The Apple of My Eye

That was the theme of the baby shower we threw for our friend, Kari, and her little baby girl, Kate. I was surprised that in August it was so challenging to find a fun, giant apple to use as the centerpiece on the buffet table. So I decided to make one. Easy, right? Actually, it was pretty simple as long as you don't mind the foam dust covering most of your kitchen!

• First, I started with a 8"x8" block of foam. The cookie cutter was just for help in getting the shape right.

• After I created an apple stencil to fit the block and traced it on each side, I started shaving away. I carved and carved and carved until I (and Riley!) thought it looked close to a real apple.
  

• I had bought 1/4 yard each of 6 coordinating fabrics and cut them into 22"x2" strips. I think I ended up with 36 strips in the end.

• Then I bore a hole through the foam apple with a long screw driver. It had to be pretty thick- maybe 3/4" to 1" wide. I started layering the strips of fabric, draping them around the apple and having about 2" overlap across the center hole. I shoved the fabric into the hole every 6 strips or so. When they were all layered, it looked like this.

• I turned the apple over carefully and shoved the strips into the bottom hole one at a time, making sure I kept the strips straight and tight, keeping them in the order they were in at the top as well. Once they were all in, I squirted a big dollop of hot glue into the bottom hole and stuck in a fabric-wrapped water bottle cap to secure them tightly.

• I had scavenged the woods for the perfect "apple stem" and hot glued that into the top hole, holding the fabric in securely. I topped it off with a bow and gift tag.
  
  
• Voila! What do you think? Cute, or what!? I chose fabrics to coordinate with Kate's new room so she could use it to decorate with for a long time. It looked darling at the shower and I think Kari liked it!

I will have to post the pics from the shower to show you how cute the decorations turned out. Thanks, Deb, for hosting and working so hard! Welcome, welcome baby Kate! And thanks, Kari, for always being such an amazing friend!