Saturday, March 14, 2009

Spring Basket

This made me happy today!! The Inspiration Challenge this week is the Fitz and Floyd website, of which I am already familiar as I am the proud owner of several pieces from their vast collection already. I have always loved the detail and vivid colors of their ceramics. So last night when Stephanie posted the challenge, I looked and looked and looked and loved everything. I finally went to bed without choosing an inspiration piece. When I got up this morning I went into my craft room and found a white, layered, daisy die-cut I had already created (for another project I'll post later) using the SU Sizzix Daisy #2 die. So that got me started. It reminded me of this "Fauna and Flora Basket" piece from the challenge and decided to go for it!! And here's how it went . . . . First, I had to make it purple. I wanted to keep the color soft so I pulled out my stiple brush (finding that thing probably took longer than making the whole dang project!!). I used SU Orchid Opulance in the center and the rest is Lavender Lace. Stippled the under side of the daisy around the edge as well. Then I shaped it. I used the head of a Robins Nest Dew Drops bottle (just because it happened to be in reach at the moment!) and "stirred" the inside of the Daisy to get it to curly up into a bowl shape. Next, the basket handle. I used SU Close to Cocoa paper, about a 2" by 4-1/4" piece. Misted it with water to soften the paper so I could manipulate it. I crunched it up and opened it up again. Misted it again and this time, I rolled it up length-wise from the bottom up. Then I twisted it, shaped it into the half-moon curve and heat set it so it would quickly dry with that narly look into that shape. I sponged it with a brown Colorbox Cats Eye to give it dimension. To attach the handle to the flower basket, I pinched the ends of the handles with a wire cutting tool. That flattened it so it wouldn't be so bulky when I attached it. I used my favorite go-to glue: Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky - to attach the handle to the backet. That stuff glues ANYthing...it's super sticky and dries fast. It's never let me down! I heartily endorse and recommend it... (do you think that will get me a free bottle???) Next I created leaves by using the leaf punch from Martha's collection. The paper is SU DP, but I don't know the pack it is from, sorry. It's a Certainly Celery and white pattern. I folded the leaves in half and stipled them with Always Artichoke. Then I just used a white gel pen to draw in some veins. I attached the leaves to the handle in a random fashion sort of following the actual inspiration piece. I then punched out the Butterfly and glued him (It may be a "her", but for this tutorial purposes, it is a "him") to the handle. The Fitz and Floyd piece has the butterfly on the flower itself, but when I put it there, it blended into the flower because the colors matched so closely. So I attached him to the handle. I forgot to take a picture of how I made the center...but not too complicated! I just punched two small daisys in scrap yellow paper and layered them so they appeared to be a round shape and glued them into the center. So, what do you think? I think I just figured out my Easter project this year!! Let me know if you have any questions and I'd LOVE to know if you make one too! Thanks for checking in!!

13 comments:

Michelle Woerner said...

Oh my heavens Anne! You are seriously crafty. I couldn't touch this even in my dreams. It is so lovely and cute! Really precious. Hugs,

Helena (Gvendalen) said...

WOW, Anne! It's amazing basket!So lovely! Gorgeous work!!

Susan said...

FANTASTIC, Anne...I love your creation and the tutorial is so very well done. The handle part, to cool...I've got to try something of this sort! Don't ya just love the feeling when the muse is fired and raring to go?!!!

Karen said...

Anne, I think you did an outstanding job on this! You are very clever. I love how you did the handle. I may steal, er, I mean borrow that some time!

Inking Idaho said...

Absolutely beautiful!!
Becky

Holly said...

Oh my heck! This is fantabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love all the little details you put into this gorgeous basket. The coloring, the twisty vine-y handle, the butterfly, the center of the daisies......... WOW.

JulieA said...

THUNK!!!!!...picking jaw up off of the floor......WOWZERS!!! That is so incredibly beautiful and creative! Anne, you amaze me! One of these days, I want to meet you in person...maybe your creative abilities will rub off a bit on me...you'd have plenty left for yourself, I promise! Your detail here is crazy amazing, GF!

Elizabeth *^..^* said...

Okay! This is FABULOUS, AMAZING AND SO CLEVER!!! Cannot believe the mass amount of creativity in this one piece! BEAUTIFUL!!

jdmommy - Anne Harmon said...

I am just flabbergasted! This basket is so breathtaking, mere words are not enough! Anne, this is just the most gorgeous craft piece...Fitz and Floyd is wonderful(yes, I have some pieces too!), but what you have created here is better than anything of theirs!! WOW!!!

Ideja said...

This is absolutly gorgeous. Love it!

Jamie Pyles said...

Gorgeous! So very clever:) Thanks for sharing!!

Joan Ervin said...

THUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Give me a minute to pick my jaw up off the key board!!!! This is DROP DEAD GORGEOUS!!!!!!!! OMG, Anne, you are sooo talented....how do you come up with all your AWESOME designs?? I love every little detail on this and WOW, what a great tutorial!!! You did good, girlfriend!!!

Lilian said...

Came from SC to check out your tutorial for this basket and am floored with all your gorgeous creations! I'm following your blog now as I want to case some of your stuff someday lol! Thanks for the great inspiration and have a great day!