Can you believe that we have made it all the way to the final day of our blog hop? I have to tell you that when we post our projects each day that we really don't know what the other Artisans are going to share. Yesterday I was totally blown away by every single project and I anticipate that today will be the same way. Sure, I saw them on display at convention, but not up close like this. AMAZING! I would like to take just a moment to say "thank you" to all of you who have left so many wonderful comments. Your words of encouragement have meant so much to me and I am certain that all the other Artisans feel exactly the same way. Our statement of the heart is, "To love what we do and share what we love as we help others enjoy creativity and worthwile accomplishments...in this we make a difference!"
Just like every other day for the past nine days, if you are blog hopping in order, then you should have just arrived from Heather Summers blog. Of course it doesn't matter what order you view the projects. So, are you ready to kick-off the final day of our blog hop? Let's do it!
This project is absolutely, positively, without a doubt, hands-down my very favorite Artisan Award entry. I can't even begin to tell you the amazing feeling I had as I was decorating this basket and making the goodies to go along with it.
I purchased the basket from the craft store, but it was oh so plain. I dressed up the lid with a wood sheet, lattice die, and the Big Shot. After I cut the wood, I thought how amazing it would be to stain it in three different colors. I carefully took each piece out and placed it so I could remember where it went when I needed it. I stained everything with stain markers and then put it all back together. Then the rest of the basket looked a little neglected, so I decided to stain the entire thing to match. It sat that way for several months. I knew full-well that it was going to be one of my 3D projects for the Artisan contest but I also knew it was going to need something else to make it a winner...but I wasn't sure exactly what. Enter the Spring Mini Catalog. Oh My Goodness! I immediately fell in love with the Springtime Vintage fabric and accessories. I made an elastic garter from some of the fabric to place around the basket. I had to remove the handle, attach the garter, and then re-attach the handle. I used hot glue to make sure that the garter stayed in place. I added a button, some stick pins, and some ribbon and the basket was finished.
Most people would have probably stopped there, but since I was determined that this was going to be my year to win, I pushed the boundaries even further. I decided to make some things to go with the basket. Every sewing basket needs a pin cushion, so I used some fabric from the same collection and the scallop circle die to make one. I also made a stick pin card to go along with it. I wasn't sure which one to include, so I did both. I figured, too much was better than not enough!
Well that's all. I am so sad that our blog hop has come to an end. It has been an amazing journey. Some of us are entending our hop one extra day and sharing our swaps from convention. So check back tomorrow to see those. The time has come to see what Sandra Farrell has to share with you today. As always, here's a little guide to help you along the way. And don't worry, these projects will remain on our blogs indefintely, so if you missed something or just want to refer back to a card, scrapbook page, or 3D project, they will be right here where you can find them. Right now the links to the blogs are generic and won't take you directly to the Artisan Award Blog Hop. You will have look in the archives on each blog under August 2011. In a few days I will try to go back and ammend the links so that they will take you to the final day of the hop.
1. Connie Collins (that's me)
2. Sandra Farrell
3. Heidi King
4. Heather Klump
5. Cheryl LeFore
6. Laura Mellinger
7. Jennifer Picard
8. Heather Stevens
9. Summer Stone
10. Heather Summers
Recipe: Springtime Vintage Designer Fabric; Springtime Vintage Big Designer Buttons; 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon-Rose Red; Big Shot Machine; Lattice Die; Perfect Wood Sheets; Polka Dots Embossing Folder; Card Stock: Rose Red, Certainly Celery; Linen Thread; Sweet Stitches Fabric Designer Brads; Big Shot Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets. Other: Wooden Basket, Elastic, Wood Stain, Stick Pins (Dritz), Hot Glue Gun, Sewing Machine, Thread, Polyester Fiberfill.
