Sunday, November 9, 2008

Putting on the Glitz gift set (Double box, homemade thickers, altered brads...)




I've been thinking about Christmas gifts and how to make a million on a budget, LOL. The 3D challenge blog got me started with the template they posted of an Open Top Box.

I needed some cute paper with enough heft so I thought of the Putting on the Glitz paper kit that I got from Paper Garden Projects:



It has a lot of paper & goodies for a great price and it's so cute, so I thought I'd make some things with it and buy an extra pack to give to my friend Kim. Which I'm thinkin' will be perfect for her princess-themed scrapbook of her family's trip to Disneyland.

The patterned paper has glitter & the Bazzill Bling rocks the shimmer. In honour of her twin girls' love of pretty glitz, I made some shimmery brads & homemade primas & thickers using the patterned paper (perfect because they love purple and pink & it has little touches of that.)

Hope this gives you some ideas for the stamper or scrapper on your gift list... :O)

The Double Open Top Box:




Step 1) Cut patterned paper paper to 8.5 inches wide. Print the box template onto it.

(You can find the template linked on the 3D challenge blog here.) You can erase the dotted lines in photoshop (or leave a comment & I'll reply to you with the attachment.



Step 2) Cut & Score the box.



Step 3)
Punch holes where the template indicates & add eyelets, if you like. I've used cheap Satin ribbon from Michael's but dressed it up with a bit of Shimmerz painted on.



Step 4) Assemble a 3x3 acrylic box (I got mine here) & slide the patterned paper open top box in. If Cathy is sold out, not to worry. She replenishes stock often when items are available. Maybe email her? :O)



I wrapped the white with pink polka dotted ribbon around the box (the ribbon comes in the kit too.) Please see below for how to make the flower...

Altered Brads:

I got some brads at the dollar store that were sort of poorly made (the sticker finish was marred or they were on crooked, but I noticed the fronts were easy to take off, so I bought a whack to alter. Here's how I did these ones...



Step 1) Peel stickers off of the brads



Step 2)
Add adhesive to the brads.

I like Tombow monomulti for this because it'll stay sticky and gives you time to work with it. You could leave this step for later if you only have a fast drying adhesive.



Step 3) Punch or cut shapes to fit.

If you don't have punches, you can use the sticker as a guide & cut pieces to fit (depending on how sticky your sticker is, I guess. These weren't overly sticky so I stuck them on the back of the Putting on the Glitz paper & cut around the sticker.



Step 4) Paint some glimmer onto the paper

I used Shimmerz here, but you can also use Pearlescent paints (the white is lovely for this), or Lumiere, or a glitter pen...



Step 5) Coat the brads with Crystal Lacquer. If you're adding embellishments you can drop them into the lacquer. I added some of the dewdrops that come in the kit.

(More altered brad ideas here if you wanna check 'em out.)

Homemade Thickers:

I love cutting fun foam with Cuttlebug dies & sticking paper on it makes homemade thickers that are all matchie-poo! :O) (My friend Kim loves matching things.)



Step 1) Cut some paper & fun foam to a good size to fit your dies
Step 2) Coat the fun foam in Tombow monomulti
Step 3) Stick the paper on & let dry well
Step 4) Cut the fun foam with your die cuts (these are Provocraft Flowers)
Step 5) Add glimmer (Shimmerz, Pearlescent paints, glitter pen, Lumiere)
Step 6) Emboss with Cuttlebug embossing folders
Step 7) Embellish with microbeads, glitter.. I've used dew droplets

The embossing stays nicely in the paper & the foam makes any die cut shape dimensional. You can match your colour of foam too:



Homemade Primas:

This little jar & package was from some beads, but it was just the right size for wee primas made with the Putting on the Glitz paper & Stampin' Up!s "Three For You" punch. To make them just punch the flower & then on a mouse pad or fun foam mat, press down with the end of a paint brush.


The package was made by tracing the original backing onto the Putting on the Glitz paper & cutting it out, and that's it... a little gift set that I hope my friend Kim will enjoy for her princess pages. :O)

Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy day,

37 comments:

retiredheather said...

Wow! There is so much for me to use as gifts. Love it. I am going to try it all.
Heather

Erum Tasneem said...

I love everything Mel!
The colours are so soft!
Please come and play a guessing game on my blog!!! :o)
Invite others too!

Cheri said...

Oh, goodness - you've done it again, Mel! I've been reading your blog for a few weeks and you ALWAYS wow me. Thanks for some great tips!

Etha said...

ohhh, what a very cool gift package! love how you made your big brads, great idea :)

Jami said...

Wowza!!! I wanna be on your Christmas list girl!!! These are way cool.
hugs, Jami

mitch1066 said...

What 'crafty' ideas:)I love the way you make something so sophisticated from cheap things we already have .Thhanks for sharing:)

Jeanne said...

