Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Resurrection Plant & Craft: All Things Testify of Christ

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I'm so pleased to introduce you all to my sister Dawn who will be our first guest blogger for this Easter Blog Party!  Dawn is an extremely talented artist and has been drafted for many stamp and paper design teams.  If you need some stamping inspiration, you'll be sure to find it at her blog:  Sunnyside Up.


Now, here's Dawn!


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The Resurrection Plant


"All things testify of Christ."

That is something that I grew up hearing...and now I am saying it to my own kids.  What a miraculous thing is Spring!   It is a time when all that was dead comes back to life.  Here in the Great Midwest, we really do enjoy the return to lush and green and life.


Years ago, my parents gave me this plant.  Don't you think it looks great?  ....  haha



Or...maybe...it's more like dead now. 

But this is what it looks like most of the year as it sits on a top shelf in the cabinent. 

As Easter approaches, we put it in a bowl of water. 

And to our utter amazement each year...



 After a few minutes,

A few more minutes...


Tick! Tick!


Tock! Tock!

And Finally...

(Elasped time: 1 hour 10 mins)
A green plant once again.  A miracle that happens before your very eyes.   I am grateful to be reminded of the miracle of Christ's Resurrection each Spring and each day of the year when I notice the reminders that are all around me in nature.

{For more Easter ideas, check out the #MyForeverFamily challenge}




Now, here's a fun spring craft you might want to make for yourself, friends or family. Perhaps when you wear it, you will be reminded how after the winter, plants come alive again.  After this life, we will continue to live, just as Christ rose from the dead on the third day.


Spring Wristlet


Supplies:
1 inch (or wider) ribbon
fabric strip...1 inch wide..36-44 inches long. 
felt flowers (cut from a die or by hand, your choice)
buttons (or other embellishments)
button thread
needle
glue gun/glue sticks
scissors
extra felt if you want to cover up the back side of your wristlet




1. Tie a knot in your thread. Turn the short edge of your fabric strip over and stitch it down.


2. Sew a running or basting stitch down the length of your fabric strip. The longer the strip, the fuller your flower will be. You may also want to use a ribbon if you don't want the frayed look. I also use fray check after my flower frays a little just to keep it from completely fraying away. As you pull the thread through, the strip will start to wind up, like a snail shell.



3. Then arrange the layers to look like a flower. Stitch through the middle to pick up all the folds to secure the blossom.






4. Add a fun button or bead or bauble.

5. Sew/decorate felt flowers. (Not pictured. But you are all so creative!)


6.  Cut off a piece of ribbon for your wrist. The length will depend on your wrist size and how you want to tie it on.   It can be tied into a knot or a bow. Or you can add velcro to make it easier to wear.


7. Using your glue gun, glue the blossoms onto a piece of ribbon.

8. Add an extra piece of felt to the back side of your wristlet, if you prefer. I like to bend the corsage over my wrist as the hot glue is drying. This will give you a a curved area that will fit nicely on a wrist.

9. Add fray check to the ribbon ends.






10. Tie it on and enjoy your new corsage wristlet.

You can easily make one to coordinate with your Easter dress or other new outfits! 



Another example...with extra ribbons!


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15 comments:

  1. I sigh. when my mom was in the hospital that Easter, just a few weeks before she died, I brought her one of these Resurrection Plants. We had a FHE on the topic. It was a hard thing to do because she refused to accept the fact that she was dying. But the longer the plant sits in (living) water and gets the Light (of Christ) the greener it becomes. I need to find my plant....It's almost time. And if any of your readers what to find one, check Publisher's Clearing House...they were selling one last week.

    Great blog entry Dawn....and it's a great visual for kids...not to mention the lovely fabric wrist corsage. What every proper Victorian-esque lady needs.

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  2. I've got to find one of those resurrection plants. And I can not wait to make a ton of those bracelets. LOVE those!!

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  3. I've got to get one of these things:
    You can buy them all over online...

    http://www.amazon.com/Rose-Jericho-Resurrection-Plant-Dinosaur/dp/B001GFMC22

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  4. interesting, never heard of resurrection plants before-fascinating...

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  5. Thanks for inviting me to be a part of your blog. Now DD wants many wristlets! haha. We'll be busy!

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  6. I need to send one of those resurrection plants to my grandkids. Thanks!

    =)

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  7. Oh, this is so cute and fun. My girls would love it.

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  8. Love the wristlet! I'm going to make one for my girls as an Easter Sunday gift.

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  9. I LOVE the wristlet!! Thanks for linking @Creative Itch's "Sew Cute Tuesday"!

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  10. I enjoyed this post on Spring and it's relationship to Easter and our Savior, Jesus Christ. The pictures of the plant was awesome. Also, loved the craft project.Thanks for sharing your thoughts and blessings to you! LeAnn

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  11. My curiosity is peaked! I've got to get my hands on one of those plants! What a great visual for kids. I wonder if an Easter lily bulb would serve the same purpose?

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  12. Oh, you have so many good posts lately! I haven't been keeping up and now it looks like I have a lot of good reading to do! :)

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  13. Oh how amazing nature is and the wonders it brings!

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  14. This is why i love spring, nature has its way of cheering people up! I ordered the resurrection plant, i have never seen one like this before-i am truly in awe-God's power, wisdom and love! Thanks for sharing!

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  15. Great lesson here as well as a cute wristlet!

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