Friendship Jar

Sweet ol' summer time. For me, it's a time when I want life to slow down a little for my family. It's a time for staying up late and sleeping in. It's a time to put away my calendar and the long lists. It's a time for enjoying friends and family. It's a time for porch sitting and sipping on ice cold drinks. It's a time to just enjoy the process and take life one day at a time. I welcome you to join Jordan and me for a little front porch party. Along with our porch party today is Papertrey's Group Post day. Our assignment was to create a homemade gift ensemble using Friendship Jar and accessories. My gift does not come in the form of box and gift wrap. Instead I'm showing you a gift that circles around a little event.....maybe you could recreate this same type of gift for one of your loved ones.

It all started with a morning stroll through the gardens. We noticed that our tiny strawberry plants had red, ripe berries. We were so tickled. Jordan ran for the strawberry pan and she picked every one she saw. Our first strawberries from the garden. There is nothing like vine ripened strawberries, fresh from the patch. They just burst in our mouth with juicy, sweet flavor.

We knew what was for breakfast this particular morning. Strawberries, of course. Josey was still in bed sawing logs so Jordy and I decided to have breakfast on the front porch. She insisted on making our favorite Cranberry Lime Cooler. You can find the original post and recipe here. This year we added fresh strawberries to the mix, kind of like a sangria. So yummy. And later you'll see our cute garnish too. I found this adorable miniature glass pitcher at an antique shop earlier this year. Perfect for our Cranberry Lime Cooler. Perfect for my new Friendship Jar set coming out this month at Papertrey Ink.
I just had to make a run to my Artsy Studio to create a quick tag. I left Jordan in the kitchen to fancy up our strawberry fixins. For the tag, I used a Large Manilla Parcel tag, some pink Wrinkle Ribbon and a carnival ticket from my Etsy shop. For the adorable jar image, I used lots of goodies that all coordinate. You guys are going to be absolutely spoiled with this set....on this tag alone, I used the jar stamp, a filler stamp in pink ink, the 5 cent image, the special brew image and a scalloped topper image with coordinating die. Everything you need to complete little jar ensembles are included within the Friendship Jar set, Friendship Jar Fillers set and the coordinating dies. I also used a new label die image coming out this month too. There's one that comes with Friendship Jar but this one was a little larger to accommodate the strawberry image from Vintage Picnic, which I colored with Copic markers. It went so well with our strawberry theme.

Now on to our breakfast on the porch. It's amazing how a few strawberries and a fun little tag started what became a fun memory for Jordan and me.
Jordan changed into a cute dress and an old apron that I dearly love. She used some of my new silver goodies to carry out breakfast and drinks out to the porch. I think she's kinda cute.
And here is our wonderful tray of Cranberry Lime Coolers, complete with lime wedges and a fresh strawberry garnish. We used pint mason jars....everything tastes better in a jar if you ask me. Our drinks were ice cold and the jars were sweating like crazy. I think the tag and ribbon on the pitcher was so dang cute too.
Here's our whole presentation. I've started collection silver plate items for special little occasions like our breakfast on the porch. Here I used a wonderful, ornate tray and cream and sugar set for our strawberries and sugar. How cute would this be to bring this tray of goodies over to a friend's house.....or perhaps create a wonderful gift by searching for items like the tray, sugar and creamer sets, two mason jars for drink glasses and a cute little pitcher. Add some pretty napkins and fun little tags and you will have the most unique gift EVER!
Such a pretty little presentation.
Jordan was pleased as punch over our little porch party. Those little freckles and red hair hair just make my heart swell out of my chest. I love that little kiddo. (Sorry, cute little red head girl does not come with gift.)

While I was making the tag, she collected roses and wild flowers from the field by our house. I think she's a very good floral arranger too, don't you? That wonderful strawberry tea pot was a gift from my dear friend Carol (I call her HB). I use it all the time.

Here's our yummo strawberries and sugar, perfect in the silver creamer and sugar bowls...along with a vintage silver spoon.
Now let the party begin. Jordan couldn't wait to dig into those strawberries.
And did she dig in. She was covered up to her knuckles in sticky sugar by the time we were done eating our strawberries.
Good times, laughter and just being together. Doing nothing much. Creating another memory to share later on.
Doing what our grandma's did while wearing a pretty apron....using a napkin that someone's grandma probably embroidered.
It was a very simple affair....but a few pretty details like my Friendship Jar tag, Jordan's flowers, my pretty teapot and silver tray......that's what make it fun. Fun for me to do. Fun for my friends and family to enjoy. Another gift idea would be to scour the shops for vintage teapots...use them for wildflower arrangements and add a pretty tag....who wouldn't love that?
I hope you love all the goodies I've shown you today. And I hope you are inspired to create some goodies of your own. Keep it simple...add a few fun details....and just enjoy the good times. Have a great day, my friends.

But don't let the fun stop here. Join me as I blog hop to the other Papertrey Designers' blogs to see what they've whipped up using Friend Jar and Friend Jar Fillers. I can't wait to see their projects!

Nichole Heady

• Heather Nichols
• Lisa Johnson
• Betsy Veldman
• Debbie Olson
• Dawn McVey
• Kim Hughes
• Niki Estes
• Melissa Phillips
• Erin Lincoln
• Maile Belles