Strawberry Patch...

Welcome to the first group post of the April Papertrey Ink countdown!  The team has some fun projects to share with you using a new line up of products called Strawberry Patch!  This new line of products includes the Strawberry Patch and Strawberry Patch Sentiments stamp sets, as well as coordinating dies!  There are dies to match the strawberries as well as the strawberry tops and some tiny flowers.  There is also a coordinating set of dies called Perfect Patches, which I'll show you more of in a bit!  Along with all of the strawberry goodies is a new die called Strawberry Basket.  It's a super fun die that creates a nearly full sized berry basket once it's all assembled.  All of these new products will be available for purchase from the Papertrey Ink website as of 10pm on April 15th.  

So let's talk about today's project.  I created a bath gift basket using all of these new Strawberry Patch goodies.   

The card features the big berry cluster -- that large image is all one piece!  It is just an outline, but there are coordinating stamps to stamp the leaves and strawberries, just in case you're not too keen on coloring (raising hand!!!)  yay!  

The sentiment I used on my card is from the Strawberry Patch Sentiment set.  I inked it up with Hibiscus Burst ink, then rolled the bottom edge in Pure Poppy for a gradient look.  I embossed my stamped panel with the Picnic Plaid Impression Plate (the perfect companion to the strawberry set, don't you think?!?!).  As for that sweet bottom edge, I diecut several patterned papers using the new Perfect Patched die, lined them all up along the bottom edge of my cardstock, then diecut it with the Edgers #4 die.

To fill up my basket, I dressed up some lotions and body splash with patterned papers and berries, which were stamped onto the Perfect Patches diecuts.  I also included some felt strawberries, which were done the same way I showed in THIS post.

So let's talk a little about the basket.  It was, of course, created with the new Berry Basket die.  Now, if assembled normally, this basket would be square.  For my particular project today, I decided an oblong basket would be better, so I altered it a bit.  I'll show you some details on that in a bit.  I also added a fabric liner (step-by-steps later in this post!).  The handles are just strips of felt which I attached with some cute flower brads.  

So, as promised, here are a few shots of how I trimmed/assembled my basket to make it rectangular instead of square.  For one side of the basket I trimmed it down, leaving 5 rows of square openenings (across the top) and just adhered the tab from the back panel to this piece, just like you would if you were creating a full-sized basket.  

For the other side, since I will need to trim away the tab that would normally be adhered to that back panel, I left a little excess -- the little pieces that would have formed the 6th row of holes -- to create tabs which I then could adhere to the back panel. Clear as mud?  It sounds a bit complicated when I type that all out, but it's really pretty simple.  :-)

Now for the fabric liner.  I wanted to use two different fabrics -- one that would show through the holes in the basket, and a contrasting fabric that would show in the portion that folds over the top of the basket.  So, I took my two fabrics and laid them out, wrong sides together.  

I then made a pattern by assembling another basket from scrap paper.  You could also do this with your actual basket pieces before you adhere the side edges...I was just experimenting when I did mine and my basket was already assembled before I figured out I needed it for a pattern!  :-)  I pinned it in place through both of my fabrics.

Then take a ruler and measure 1 1/2" from the end of each basket side -- this extra length is what folds over the top edge of the basket.  Cut it out, following the marked lines, and leaving about 1/4" extra around all of the other edges (for the seam allowance).  I wasn't very fussy about this at all...I figured it was going to get bunched up inside my basket anyway...so don't sweat it too much!

Once you have the pieces cut, it's time to start sewing.  Working with each liner piece seperately and with right sides of fabric together, line up the edges (the edges that you would normally put adhesive on if you were going to assemble it out of paper) and sew a 1/4" seam.  Repeat with all four sides on both fabric pieces.

Once all four sides of each liner piece are sewn, this is what you end up with.  

Now put one inside of the other, right sides together.  Sew along that top edge, leaving an opening so you can turn it.  Turn it right side out and then stitch the opening closed.  It's now ready to place in your basket!  

I hope you enjoyed today's project!  Feel free to email me if you don't understand my clear as mud instructions and I'd be happy to help.  :-)

Now be sure to hop around to the other DT gals to see what they've created using this new line up of products!

• Ashley Cannon Newell
• Danielle Flanders
• Jess Witty
• Erin Lincoln
• Maile Belles
• Nichole Heady
• Lisa Johnson
• Dawn McVey
• Heather Nichols
• Melissa Phillilps

Supplies not linked, but available on April 15th from Papertrey Ink:  Strawberry Patch and Strawberry Patch Sentiments stamp sets, Perfect Patches die, Berry Basket die

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