Frame Phrases for Thanksgiving Season

Build one of these shelf-sitting plaques from cardstock featuring 

season of thankfulness message, sturdy enough to store 

and display season after season. 

Choose from "thankful & blessed", "gather together", 

or "count your blessings".

 Lower case imitation vintage typewriter letters 

(general size .875 tall) are placed over 

background-matched top-down positioning guide. 

Or cut the letters from vinyl to align with bottom corner 

registration marks and apply instead. 

Layered main panel fits inside the four-component 

wrap-around frame. Add the layered-for-thickness 

charm as an accent. Optional overlays such as

the corrugated card stock shown for this set

can stylize or dress it up.

Projects each measure approx. 10” long x 4 tall x 1.5” deep 

when fully assembled. 

Requires 12x12 cutting capacity and stock. 

NOTE about cardstock surfaces and vinyl transfer:

test your main panel stock choice to see if

the transfer (sticky) paper will pull off the surface

and deface it during the vinyl lettering application

process. Some papers will work, while others will

deface terribly. Hard smooth surfaces may work best.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and use the cut file download

to cut the shapes:

A front panel (cut 3 to layer for strength

B letters positioning panel cut to MATCH front panel

for invisibility (NOTE that this shape

was altered to be top down in final cut file)

C individual letters and symbol

D side wrap over walls (2)

E top, bottom wrap over walls (2)

F pumpkin charm extra backs to layer (3-4)

G contrast layer,  H front contour overlay

I opt. side corrugated overlay with rims (2 ea.)

J opt. top, bottom corrugated overlay

with rims (2 ea.)

2. Position and glue each individual letter onto

the matching edge extension of the positioning

guide. NOTE that the guide in final cut file is opposite

of the shape shown here - top-down - but the process

will be the same.

3. Layer and attach the front panel layers with all

edges precisely aligned. Also . . .

. . . position the lettering panel on top of the front panel

stack (it will be aligned along TOP and UPPER SIDES

of the main front panel stack). Then . . .

. . . immediately press flat under a heavy weight

such as a large book volume, possibly with other

heavy objects on top, and leave for several hours

or overnight. This will help the glued-up panel to

dry flat, minimizing warping or curling.

4. Vinyl cut out lettering phrase can be substituted

if preferred. To do that, prepare, cut, weed and

transfer letters to transfer tape in the usual manner,

including the lower corner registration marks.

(NOTE that the transfer clear adhesive sheet will likely

damage the front panel paper as the stickiness grabs

the cardstock fibers. See an alternative for using

vinyl letters in step 4A below.)

Position the vinyl elements over the front panel

so that the registration marks are positioned

at the panel lower corners, as shown here.

Then complete the transfer of letters to the panel.

4A. As a hybrid technique which combines the top-down

letter positioning guides from Step 2 above, cut

the letter guide panel to match the plain front panel,

then cut the letters only (omit the corner registrations)

from black vinyl - using only a fraction of the vinyl . . .

. . . to add the letters to the panel.

WALL PANELS PREP

5. Prepare the wall shapes by bending back on all

long perforation lines, except bottom flange

which is bent forward. 

6. Bend the top edge multiple perforation lines

 toward the backside of wall into a box form, then . . .

. . . tighten the angular roll to be close to the wall.

Apply adhesive along the end segment, then . . .

. . . re-roll tightly and press the glue-prep edge into

position to attach to the wall backside. Work to snug

the rim roll snugly into position, keeping the bend

edges squared up, and the vertical inner and outer

rim walls perpendicular to the main wall. 

One way to do this is to use a right angle cut block 

(or equiv.) to press up against innermost wall.

Brace and leave in place until the rim is dried and

fully attached. If available, consider placing a second

block against the outer wall as well.

Another helpful aid is a dowel or rod that can fit

through the rim tunnel, that can assist to apply

pressure along the actual flange being glued.

If you need to leave the set up to dry, consider

placing weights of some kind on each exposed 

end of dowel to apply the pressure needed.

7. Prepare the longer top and bottom wall in similar

manner to side walls as shown in step 5. Also bend

the end tabs back to a right angle.

FRAME ASSEMBLY

8. Position one side wall and one top or bottom wall

end to end . . .

. . . so that straight side wall edge overlaps the end

tabs to perforation line . . .

. . . (now shown face up) and adjust for top to

bottom alignment, then join the seam.

NOTE that the smaller tab portion should fit into

the rim tube and be attached there.

9. Prepare the top and bottom walls rolled rim

in the same manner as for the side walls (step 6).

10. Form the walls assembly into its squared up

configuration by bending at the corner seam,

taking care that the miter-cut rim ends wrap over

side rim ends, both on the top surface shown here . . .

. . . and on the bottom/inside as shown here.

Unbend at corner slightly to apply a small dab at

overlapped corner of top/bottom wall rim, then

re-form into 'L' formation. Immediately find a way

to ensure that the corner is as precisely a right-angle

corner as possible. One way . . .

. . . to do this is to use a large square-cut block or plank

tucked into the inner corner, then press walls along

plank sides and prop or brace in place until glue dries.

Repeat for second short/long wall section unit.

11. Position and join remaining corner seams,

taking care to tuck the small tab into the rim tube.

If possible, find a way to brace the assemble to

achieve the desired right angles at these corners

as was done for first corners in the sequence.

13. Invert the frame assembly face down, bend

the wall extensions slightly out of the way, then

apply glue to the rim underside surfaces.

Slip the front panel, face down into the opening

and down onto the rim back surface and apply

pressure to attach in place.

14. Apply glue to the backside of the top/bottom

end flange, then carefully bend back to be

perpendicular to the panel. Use a square block

to help achieve the desired perpendicular position,

then hold or brace in place until securely attached.

Repeat for the opposite long wall.

15. Repeat the process to bend, adjust and attach

the two side walls in the same manner.

OPT. CHARM PREPARATION & FINISHING

16. Layer and attach the contours front overlay

onto the contrast (front) pumpkin, then position

and attach the build-up back layers behind,

taking care to align all cut edges as precisely

as possible. Immediately . . .

. . . press the stack under a heavy flat weight, such as

this fabric-wrapped re-purposed weight machine bar.

Allow to dry completely while pressed.

17. Tie with contrast twine. Position and attach

at upper corner, or as desired.

18. If desired, use templates to cut overlay sides,

 top & bottom, and rim-top shapes from a decorative

overlay paper such as this corrugated kraft board.

NOTE that it may be helpful to leave the lengths

somewhat over-long and trim to size to be even

with frame wall ends, rim edges and miter corners, etc.

to accommodate any extra overlay material thickness.

19. Attach the overlay shapes (and trim to size

as needed), then repeat for rim shapes.

Here is the completed "thankful & blessed" frame.

Other frames for other holidays or sayings may

also be available.