Last Spring I needed something fun to sell at my family auction. My family holds an auction every year at our family reunion where we sell our handmade or purchased goods to other members of our family and then the money is used to pay for next years family reunion. Anyhow, blah , blah, blah, I came up with this version of a pear which was inspired by my good friend Jessica's pear. She's a clever gal! Thanks lady! It was a big hit at the family reunion and I have made it several times since for gifts (hello -wouldn't this be the cutest gift for the ladies in your book club) . Wanna make one - it's super easy and I bet you have nearly everything you need already.
Alright, so gather your supplies:
*scissors or an exacto knife
*old book
*black & white craft paint
*sponge brush
*sanding paper
*pattern (half a pear shape drawn out)
*green ink pad
*wooden block
*quick drying glue (I used hot glue & zip dry glue)
*twig from your yard
*green felt
Ok, first off I have to say that I didn't capture every step with my camera because truth be told I just recreated this scene after I had made it - you know since I made it last Spring! Sorry - I can answer any question and I will try my best to spell it out for you. You can Do THIS!
So, You just draw out your pear shape or half a pear shape as seen below. Make sure the bottom of your pattern is flat so that your pear will stand up nicely. After you have ripped the cover off your book and most of the goo off the side of your book (use a razor to scrape it off if its being difficult). Make sure to leave a bit so that your book doesn't fall apart. Then lay your pattern with the flat side to the bound edge. This is when you can either trace it with a pencil or just use your exacto knife and cut around your pattern. You won't be able to go thru all the layers of course you will just work your way down. I traced it and then used scissors to cut mine out - just because my exacto blade was a bit dull. Don't worry about perfection -rough edges give it character. I used about 100 pages to make mine as full as it was.
After you get that task done you can go thru and ink the edges of the pear and even a bit towards the center every now and then. This picture here is showing a different ink then my original pears and I don't like it as well. This was a chalk ink and the original one I used that is my favorite and the ink on the finished pear pictured is a Versa Color Ink in bamboo. Love it. Ran OUT! darn. Use what you have -it will be cute.
I had the hubby cut me out a circle that was about an inch bigger than the widest part of your pear. He routered the edge for a cute finish. I know that you can pick up something similar at Micheals or probably even JoAnns. After you get that done paint your wooden base. I just used craft paint. First I painted mine white and then when that was good and dry I painted black over that - a couple of coats . Now get out that sandpaper and rough it up a bit. Sand the top in a few places and the edges. I even banged mine up a bit with my keys.
Now get out your favorite quick drying glue and glue the front page to the back page - hold it or use some pinch clips to do so. I used Zip dry glue - it really does dry super fast. love that. Usually! I wanted my pear to be shapely , as shapely as a pear shape can be - You know! That's a whole nother topic for girls nite out - Right! Back to the tute . I randomly went thru and glued different pages together to make it pleasing to the eye. Just start - you will see what I mean. Next I put a big ole dob of hot glue on the bottom of the pear and glued it smack dab in the middle of the painted base.
Now go out to your yard or sneak into your neighbors yard and clip a bit of a branch off of one of the trees. I like a branch with a bit of a jaunty little curve to it. I just clipped that off to a nice stem size and I used E6000 to glue mine to the top of the pear. You have to hold it for quite a bit if you use E6000 though. You could use hot glue but be so careful because it tends to ooze out and it won't look that great with a gob of hot glue up top.
Again, not a great picture of my leaf but this is easy. I just cut a leaf shape out of a great green felt and then I ran mine through my sewing machine to add veins but you could also use some floss and stitch it on by hand. No veins at all would work as well. Then I just wrapped the bottom of the leaf to the bottom part of the stem and VOILA!!!
There you have it! Make two and use them as book ends (you'd have to weight them to be very effective book ends) Make some for those darling gals in your book club. Just keep it for yourself - you worked hard! Good luck and don't forget to share if you do make one. I would love to see yours.
I'm linking up as usual to Jen over at Tatertots and Jello!
Hey if you wanna find out what shape your talent is check out my bro-in-laws blog - you might be a pear shape. Actually, that's not one of the shapes but go have a look . His link is over there on my side bar - BE MUSED! neat inspirational blog!
Smiles & Big Big Love
