My Time Made Easy: So Berry Sweet

I have some super fun news, a project, and a very long post to share today. I've been invited to guest design for My Time Made Easy and of course wasted no time saying yes! I've always been beyond amazed at Lauren's inventiveness, and her design team is so incredibly talented.  It is an honor to join them for the April release!

The next six days will be packed with inspiration as the MTME designers showcase some new templates and stamp sets, which will be officially available in the MTME store tomorrow, April 1. Today, we're featuring the new Pretty Packaging template called Berry Sweet Basket, an adorable basket that looks just like the fruit containers you see at the grocery store. I chose to use it as an Easter gift basket to hold a simple potted plant, and I have to say, I'm in awe over how much this basket does to dress up an otherwise ordinary item!

I started by cutting the basket pieces out of some nice Spring green card stock using my Cricut along with the Sure Cuts A Lot software. (If, like me, you're new or relatively new to cut files, check out Lauren's Easy Guide to Using Cricut with SCAL Software tutorial [scroll down toward the end], where she walks you through everything you need to know.)

Before I assembled my basket pieces, I added a little bit of scoring detail on each of the four sides, as well as some half-back pearls in the four corners.

 After assembling the basket, I wove some yellow ribbon through the bottom and embellished with two Prima flowers and some burlap string.

I doubled the handle length by cutting two handles and attaching them together in the center with a decorative brad and some flowers.

 The handle is then attached to the basket sides with decorative brads and circle accents (included in the cut file), then embellished with a bow.

Optional inner panels are included in the file. I used those to cut the darker green panels that line the open weave sides.

I have a confession to make. After I assembled the basket and did some basic embellishing (scoring, pearls, flowers, ribbon), I stared at this off and on for days, thinking, "what else can I/should I do to this?" Finally, the light bulb went off. The whole point of these files is precisely that you *don't* have to spend a lot of time thinking and fussing! The designs are so adorable and well-engineered, you pretty much cut, assemble, and go!! How awesome is that?! If you've never tried working with a cut file, I really, really encourage you to give one of the MTME Pretty Packaging templates a whirl. You'll be addicted in no time!

As for the coordinating card, I used an awesome new set called Occasional Labels, which comes with five frames, oodles of mix-and-match sentiment components, and even some flower silhouette images. I should note that I used the stamps in a somewhat unconventional way, which was totally fun, but you need to see some more conventional designs too to get an idea of the full range of this set :) The beautiful Occasional Label shape is also available as a separate Pretty Pieces cut file. No need to hand-trim, just cut the label, stamp your frame and sentiment, and you're all set -- love that!

For the card, I started with, believe it or not, leftover packaging from a set of Prima flowers. I've seen this type of product recycling many times, but this is the first time I've done it personally. Goin' green, baby! I shabbied up the edges with an acrylic paint wash, tied on some ribbon, added the stamped Occasional Label and stamped "Easter" sentiment, then embellished with a flower, pearls, and a crystal and pearl flourish. Easy!

Whew! Told you it would be a long post. Thanks for sticking with me because it's now my great pleasure to send you to the amazing MTME designers for more peeks at the Berry Sweet Basket template! Enjoy!!

Lauren Meader
Kristin Eberline

Debbie Marcinkiewicz
Katie Cotton
Lisa Kind
Monique Hansen
Tangii Crane

Thanks so much for stopping by!