It's been a long time....

I can't believe I haven't posted anything on this blog for more than a month. Of course, that's better than when I began blogging and updated once a year, whether I needed to or not!

My friend Karen Gaulke and her hubby recently had a precious baby girl, Katherine Marie Gaulke. There are several designers who contribute to the Memory Makers blog and we all wanted to send Karen gifts, but since we are scattered all over the country, getting together all at once was a little bit of a problem.

Our solution was to have a surprise online shower for Karen. Today at 11 a.m. EST, Karen, who is on maternity leave, will be notified that there is a problem with the website and asked to log on to see if she can solve it. That's when she will see a post from the participating designers with the handmade gifts that will be coming her way.

My gift is a decorated one gallon paint can, designed to hold memories from Baby Katherine's first year which will not fit in a scrapbook, such as her tiny brush, shoes,teething ring, a rattle and a cd with a copy of the virtual shower for her to enjoy when she's older.

Here's how I made it:

Supplies

One gallon paint can
Patterned Paper, three sheets 12 x 12" (Making Memories, Pitter Patter)
Cardstock, pink (one light, one a little darker), white, green (Bazzil)
Flower punch
1" and 1/4" hole punches
Rose and Teal chalk ink pads (Clearsnap)
Elegant Flourishes, Key Holes and Paper Rosette dies (Sizzix' Tim Holtz line)
Ribbon (Offray)
Pink Spray Paint (Krylon, Ballet Slipper)
Beacon 3-in-1 and Zip Dry adhesives
Pink French trim (RockCandy Studios)

Directions

1. Spray paint can and lid inside and out.

2. Measure height of can and trim two pieces of paper to fit. Measure the distance between the center holes of the paint can handle, add 1" and cut one piece of paper that width. Measure from top of can down to center of handle holder and mark on back side of paper. Center your 1" hole punch with the edge of the punch on edge of the paper and punch. Repeat for other side. Glue to can with 3-in-1 adhesive. Repeat for second piece of paper.

3. Cut a circle to fit top of lid and adhere.

4. Add pink trim to top and bottom of can.

5. Punch flourishes (three sets or more if you like) and flowers. Ink swirls and flower edges with teal and rose inks. Punch 1/4" circles and glue to flower centers with Zip Dry. Adhere swirls and flowers to can.

6. Create flowers with white cardstock and the Paper Rosette die, following directions on die package. Adhere a flower cut from the pink cardstock to center circle.

7. Print sentiment on pale pink cardstock, ink edges and adhere to top of can. Add flowers.

8. Tie pink ribbons on each side of can.

This project looks intricate, but the hardest part is making the papers fit around the handle, and even that can be disguised with lots of ribbon if there is an error.

I hope this becomes a family keepsake for the Gaulkes. I had so much fun making it and now know what to give all my new mom friends when the time comes.