I get inspired by so many great projects on here that I want to get in the habit of posting my projects. So here's my latest project
This weekend was my friend's wedding shower/batchlorette party. She's really picky about clothing so I didn't want to get her lingere and she's kind of a prude so I didn't want to get her the normal "box o' x-rated fun" that I usually give my friends when they get married. Then my mom remembered knowing someone that got a wedding hankie that you could later turn into a baby bonnet. I like the idea, did some research on it, and made it into a cute little gift set.
Close up of the rose, just becasue I'm super proud of how it turned out.
When she opened it up there was a card with this poem
I’m just a little hankie
Hold me with your bouquet
I’ll be there as you marry
To wipe your joyful tears away
I’ll be there by your side
To catch a tear or two
Later you’ll look back at me
Remembering the day you said “I do”
I’m just a little hankie
As square as can be
But with a small stitch or two
A bonnet I will be.
I’ll be worn from the hospital
Or on my christening day
And after that be folded
Then carefully put away.
When on that future wedding day
So we’ve always been told
The well dressed bride must always
Wear something that is old
So what could be more fitting
Then to find little me
And with a few fine stitches snipped
A wedding hankie, again I will be.
And if perchance it’s a boy
Someday he’ll surely wed
Then his bride can have the hankie
Once worn upon his head
Then this vintage hankie
Took me forever to find a hankie that was zebra print, let alone with red roses (her wedding flowers) and a vintage one (so it can be her something old), but yay for etsy!
Then there was a card with the instructions on how to turn the hankie into a bonnet, along with a little sewing kit with everything she'll need for it. And finally I included a card with a little history of vintage women's hankies and a card with a guide to hankie sign language, just because I thought it was fun and interesting.
Everyone at the party thought it was super cute and sweet and loved it..........except for the bride-to-be who was too drunk to understand what the hell it was, kept yelling at me because the poem was "too long" and didn't make sense (she kept re-reading the same line over and over) and then got mad at me for giving her some cheap "bandana" that I didn't make and wasn't big enough to fit around her head. I tried to explain to her that it wasn't a bandana, it was a vintage silk hankerchief but she woudn't listen and was busy doing stuff like this
Oh well, I guess that's what I get for trying to give something sentimental to an alchoholic.........
None the less, I'm really happy with how the whole thing turned out, I'll just have to be more careful about who I give one to next time. Just had to vent to some fellow crafters that know how sometimes handmade gifts aren't always recieved as planned.
Thanks for looking! C&C always welcome.
***EDIT***Here's all the shiz I used to make this-
Tute for the rose-
http://stacycohen.blogspot.com/2010/08/prima-layout-and-paper-rose-flower.html I wanted something bigger than the size of a punch, so I did a google image search for a 6 petal flower punch, found a pic of the sihloette, and then printed it out at the size I wanted and used that as a template. Before I rolled the edges I ran them over with a black ink pad (I think the technique is called destressing....pape
r crafts aren't usually my thing so I dont know the terms), this really gave it some dimention and my mom thought that doing the black edges made it look more like a silk flower. I glued the layers together using E6000 becasue I was lazy and that's what was sitting next to me, but I've since done some more roses for hair clips and the best way I've found to glue the layers is to use hot glue and shoot it up from the hole in the bottom, if that makes sense
Envelope/box thingy tute-
http://stampartic.blogspot.com/2010/11/folding-card-tutorial.html Its actually a really easy folding pattern that ends up looking super complicated (love stuff like that) but you definately need to do a few trial runs on plain paper first. I used a Fiskars Ultra Shape Xpress template (the one that's on the heart template, I think they call it a victorian edge) instead of an edge punch because that's what I already had (absolutely LOVE that tool by the way, its completely replaced my exacto and some punches, if you don't have one its seriously worth the investment, especailly if you use a 40%off coupon) and I did the edging before I started folding. I foudn it way easier and that way I could kinda line up the folds so with the design to make sure that each edge's design was symetrical. When I was folding in the corners, instead of lining them up to the center, I kept them 1/2 inch out from the center so that way more of the underneath part would show, and plus it's a little more wiggle room for error because my measurements are always a little off, I dont know why. I didn't follow her instructions for cutting the patterned paper because I found it confusing so I just measured the finished peice myself and cut my patterned paper that way. I also made sure all my patterened peices were cut a little bigger than I thought I needed and then just trimmed off the exess after glueing it on, this way I would definately cover all the white card. When I did the middle band thingy, I didn't tie it at the side with a ribbon, I just attatched it in the back with double stick tape, but that's more of a personal prefrence. Also, wait to fold the middle band until you put everything inside because a few layers of paper/hankie/etc effects the thickness and if you pre-fold the band it won't fit.
Handkerchief bonnet tute-
http://adventuresofanartisan.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/%E2%80%9Ckeepsake-handkerchief-bonnet%E2%80%9D/ Since I didn't pre-make the bonnet like she does, I also included a little sewing kit. I cut a couple lengths of ribbon about a foot long and went ahead and sewed the little loops on them and then wrapped it around a rectangle of scrap cardstock, taped it in the back to secure, then taped on a needle and wrapped around a bunch of thread. That way she'd have everything she needed when she went to make the bonnet. I also added onto the poem to include that part about it being a wedding hankie too.
I also included this little history of vintage hankies and guide to hankie sign language just to be fun, I got the info for this here
http://www.etsy.com/listing/71466700/free-a-ladys-guide-to-hankie-sign?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=hankie&ga_order=price_asc&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=0&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmadeVintage white and ivory hankies that are popular today with wedding parties were produced primarily in the 1940s and 1950s in places like Madeira, Switzerland, and the Far East.
Embroidery, appliqué, drawn work, application of lace, and hemming were usually done by hand, often by 2 or more women who would each apply her specialty to the piece.
Sold primarily in Europe and the United States, ladies would always have a clean white hankie at the ready to dab noses, catch tears, or clean a spot off Junior's face.
It's said that no lady would let her maid launder her hankies. Each evening she would wash that day's hankie in scented facial soap, and then smooth it out on her mirror to dry where it would cling until morning.
Long ago, well before texting and other forms of electronic communication, ladies communicated with their hankies.
A Lady’s Guide to Hankie Sign Language
Drawing across the lips—I desire to make your acquaintance.
Drawing across the eyes—I am sorry.
Dropping—We will be friends.
Twirling in both hands—Indifference.
Drawing across the cheek—I love you.
Resting on right cheek—Yes.
Resting on left cheek—No.
Twisting in left hand—I wish to get rid of you.
Twisting in right hand—I love another.
Folding—I wish to speak to you.
Over the shoulder—Follow me.
Opposite corners in both hands—Wait for me.
Drawing across the forehead—We are watched.
Placing on right ear—You have changed.
Letting it remain on the eyes—You are cruel.
Winding around forefinger—I am engaged.
Winding around third finger—I am married.
Putting in the pocket—No more at present.
Let me know if you have any questions or anything. And if you make your own I'd love to see pics
