Friday, February 11, 2011

JAI 55 - just add love


Hi there,

well welcome back for a new Just Add Ink challenge. This week we would like you to Just Add Love. Now this could mean a valentines card or a wedding card - you get the idea :) I decided to go with a broad valentines interpretation, I have kind of gathered from US blogs that giving cards to friends for valentines is (quite?) common so I have made a present for a dear friend - Sam. It is for a rather special occaision as she just added a new baby to her family. (You can see Sam's post here). Now a new baby is definitely an occaision (of love) to celebrate but I figure, especially since this is the third in the family, that Mum deserves something special too. I wanted a mix of something edible but also something to last - and then something to package it all in. So this is what I made.




For the something to package it all in - a woven basket. You can find the tutorial here on Splitcoasters. I pulled out a sheet of Bella Rose DSP as it just the right colours. Following the instructions I cut my sheet up into different width stripes and started weaving - it was a little fiddly but really not too bad. In the end I think I finished my basket a couple of rows shorter than the tutorial recommended. I secured in the ribbon handles with brads and covered the rim over with a striped of textured Riding Hood Red, with a Scallop Trim border for the outside. I also tied on a little strawberry tag so I can write a little message.

The something edible was some yummy chocolates that I know Sam likes :)

Now the something to keep are some felt strawberries filled with lavender which you can pop into a draw or hang off a clothes hanger. Now had some lovely wool felt at home in red and green, so I had a look on the web for strawberry templates and found this link to a Martha Stewart tutorial on making a felt/material strawberry pin cushion. So I pinned my template to the felt and cut it out. I made two different green tops, one was using the provided template, for the other I punched a 5 petal flower out of paper and used that as a guide (cut with a generous border) for a different shaped top (I actually liked it better). OK next I had to google knot stitch - then I used white embroidery thread to add little knots over the red strawberries. I used my sewing machine to stitch up the side of the strawberries gathered the tops together then firmly filled with dried lavender and stitch almost closed. Then I stitched on the green felt tops using slip stitch (google again). The last thing was to add a loop of ribbon so the strawberries can be hung off a clothes hanger. They did take some time to make but I have got to say I enjoyed doing it :)

Thanks for visiting and perhaps you can Just Add some Love this week too!

Kim

Recipe: All SU! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Tart and Tangy
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red (plain and textured), Whisper White
Ink: Real Red, Old Olive
Accessories: Bella Rose DSP (R), Riding Hood Red striped grosgrain ribbon (R), Certainly Celery and Old Olive 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Pure Poppy and Simply Chartreuse felt (PaperTrey Inc), 5 Petal flower punch, 1 3/4" , 1 3/8" circle punch, Scallop circle punch, Silver cord (R), Tombow, Sticky Strip, dried Lavender




9 comments:

  1. Wow Kim! You've been busy, love your little basket of goodies...and you did some sewing as well. Sam is going to love this gift and appreciate it all the more because you've put so much effort into it.

    Super duper project.

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  2. Wow this basket is so cute along with the perfectly matching tag and goodies. Saw your entry on Just Add Ink and had to come comment. Fabulous job! :)

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  3. What a beautiful, beautiful gift, made with so much love, Kim. Sam is sure to love it. It is gorgeous!

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  4. What a special gift to give someone and I am sure Sam will absolutely LOVE it!

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  5. Wow! You are a goer aren't you, just google whatever you need to know and keep on going! The strawberries are perfect! Great idea :)

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  6. What a fantastic project Kim, I am sure Sam is going to love it - who wouldn't? The little felt strawberries are adorable. My only criticism? Why does everyone have chocolates with their projects, it's giving me serious cravings!! LOL

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  7. wow this is VERY impressive Kim! I love all those little details and that you thought what Sam would like! I think I should go have a baby (or two!) to get me a present like this one!!!! Stunning Kim!

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  8. Wow Kim, this is fabulous. I did'nt realise the basket was woven until now, great gob! And those felt strawberries are just wonderful. Sam is sure to love it!

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  9. Hi Kim,

    I just wanted to say again, thank you so much for my beautiful gift! As everyone here has said...I LOVE it. The basket is beautiful, and the strawberries look so deliciously life-like...I want to eat them!

    Thank you also for the lovely card, chocolates and lion! You have really, really spoiled us :o).

    Hugs,
    Sam

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!