Thank you SO much for sharing! I have probably seen brads dozens of times at the dollar store and passed them up...now with this idea let's hope I can find some!

You are so creatively clever and I'm tickled to have found your blog.

Janine said...

This is just beautiful Mel!! Hope you are well and that your Sunday is fabulous!!

Debbie Fisher (debbiedee) said...

oh my goodness! This is absolutely wonderful! Hey, I could change my name to Kim and even pretend I have twin girls and went to Disney! LOL!!

Primitive Seasons said...

Mel baby---love the homemade thickers. You are a genius with paper et al!

Mary
www.primitiveseasons.blogspot.com

PS can you tell I am in a silly mood today???

Tiff said...

You're brilliant!!! Wish you were right next door ;)

Joani McDonald said...

How cool Mel! A gift worthy to give anyone! You never cease to amaze me!
Hugs,
Joani

Unknown said...

award on my blog for u to say thanks for all the lovely inspiration u give me :)

Sue C said...

Now, ya see, these are the types of things that made me HAVE TO subscribe to your blog! So many great ideas and - even if I don't exactly duplicate, which would be sufficient - you get my mojo goin' FO' SHO'! I bow to you, O Great Idea Girl - keep 'em comin' and THANK YOU!!!

Carrie Gaskin said...

You are a rock star! I love how you put the template into another box. That is just super awesome. Thanks for playing this week at 3DDC.

Barb said...

OMG! What a fantastic gift set... and talk about custom-made!! Thanks for the awesome tutorial.

Anonymous said...

Brilliant. Thank you so much for all the things you share!

Cathrine StClair said...

Amazing job Mel. You're so clever!!

Cat Tidwell said...

Well if all this isnt the neatest thing! Besides the box being so adorable with that gorgeous paper, all the little matching things, wow! What an awesome gift this will make! Cant wait to try some of these things too!

Warm n Wonderful said...

Fantastic ideas. I am always looking for economical ways for adding to my stash. And since you used a quality paper, and the fact it all matches, makes it both unique and classic
Mary

Jennifer said...

Wonderful idea! I always forget about cutting fun foam with dies in my CB. And altering those dollar store dies was brilliant. I'm sure your friend will be thrilled to receive this gift.

Elena said...

How lucky Kim will be!!! Gorgeous gift set! Love your idea with primas and thickers! Mel, you are amazing!

AnnMarie said...

Craft foam in the cuttlebug...really?! That is soooo cool! I am going to have to try that!! Love your match-i-poo thickers! They are adorable!

Elaine said...

Mel, I am awestruck by your creativity! I think this is just the best thing ever! It's perfect for the friends that I want to buy something for, yet don't necessarily have a bunch of extra cash laying around to go and buy goodies. These in fact, are BETTER than what I'd go and buy! Thank you so much for sharing!

Becky G said...

Wow! What a super cute set! You are amazing, girl! I love everything you've done!

Hugs,
Becky

Learn to Stamp and Scrap with Lynn said...

Mel,

I just love your blog and your creativity. I am in awe of how much work you put into your blog each and every day!

Your SBS2 Sis,

Lynn
www.learntostampandscrap.com

Dizzy Broad said...

omg! Mel - these are great! Who would have thought of altering/re-doing cheapy brads?! THanks for the tutorial. BTW, have you tried gluing the fun foam and paper together using xyron machine? I've not tried it and wondered if xyron would be strong enough to hold paper and foam together after it gets cut in the Cuttlebug.

Cynde said...

What alot of great ideas! Your always so full of wonderful ideas and show how to's. Thanks for That!!

Anonymous said...

Whoa! Back the truck up! Are you kidding me? Now you've come up with home made thickers? I just love your creative mind! I've got to try this!

Maria said...

Holy, Moly! YOur own altered brads! Well. . .your version is much nicer and I love how they are all coordinated. That would make such a fabulous gift!!

Love your box too! Handmade gifts are so much more special than bought stuff. . .wish I had more time to make them! LOL!!!

Thanks for the tutorial, Mel! You're fabulous!

Maria

Curt in Indy said...

You have now earned craft manufacturer to you long list of creative titles! This is awesome and so creative! Love the remake of the brads! Best, Curt

Risa said...

This gift set is awesome Mel...your friend is going to LOVE it!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful set, Mel. Thanks for sharing it.

Swedeie

1 Crafty Gal said...

Whaaaat? Shut up...this is SWEET! You are a talented lady.

**Nancy** said...

Wow! Your work is amazing!!!!

Shirley said...

What a wonderful, creative, group of art work. Just so wonderful in every way! Outstanding~

Kim said...

This is really amazing! I am looking for ideas to make my granddaughter things for Christmas and stumbled upon this wonderful blog...so glad I did.