Fair Trade Thank You

Just wanted to share how I decorated a bar of chocolate as a small thank you for a friend. She helps me out now and then so I just wanted to show my appreciation.

She is a real 'mother earth' type who loves anything ethnic, supports fair trade, recycles, gets 'one' with nature and so on so I knew she would appreciate this gift for several reasons.

1. It is hand made - she loves that.

2. It is a fair trade product - she supports that (and so do I)

3. She can recycle the craft 'wrap' simply by slipping it off carefully and sliding it onto another bar of fair trade chocolate to give to someone else there by sharing the love.

I took my colour inspration from the choclate wrapper itself. I simply made a 'wrap' and decorated it with ribbon, a flower and the text on the front.

Bewilderwood

I ran across these photos this evening as I was looking for a memory card to transfer photos from my camera. I had forgotten just how much fun we had at this place. I decided to share these photos because this place is well worth a visit and it's not too far.

You can make out the web address from this sign and check it out. This place is not about big fancy rides. It's about making your own entertainment, climbing up into tree houses and crossing rope bridges, swinging through the trees and sliding down giant slides.

I have a real fear of heights but I felt perfectly safe in the tree houses.

Even the rope bridges were ok. These three guys (2 grandkids and our nephew) just loved every minute of it and so did Dave and I. We became just like big kids ourselves.

This was one of our favourite activities. Even I had a try and we all ended up going on this again and again. Kaleb is only 5 years old here and everything was made perfectly safe so we didn't worry about the kids at all.They had a nice little picnic area and even a gentle boat ride on the 'green' river. We had to wait for the boat but since we walked in it was nice to ride the boat out.

This place gets a great BIG thumbs up from us all so check it out. I think we'll be going back this year at some point.

Cute Little Basket

Just want to quickly share how to make a cute little basket in time for Easter.

This is one of my versions that has been decorated with pretty papers and has a doilie inside. I only have time to share the basic pattern but you can decorate these anyway you choose.

I chose an almost terracotta base card to bring out the colour that was in the flower centres.

I would normally add flowers over the brad and maybe tie a few ribbons on the handle, perhaps with a tag so this basket isn't quite finished yet.

All you need to make one is a sheet of 12 x 12 cardstock, 2 brads and a sheet of 12 x 12 paper (if you plan to cover it). You could cheat and use double sided patterned cardstock - or you could stamp all over the cardstock before assembling too.

Start by cutting a square 9" x 9". Cut a handle 11" x 1" and set aside.

Score square at 3" and then again at 3". Turn and score in the opposite direction at 3" and then 3" again to create 9 equal squares resembling a tic tac toe board (noughts & crosses). Cut along 2 inner score lines on one side and then on opposite side as shown.

I round the corners just to soften the finished look but you could do it without this step.

Punch holes as follows (refer to picture if you get stuck). Centre side panel punch 1 hole about 1/2 - 1" in from outer edge in the middle. Two adjoining panels punch hole in corner that meets centre panel about 1/4" in from both edges. Repeat for other side.

Fold along all score lines ready to assemble basket.

Round corners of handle ends and punch a hole 1/2" in from each end.


Fold up middle panel first.

Then bring sides over lining up holes.

Add handle, line up all holes and secure in place with a brad. Repeat for other side to complete basket.

If you want to hide the brad you can just secure side panels and handle in place and omit hole in middle panel. This can then be brought up last and secured with adhesive tape to hide brad opening.

If you want to decorate your basket with paper simply cut squares slightly smaller than 3" to create a nice border around all edges once in place. Remember to round off one corner if using a corner rounder in your main project.

These baskets can be made in any size as long as you can divide into thirds. You can even make them rectangular if you wish but I'll let you figure your own size.