praising your love & thanks to Him for all He provides!
<3 Elaine
Illustrated Faith Oh So Grateful Digital Set by Taylor Rauschkolb | Illustrated Faith Gratitude Bits free digital download by Shanna Noel | Illustrated Faith by DaySpring A Thankful Heart devotional kit | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Bright & Brave Clear Cuts pad | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd His Love sticker sheet | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd tape runner | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Date It Stamp | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd pen | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Bible Mat | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Wordfetti White sticker sheet | Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher
