First Monday - Westcott® Challenge

It's unbelievable how quickly the months are flying by.  Can you believe it's October already!  Our theme for First Monday projects should probably be Halloween, since it's just around the corner, but come back in a week or so, I'm sure we'll have some great project ideas to offer.

This month the Designer Crafts Connection is participating in a manufacturer challenge.  Sponsored by

Each of us received Westcott® Brand Cutting Tools to work with.  The thing I like best about these scissors is the fact that I can cut paper and fabric with the same pair!  Do you remember the days when you couldn't use the same pair?  I had to have one pair for paper and one for fabric.....  well not any more! Plus these scissors are non stick titanium bonded to boot.  This was really important for this challenge because we also received product from VELCRO® Brand Hook and Loop Fasteners and The Duck Brand® Duct Tape Rolls and sheets.  Lots of sticky stuff to work with.  

Without further ado, here's my project - a woven ribbon purse and bangle:

And these are some of the supplies I had to work with.  I also used double sided, tacky tape, jewelry chain, 2 silver eyelets and an eyelet setter.

The first step was to measure the ribbon (no ruler needed when you have a cutting mat).  I cut five, 15" lengths of black 1 1/2" gros grain ribbon and one, 21" long.  I also cut eight, 9" pieces of pink and black zebra ribbon.  It was also 1 1/2" wide.

I taped the top edges of the black ribbon to a large piece of poster board to keep them aligned, then wove 4 pieces of the patterned ribbon across as shown.  You will then add the long piece of black ribbon.  This will be the bottom and sides of the purse.
 

Once you've added the additional 4 pieces of patterned ribbon, tape the opposite ends of the black ribbon to the poster board to keep them in place.  Then starting at the center, cover the woven ribbon with duck tape.  BTW - the patterned ribbon is woven with the pattern side down, otherwise you'd be covering it up with the duck tape.

Remove the tape from the top and bottom, then fold the ends inwards even with the first horizontal piece of ribbon.  Hold in place with tacky tape.  I then placed a piece of duck tape across the bottom to cover the raw edges of the ends of the ribbon.  Cover the ribbon that extends on either side with duck tape. Fold the edges inwards even with edges of the black ribbon, the fold the sides upwards.  Adhere the black ribbon to the edges to form the purse.  Fold the end over, so they are even with the top, then punch a hole in each side and place an eyelet in each about 1/2" from the top.  Attach a jewelry chain to each side using a large jump ring if needed.  To finish I cut a 1" piece of black Velcro® to the inside of the purse at the top for a closure.

The rose can be made from the same patterned ribbon, but I made mine from the pink Duck tape then placed a self adhesive "jewel" at the center.  The bangle is simply a wide ring (section) cut from a sturdy plastic bottle of water.  I covered the outside with Duck tape and added a rose with small squares of Velcro®.  This way the rose is interchangeable.  There is also gold metallic Duck tape which would have looked great with a bunch of jewels placed all around it.  So many colors to play with, so little time!

There's a lot of pink going on since, October is Breast Cancer awareness month.  Which reminds me, I'm due for a check up.  Have you had yours this year?  I'm an eleven year Colon Cancer survivor, so, believe me, check ups are important - I'm living proof!

Some of the projects you see on your journey round the webring are being auctioned for a fund raiser at   Charity Wings Website .  You can see them, and bid on them here: http://charitywingsnews.blogspot.com/2011/10/westcott-brand-and-friends-auction-for.html

This is our giveaway for October (US residents only please), provided by Westcott:

 

http://westcottbrand.blogspot.com/2011/10/designer-crafts-connection-charitable.html

To enter to win, click on the photo/link and it will whisk you away to the Westcott® blog where you can comment on your favorite projects, but make sure you hop round the ring first to see what everyone else came up with.  The winner will be announced November 1st.  Good luck and enjoy the hop!  Y'all come back now......

Yours truly,
Julie :)