I went to a Garden Party...

"I went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends..."  Just the other day, I heard Ricky Nelson's 1972 hit on the radio, which gave me the inspiration for this art project and post.  Planting flowers and vegetables seems to be the "in" thing to do in my neighborhood.  In fact, my next door neighbors have a wonderful garden right in front of their house with everything from kale to strawberries.  They tend to it everyday, enjoying the fruits (and vegetables) of their labor.

Apart from my throwing flowers into a few pots, the only gardening that I do is in the form of art!   I have created an altered artworks garden pail --I know it pales in comparison (ooh, sorry!) to my neighbor's garden, but as they say, it's the thought that counts! And that's exactly what this is: a thoughtful and personal handmade gift for a friend, Mom, aunt, teacher, or even your next door neighbor!  This is the finished project:

Here's how you make it:

Start with a clear acrylic pail bought at your local crafts store.

Choose colorful, fun scrapbook paper

I used a garden motif.  Cut a 3-1/4" x 12" strip of paper, and mod-podge it (hey, Amy -- is "mod-podge" an actual verb?), wrapping the paper around the circumference of the pail, leaving a 1" space at the bottom.

 

The pail is about 1/2" smaller in diameter than the 12" paper, so I just added a 3-1/4" length of 1/2" ribbon to cover the gap.  You can also just add an extra inch of the scrapbook paper, and believe me, no one will be the wiser.  Cut a 3" circle and mod-podge this to the lid. After a few minutes, apply additional Mod Podge over the paper.

I added a punched tag (using EK Success' new Journal Plate punch) , a cute bug charm, and spelled out "Mom" with my label maker.

I continued adding colorful, coordinating ribbons to the handle, a chipboard bird, flowers, a brad, and finally a chipboard tag (stamped with a picture of a watering can with flowers).

 

The next step is to fill a clear cellophane bag with potting soil, and place it inside the pail making sure you can see the soil at the bottom.

Then add a brightly-colored shovel, a few packets of flower and vegetable seeds, several plant food stakes, and you have a personal gardening gift!

Of course, you can add anything to the pail such as gardening gloves, a coupon "good for one day of helping plant the seeds" (great for kids to give to their Mom or Grandma) and maybe even some herbal mint tea bags.  

 

Coincidentally, while I was writing this blog, the door bell rang and it was my wonderful neighbor, Kay, with a beautiful bunch of sweet peas for us! I think her ears must've been ringing!  Now I know exactly who's receiving this garden pail.

A New Look and a New Project

We just love when Elysa is home for spring break -- it's so nice to spend time together, and catch up on her busy college life.   That is, when she's not sleeping til noon!  Anyway, our little Scottish Terrier, Coconut, decided to sleep in Elysa's room all week.  He knows a good thing when he sees one!  Is Kaylee jealous? Yeah, just a little... 

And speaking of spring, here in Los Angeles, we only have two seasons: fall and summer. While most of you in the country are enjoying springtime, we are feeling the warmth of summer -- well, it seems like it with 80' weather and a sunburn from a two-mile power walk on the beach!   Well, with the new season, I thought it was time for a new look -- not for me, for my blog (although I could use one, too!).  I took advantage of Elysa's PhotoShop knowledge, and she helped me create a new blog header! And with a new look, comes a new project:   Here are photos of the altered canvas I made for my Mom.

 8" x 8" and 8" x 4" canvasses tied together with ribbon;

each canvas painted and then decoupaged with designer papers;

Photos added.

Yes, that's really me, minutes after I was born.

Note the year:  1956

(Ahhhhh!  Am I THAT old?)

Scrabble tiles spell out "DAUGHTERS"

Chipboard used to spell "LOVE" 

Further embellishments:  chipboard scroll, button and

silver heart charm tied to "E"

Then added ribbon, brads and flower

Finally, current year of bottom photo:  2010

I had so much fun creating this wall hanging canvas for my Mom. 

With Mother's Day coming up, I think my Mom will be quite pleased with her new artwork.

 

[Editor's Note:  It is now 2013, and my Mom requested an updated photo of my daughters & me.

Well, mostly a new pic of my daughters...]

 

Partying along with:

 

 

 

 

Cheap Crafty Mama