Friday, May 20, 2011

May Arts Design Team Finalists - Tutorial

 It's time, it's time!  Time for the finalists in the May Arts Design Team search to begin posting their projects.  The current DT are vying for their spots as well so be sure to check out all the projects in the coming week.

Springtime and babies just seem to go together.   I thought a  project for a baby boy might be fun for a change.  I wanted my gift to be pretty and practical so the new mom would be able to use it for awhile.

                      
Here are the supplies I purchased at a local discount chain store:

a set of 3 glass baby bottles (save one for another project), a pacifier (I did end up finding another one to match), a pair of baby socks, some plain white cotton dish cloths and a package of suspender clips (50% off!)



Not too exciting, right?

Here's what I had in my stash:

A dish towel left over from the set I used for this project , a bamboo basket,  metal charms, a baby spoon left over from a 3 piece set, a piece of velcro, spray paint, hot glue, and some beautiful May Arts ribbon :  ARR14 & ARR34 - 1/2" Grosgrain, KB14- 3/8" Solid check and SK34 - 1.25" Silk


First, I spray painted the bamboo basket, let it dry thoroughly, then used my hot glue gun to apply May Arts Ric Rac to the outside. I used acrylic paint to light brush paint around the inside rim.  Then,  I tied a small bow with the 3/8" Solid check and glued it to the front of the basket.

To line the basket, I sewed ARR34 Ric Rac to both ends of the dish towel.  (forgot to take a separate photo!)  I thought the towel would make great burp cloth.  I added some wadded up tissue paper under the towel since my basket is deep.  The basket can be used to hold small toys or nursery supplies later.

Turn the socks inside out, then sew ARR34 Ric Rac to the edges using a zig zag stitch to allow for stretching.

Aren't they adorable? 

It's time to add the Ric Rac to the dish cloths.  Sew ARR34 (Light Blue) across the bottom of one of the cloths, folding the ends under.  Backstitch the ends.  I used white thread in the bobbin so the stitches would be less visible.

Backstitch the end of the ARR14 (Red) then sew to the middle.  Stop and backstitch to secure your stitches.

Slide the 3/8" checked ribbon under the Ric Rac, then complete your stitching on the other side of the checked ribbon to the end of the dish cloth.  Backstitch to secure.  Attach a charm, then tie the ribbon.  The charm can now be removed for use and washing.


Now tie ribbons to the bottles and the spoon adding a charm to one of the bottles, if desired.
 Easy and oh so much cuter!

Measure approximately 15 inches of Ric Rac for the pacifier clip.  You don't want it to be too long so that it can't get wrapped around the baby's head.

Thread one end through the end of  a suspender clip, fold over and sew to secure.  Sew velcro to the opposite end, attach the pacifier.  The pacifier can now be removed when needed.

Our gift is all finished!  Now we need a card. 

 Here are the easy steps to make the bib card.  For the basic bib you will need: 

1 piece of cardstock 5.5" x 4.25"
Cuttlebug or Big Shot machine
Spellbinders Circle and Scalloped Circle dies
Hole punch
Cuttlebug Dotted Swiss folder (optional)
sentiment stamps of choice, brads, small piece of cardstock for sentiment

Score and fold cardstock.  Lay the largest scallop circle die onto the cardstock so that a small portion lies above the folded edge.

Flip it over then run it through your die cut machine.

Here is what it should look like:

Place the smallest circle die in the middle of the folded edge.

Flip, and run through your die cut machine again. 

If you want the dotted swiss look, open the card, place the front only in the embossing folder and run it through the machine.

Punch holes, add ribbon and decorate as desired.


That's it!  A beautiful and useful and thrifty gift in no time at all.  I'd love to know what you think.  Thanks so much for stopping by.

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