Designer Craft Connection - Springtime Crafting

The crafting has begun!  Several projects are on my agenda and look forward to sharing them.  Last week I spent the week working on two gift ideas for a baby shower that I attended this week-end.  I can share them now and announce that they were well received by the parents-to-be and other guests.

It seems that I must always try to include something handmade and not expected as a gift for showers.  This time I put together a collection of music for baby and parents to enjoy.  The lullabies can be used for sleepy time or just some quiet time.  The other music in the collection is easy to listen to and fun for the entire family.

Of course I like to find ways to reuse items in my projects.  So using some old empty CD cases, leftover mat board,  scraps of fabrics and papers and odds & ends I ended up with a unique and personal gift.  With the knowledge that the new arrival, several of the songs chosen are just for "daddy's little girl".  Music always makes a wonderful gift!

The second gift was made to fit the decor of the baby's room.  A hand painted tree was painted onto one of the wall in the room.  The bedding and accessories are from Pottery Barn for Kids with images of trees, leaves, owls and birds in an array of bright pastel colors.

A branch was trimmed from an outside tree; scraps of fabrics, mat board, trims and felt from my stash and those favorite stand by tools from Sizzix, were combined to create a mobile for the room.  Each of the birds were made using Sizzix die by Eileen Hull.  The birds main shape are die cut from mat board, four for each bird, one each for the wings. Note: two body shapes were glued together - using two doubled shapes for each bird. Fabric pieces were applied to Therm-o-web PeelnStick  adhesive sheets.  The birds shapes were then applied to the the backed fabric pieces and cut out with 1/4" to 1/2" extra around the shapes.  Note: Good idea to use teflon coated scissors for this cutting.  Wrap the fabric around the edges of the bodies and wings.  Snipping and trimming fabric if necessary.  When all shapes are covered, glue the two covered bodies together.  String clear monofilament through a hole in the top edge of each bird and knot.  Glue mini white rick-rack around the edges of the birds body shape. Glue the wings onto each side of the birds.  A small purchased nest is wired onto the branch.  Snips of shredded paper was glued into the nest and then a bird.  Tie clear monofilament onto the branch in any way to make the branch hang evenly.  Form an loop at the top for hanging.  Tie each of the birds onto the branch spacing as desired and different levels. Optional: Each bird was painted with a matching glaze, using a Ranger Adirondack Acrylic and water for a slight gleamer.

Please use the button at the top right to continue hopping through the other blogs for more and more ideas.

Now onto the next project - will share it with you all as soon as complete!

UPDATE ADDED:
I received the OK to post a photo of the tree that the daddy-to-be painted on the bedroom wall.  It is just too darn cute!  Beautifully done Jim!