Handmade Gift Exchange ~ For Bethany

I participated in another Handmade Gift Exchange hosted by Craftaholics Anonymous this summer and even though I am a little late posting this I wanted to share the gifts I made for my partner Bethany. She is a high school English teacher so appropriately she loves book pages and said pink is one of her favorite colors. 

I decided to make her a button bracelet using bubble gum buttons (with a little bee charm tucked in) and matching earrings. I also made her a cute little card using some book text cardstock and a few more buttons and a decorated gift bag for them to go in. I also included a set of recycled paper flowers for her to use on her own crafting projects. 

Bethany was a great partner for this exchange. She sent me an adorable owl art piece, an owl necklace and beautiful dragonfly earrings. You can check out her gift exchange post on her fabulous blog here. She has photos of my gifts and a tutorial for making the earrings there as well.

 If you participated in the handmade gift exchange I hope you had as much fun as I did!!

Thanks Bethany for my wonderful gifts!!

Flower Fairy Ornaments

Erica, my partner in the Handmade Gift Exchange, said that her daughters really like the little fairy ornament that I sent her and she would like to make some. So, I decided to post a tutorial to share how these little cuties are made. My sister-in-law and I made a bunch as favors for my daughter's fairy birthday party one year. We sort of just made them up as we went along based on one I had seen in a magazine. I think they came out perfect! They're super simple to make and I have made a lot of them!!

First you will need to gather some supplies: a white or ivory pipe cleaner, an artificial flower, a small acorn cap, a wooden bead, silver or gold cording, ribbon and some tulle....you will also need a glue gun.

Begin by bending the pipe cleaner in half. About 3/4 of an inch from the center fold, bend out about an inch and then back in on each side to form the arms. You will end up with a three pointed star shape like this... 

Twist at the neck, arms and waist to form a little body. Don't twist too much though or the pipe cleaner will look matted...

Next, disassemble your flower. When you are choosing your flowers, look for ones that have petals that go all the way around and have a natural bell shape to them, like roses. 

 Dress your fairy by slipping her legs through the hole in the center of the petals. This fairy is wearing a simple rose petal dress but you can also add leaves or other flower parts to her outfit. Depending on the type of petals you are using, you may need more or less layers. Alternate the petals to fill out the skirt, adding a little hot glue to hold the petals in place. You can play around with different "outfits" first and then add the hot glue when you are happy. Be careful not to snag the petals with the pipe cleaner ends! Add the bead for her head using hot glue.

Wrap a strip of tulle around her body and knot in the back to form her wings. My tulle is on a spool and is 6 inches wide. I use about 12 inches in length and then trim the ends of the wings shorter if needed to suit the overall size of each fairy. You can also use tulle sold by the yard, just cut it to size...

Wrap about a 12 inch piece of ribbon around the back of her neck and cross in front to form bodice.... 

Wrap ribbon to the back and cross under her wings...

Wrap ribbon back around to front and tie ends into a bow at her waist... 

 Add acorn cap to the top of her head with a hot glue. If you do not have an acorn cap, you can use anything for a hat like a smaller bell shaped flower. Or, use yarn or other material to make hair. You could also glue a smaller bead to the top of her head as a bun, be sure to cover the hole, and paint hair with craft paint. Trim the ribbon ends...

I also like to gently bend the ends of the pipe cleaner up about 1/4 of an inch on each leg to form little feet...and it helps hide the pokey ends! Add a hanging loop with a small piece of cording and she is ready to hang or tie onto a special gift....adorable!!!

Here are a few other variations that I have made...

If you have any questions about how to make these little fairies just send me an email! 

Thanks for visiting!!

~ Julie D.

For Erica ~ Handmade Gift Exchange

Wow! This has taken me a little longer than I thought to get up here! I wanted to be sure my gift partner had received my package before I posted pics, and then, well, time just got away from me. Anyway, here are the little gifts that I sent to Erica, my partner for the Handmade Gift Exchange. She told me that some of her favorite colors were red and green, how perfect for the holidays!!! I sent her a little fairy ornament, a felt flower clip and, of course, some button jewelry...

...a little candy cane...

...a post-it holder, mini notebook & pen...

...and a set of stamped cards!

I hope she enjoyed receiving them as much as I did making them!

Thanks for visiting!!

~ Julie D.

another gift in the mail!

I mailed my gift to Erica, my Handmade Gift Exchange partner, today. I already received my gift from her and was eager to get mine in the mail. She sent me a box filled with some fabulous crafty things...a banner, a desk calendar, a key fob, a set of cards and some really neat candles, all handmade by her. I loved them all! Thank you Erica!! 

I hope she likes the goodies I sent to her. Check back in a few days to see what's inside the box!

~ Julie D.

For Lisa ~ Handmade Gift Exchange

Here are the gifts that I made Lisa for the Handmade Gift Exchange. 

I am so happy that she received them and likes them all!!! 

Thanks for stopping by!

~ Julie 

it's in the mail...

...literally! 

I finally mailed off my package today to my giftee! Just short of the June 30 deadline...sorry Lisa! 

This is the fourth Handmade Gift Exchange that I have participated in, the second summer one. Although June is always a crazy month, it is fun to have a reason to get your craft on. I love to craft in the summertime and this exchange helps jump start my creativity. I have received some wonderful gifts from some very talented women too!!!

Want to see what is inside?

Check back in a few days...I do not want to spoil the surprise if she happens to stop by my blog!

I hope she loves it!

If you participated in the exchange I hope you received a fab gift and that your gift was warmly received!

If you missed this one...play along next time!

~ Julie 

Handmade Gift Exchange

It's time for another Handmade Gift Exchange over at Craftaholics Anonymous!!! Yay!!!! I had sooooo much fun participating in the last gift exchange that I could not wait to sign-up again, you should too. You only have until November 7th to register! Tell all your crafty friends too!!
Click the photo below for all the details!

Happy Crafting!

~ Julie D.

For Melysa ~ Handmade Gift Exchange Part 1

I had so much fun participating in the Craftaholics Anonymous biannual handmade gift exchange. Once I was paired up with a partner we emailed each other a couple of times and shared a little about ourselves. I have to say that I had a fabulous partner and cannot wait for another exchange.

Here are the little gifts that I made for Melysa...

A charming button bracelet made with Bermuda buttons, my favorite color, from A Muse Studio...

 A cute little box for the bracelet made with matching Bermuda polka-dot paper and embellished with paper flowers and a tag...

Of course I wanted to make her some cards too!

 I made this set of four lighthouse cards using stamps, inks and papers also from A Muse Studio...

I packaged them up in a clear box and wrapped it with twine...

And because I just could not help myself, I decorated the box too...

I hope she enjoyed receiving them as much as I enjoyed making them!

I will post the wonderful gifts that she sent to me in another post.

Thanks for visiting!

~ Julie D.