When inspiration strikes, we should take it from wherever it comes, right?
Last fall I received some goodies from a neighborhood friend and loved the cute lil paper plate that came with them. I tucked it away... and moved on to other things.
This fall I uncovered the decorative plate and decided to incorporate it into a BQJ page to capture the bounty of an autumn harvest.
I cut off the rim of the plate and made a color copy of the image on card stock.
I trimmed around the truck and the piles of pumpkins on the ground and in the back of the truck.
Next I pulled out my Drawing Near to Me Monthly Bible Quilt Journal to the featured template for October, Autumn Glory, and began to color in the pumpkins.
I'm not sure what it is about coloring pumpkins is so soothing, but it was very grounding just to focus on all the little nooks and crannies of the pumpkins, shading them various hues of orange.
I think the process of coloring slowed me down to help me figure out how to get the cutout of the pickup truck tucked behind the pumpkins.
I used a lightboard to help trace the outline of the pumpkins, then cut the tires and lower part of the truck. I glued the truck onto the page and added some pumpkin stickers to help fill out the pumpkin piles at the bottom of the page.
To balance out the large element, I added a banner at the top of the page.
Next I wrote out my selected scripture from Philippians, using bold autumnal colors.
Once I colored in the ground, I added a "blessed" sticker as a nameplate on the truck and drew in stitch lines around it and the perimeter of the page. A few more fall stickers and some glittery washi tape provided the finishing touches.
And, guess what?? I finally realized why that simple paper plate had its initial impact on me!
It reminded me of this vintage pickup truck that my Dad played with as a child and gave to me as a token of my grandma's home when she passed away. I have it on my crafting table and use it as a sentimental container to stash seasonal items in.
Since I had so much fun creating this page, I thought you all would, too! I did my best to transfer the same elements of the original and I'm excited to see how you harvest your own creativity with this one!
Please share in the Comments below and/or over in the BQJ Facebook group to pass along the inspiration!