Handmade Gifts

Today begins another monthly edition of the Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop. This month's theme is handmade gifts. Be sure to click on the Designer Crafts Connection button at left to hop forward or backward and see all the wonderful gift ideas from our talented designers.

This little box began life as a chick feeder that I found on Decor Steals. (If you are not on their email list for daily bargains, you're missing out.) When I bought it, I didn't know what it would become, but knew that I loved it.

Chick feeder base

I have to admit that the idea to house the growing pile of charger cords into one container was not mine. I got the idea of containing all the cords from a website that I stumbled onto late one night. I wish I could remember where it was, but alas, my brain is not as good as it once was. (My theory: Our brains are like hard drives. You store a lot of information in there and the more you have, the longer it takes to sort through find what you're looking for. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.) So if housing all those cords in a box was your idea, please let me know so I can give you proper credit.

Since so many of my friends and family are techno-junkies, I knew this little project would make the perfect gift. Just change the paper to make it for a man, woman or young teen.

Anyway, with the addition of some ink, embellishments and Graphic 45 papers, the lowly chick feeder is gloriously reborn as a charger cord holder. I can get the charger for an iphone, camera battery and AA & AAA recharger in this box with no cords left dangling. It can be hung on the wall near the receptacle generally used for recharging or left standing on a table or counter top. No more wondering where you put your chargers and no more masses of tangled cords piled up near the receptacle!

Here's how I did it:

Supplies
Chick feeder
Graphic 45 cardstock, two coordinating sheets, plus one with blocked images
Telephone Embellishment (Studio 490)
Scalloped Circle (Kaisercraft)
3D Stamping Cream (Viva Décor)
Alcohol Inks, Terra Cotta and Bottle (Ranger)
Inkssentials Blending Tool and felt pads (Ranger)
Alcohol Blending Solution (Ranger)
Liquid Fusion Adhesive
Chipboard
Miscellaneous fiber/ribbon scraps
Assorted beads

Directions

Note: All paper edges are inked with Colorbox inks before adhering to feeder.

Apply Alcohol Inks to entire box.

1. Wipe chick feeder to remove any dust.  Apply first color of alcohol ink (Terra Cotta) to entire box and lid and then go back over it with the second color (Bottle), blending as you go. If you get too much or have harsh lines instead of blended ones, just dampen your felt pad with a little Alcohol Blending Solution and pounce over those areas.

Trace the side pattern onto chipboard and trim 1/4" inside the lines.

2. Lay the feeder on its side on the chipboard and trace the outline. Measure and draw lines 1/4" inside the pattern all around. Cut two pieces of cardstock from your pattern, being sure the printed pieces are facing the correct way unless you want the two sides to be different. Trim an additional rectangle the width of the box front. Adhere all cardstock to lower front and sides of the box. You will need to add a separate piece to the box back to completely cover it.

3. Trim the blocked image to fit the upper front and adhere.

4 Apply 3D Stamping Cream to both sides of the scalloped circle. Adhere telephone embellishment and tie it to the box lid handle.

5. Tie several strands of fiber to the box handle. Add beads to the ends.

This is a quick little project and can be done in under an hour if you don't add the beads. That took longer than making the whole project!

Now, go find some chick feeders and you'll be able to cross a couple of gifts off your list, and then go hug your sweetie. Hugs make every day much better!




Note: I received product from Kaisercraft, Viva Décor,Liquid Fusion, Studio 490 and Clearsnap.