Origami Gift Box!

Here is the Origami Gift Box project I promised yesterday! It was inspired by the Holiday Project Blitz on SCS! Jenn Balcer wrote a great tutorial (here - (http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/origami_box/), so if you want details on how to create the box itself, click on the link for awesome instructions!

I made this box and matching card as a birthday gift for a niece. Jenn's tutorial came along at just the right time! The box is big enough to hold a small jewelry presentation box (earrings- or ring-size), which is just what I needed!

I used a full 12" x 12" piece of designer paper for the top, and another for the bottom. This paper is from Basic Grey's Urban Couture collection. Isn't it beautiful? I got it at eP (see link on the right), one of my favorite online shops!!! I got the Prima flowers there, too (thanks, Daisy)!

Once the box was made, I embellished it with the gorgeous chocolate satin ribbon from SU!'s Theater ribbon collection. Then, it just needed a tag. The tag layers are (from bottom to top): scallop-punched Chocolate Chip CS; more of the DP punched with a 1.25" circle punch; a Prima lace collection flower; and the brad is one of SU!'s Build-a-Brads, using more of the DP stamped with the small flower from SU!'s Baroque Motifs set. I LOVE these Build-a-Brads! They add such a "finished" look to things!!! The tag was attached to the ribbon with some SU! copper cord (ret.).

This box matches the card I posted yesterday. Scroll down for info, and thanks for looking!

Did You Know...

...how EASY it is to dye the flowers in Stampin' Up!'s "Pretties Kit?!?" It is incredibly easy! Those little blooms absorb ink like you wouldn't believe! Here's a birthday card I made for another of my nieces (in November), which uses a couple different techniques to dye the flowers.
This square (4.25 x 4.25") card was made using Chocolate Chip card stock and one of Basic Grey's GORGEOUS Urban Couture papers. It coordinates beautifully with SU!'s Almost Amethyst ink! Taking my color cues from the origami gift box I made for my niece (which I will post next), I stamped the DSP with SU!'s Baroque Motifs set, using CRAFT Almost Amethyst and CLASSIC Basic Brown inks. I never would have put Chocolate Chip, Amethyst, and (esp.)YELLOW together, but the paper tied the color scheme together like a dream!

Of course, for a vintage-y look, one must distress the paper a bit with a distressing tool and some DTP (Direct-to-Paper) inking. Paper piercing, too, adds to the look.

The lovely velvet ribbon on the top L.H. corner is from SU!'s Theatre ribbon collection. Isn't it YUMMY?!? I would buy an entire spool of this stuff, if I could! I used the Key Tag punch for the sentiment papers, and stamped it with the Happy Birthday phrase from Warmest Regards (ret.?).

The largest flower was created with SU!'s scallop punch (Chocolate Chip), 1.25" circle punch (Almost Amethyst), a Prima "lace" flower, and topped off with SU!'s new Build-a-Brad in Pewter (stamped w/Baroque Motifs flower in Basic Brown). WHEW!

The uppermost flower embellishment was created with SU!'s Pretties Kit stick pin, pearl bead, and clear teardrop bead. The small Pretties Kit amethyst flower was next (inked with the amethyst pad and then highlighted on the edges with a marker -- both inks absorb QUICKLY!!!), followed by two more Prima lace collection flowers (cream/script & cocoa). The cocoa flower was rubbed on the Basic Brown pad to bring out its texture more and help tie it in better color-wise.

The smallest flower, on the R.H. side of the bunch, was two of the Pretties Kit flowers, in different sizes, dyed with the Caramel and Amethyst stamp pads. The center is a pearl "stamen" left over from when I made my grandparents' card cake. It was a very fun project -- I hope she likes it!!!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

CHRISTMAS!!!!!!! See all the beautiful white stuff God sent to us on Saturday?!? We awoke to 4 inches or snow, and then it continued snowing into the afternoon, and we ended up with SIX inches that day!!!

The boys went sledding twice on Saturday and had an absolute ball! What a wonderful day!

Aren't these trees and bushes in our front yard lovely?!? I love snow-laden trees!





















This is the view from our back deck, Close to the middle of the yard...


And this is the view from the deck, into the right-hand corner of the yard (the rose arbor!)...























Here is the left-hand view of the yard...
























And the bird feeder...


I tell you -- with each change of season, I always marvel at the things God has created and how well He orchestrates them all! Everything designed to perfection... such amazing variety (even no two snowflakes are alike)... Our God is AWESOME!!!