Initial Heart Swap

Every year around this time I read on blogs about heart swaps and I always wish that I had taken part in something like that.  This year (actually towards the end of last year) I decided to Google and find a heart swap to take part in.  That's when I came across Cheryll's lovely blog and her Initial Heart Swap. I signed up and awaited details of my secret partner - Lynn from Happiness Is Cross Stitching.

As Lynn has now received her swap, I can reveal what I made.

I knew from the start that I wanted to make a crochet heart as I love to crochet (not that I do that much of it but see here and here).

Now as it was an 'Initial' Heart Swap I had to add my partner's initial to it.  I first thought about using an initialled bead but didn't really know where I would put it.  Then I realised that Lynn was a cross stitcher and so decided to x stitch her initial onto ribbon and use that as the leaves. Lynn, I hope you approve of my x stitch skills!

All packaged up with a hand made label! You'll notice in later pics that I decided to stamp Lynn's name onto the tag.

Another requirement of the swap was to send your partner a chocolate/a sweet.  I bought a bag of chocolate hearts and repackaged them, sealing the bag with a hand made tag.  I sealed it shut with row of zig zag stitching that I wanted to look like grass but look closely, I had stitched it with the zig zags pointing down!!

I just couldn't leave it like that so I redid it - much better!

 I was having so much fun with my swap that I decided to add a couple of extras - one of them was an idea I had had for a while but had never gotten around to doing.  I painted an empty little honey jar lid green and stuck on a hand made rose and filled the jar with pink, white and green buttons.
 

 

And since I enjoy making cards, I made a card to go with it

Finally I packaged it all up and sent it off to Lynn

Lynn, I'm so glad you liked it! It was an absolute pleasure putting it together for you.

~A