Pillow Box Shower Favors

Happy Friday, everyone! I finally got around to writing up the tutorial for these sweet pillow box favors that I created for my daughter's bridal shower earlier this month. Since it was in Los Angeles, I tried to come up with something that was portable and would travel well without getting crushed. These were perfect. My favorite part is the gold leafing - I think it adds such a rich look!

My new gold leaf obsession started out with a Better Homes & Gardens email about the latest trends. Apparently, gold/gilding is very hot right now! Drawing on my vast experience in the 90s (I used to gold leaf anything that didn't move) I decided to gild some thrift store vases to use in my daughter's reception table arrangements. She loved my test versions and we ended up doing them for all the tables. So easy!

You can see just a little glimpse of the bottom of one in this photo. Her flowers were absolutely beautiful. Almost all the containers were thrift store finds - pink Depression glass, milk glass, vintage pressed glass, and a variety of cute planters. I found all the silver trays at thrift stores too. It was fun to have an eclectic mix of shapes and sizes.

When I sat down to work on the favors, I spotted the leftover gold leaf and knew I had to incorporate it somewhere. The little touch of gold on the frames gives them an elegant look and is something unexpected.  These pretty pillow boxes go together really quickly and would be appropriate for any feminine occasion.

Begin by cutting desired cardstock using Tim Holtz' Pillow Box die from Sizzix. I didn't find I needed a crease pad, but if your score lines are cutting through, trying using one.

Assemble the box and emboss using one of the Book Covers Texture Fades, centering the flat circle portion in the middle of the box. The score lines will still be visible after embossing.

Next, cut a frame from chipboard using Tim's Tag and Bookplates die. Cover with adhesive size. This glue is made specifically for adhering gold leaf and can be found at any large craft store. Mine came from Michaels. Let dry until tacky.

When the adhesive has dried to a tacky consistency (this usually takes 30 minutes, but was much quicker on the chipboard) apply the gold leaf, burnishing to remove the excess.

Thread a 16" length of baker's twine through the frame and attach to the center of the box using glue dots.

Cut woman's silhouette from black cardstock using Tim Holtz' Mini Silhouettes die. Apply foam square to back and adhere to center of frame.

Fill box with treats, fold in ends and tie as shown. The baker's twine was a Target Dollar Spot find. I picked it up knowing it would come in handy at some point, and I'm so glad I did - I think the gold thread ties everything together (ha!) perfectly.

Most of the supplies I used can be found at Inspiration Emporium via the links below. When you use my coupon code - stamptramp - you'll save 10%!

Sizzix Pillow Box Sizzix Mini Silhouettes Sizzix Tag & Bookplates Die Sizzix Book Covers Neenah Epic Black Cardstock Foam Sticky Squares Dot 'n Go Glue Dots Vagabond

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Finally, here's a photo of my beautiful daughter, Olivia, and her new husband, Rickie. They make the most adorable couple! My son, Luke, was a groomsmen and looked so cute in his tux and cream bow tie.

Ok, just one more pic! Even though it's blurry, I just love this photo taken during their exit. I can't wait until I have the professional pictures to share!

Thanks so much for stopping by - have a wonderful weekend!

Patriotic Accordion Card

Hi everyone! I apologize for my long absence this month. My daughter got married on the 19th and life has been a little crazy. The wedding was amazing - I have a fun project and lots of pictures to share with you tomorrow!

Today, I thought it would be nice to create something patriotic to honor those who've served in the military. Having a son who is currently in the Air Force, and lots of friends and family who have served, I know firsthand the sacrifices military men and women make, plus the toll it takes on their families. I am so very proud of and thankful for our military!

When thinking about what type of card to make, I immediately thought of Karen Burniston's Accordion 3D die. I love using it as a base for all of my favorite dies and stamps from Tim Holtz. While I was working on this today, I took a few pics along the way to show you how I made it. I hope you're inspired to make one yourself!

Begin by cutting four panels from kraft cardstock, using the Accordion 3D die. Cut four panels from Tim Holtz' Seasonal Paper using the companion Bracket Frames and Label die. Using the same die, cut three labels from blue Core'dinations paper. Emboss with the Americana Texture Fade and sand lightly.

Next, cut three small stars from chipboard using Tim's Star Bright die. Trim off the tabs on each star and fold along the score lines.

Coat the stars with Ranger's Glue 'n Seal and cover with silver Stickles dry glitter. Let dry. (BTW, how pretty is that glitter?! I absolutely adore that stuff!)

Cut the letters 'USA' from kraft cardstock and red kraft Core'dinations using the new Sizzix Block Talk alpha die. Adhere to each other, offsetting the red letter slightly to the right. Use a foam square to adhere the star to the embossed label. Glue the letters onto the stars using a heavy, quick-setting glue like Beacon's 3-in-1.

Adhere Seasonal Chitchat stickers to a scrap of blue Core'dinations and trim as shown. Apply Glossy Accents and let dry.

To decorate the front, emboss a piece of red kraft Core'dinations with the Stripes Texture Fade. Adhere to the front of the first panel. Stamp the Statue of Liberty onto a label cut from white cardstock with Jet Black archival ink. Ink edges and layer to center panel. Adhere the Chit Chat stickers to the front as shown. Cut three stars using the Mini Old Glory star die and attach to the bottom of the center panel with Idea-ology Tiny Fasteners.

Decorate each panel with the coordinating patriotic paper and adhere the panels together. Glue the decorative center panels as shown.

Edit 7/4/16: The Karen Burniston Sizzix dies I used have been discontinued. She has a very similar version that is available at Elizabeth Crafts Designs now. The method will be slightly different from the tutorial, but enough is similar that you should be able to recreate the card with no problem!

All the supplies I used can be found at Elizabeth Craft Designs and Simon Says Stamp via the links below.

Karen Burniston Accordion Fancy Label Tim Holtz Sizzix Die BLOCK TALK ALPHABET Bigz XL 658563 Tim Holtz Sizzix MINI OLD GLORY Dies Movers & Shapers 657477* Tim Holtz Sizzix Die 3-D STAR BRIGHT Bigz 658265 Tim Holtz Sizzix HARLEQUIN & STRIPES Texture Fades Embossing Folders 657849 Tim Holtz Cling Rubber Stamps AMERICANA BLUEPRINTS cms145 Tim Holtz Idea-ology SEASONAL CHITCHAT Stickers TH93050 Tim Holtz Core'dinations KRAFT CORE NOSTALGIC 12 x 12 Paper Stack GX-1920-00 Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad PUMICE STONE Ranger TIM27140 Ranger JUMBO ARCHIVAL INK PAD Jet Black XL Tim Holtz A3P06701 Tombow MONO MULTI Liquid Glue Two Applicators 62191 Tim Holtz Idea-ology SANDING GRIP Block Tool Sand TH92482

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Thanks so much for stopping by today! I've had reports that some of you who have subscribed to my posts aren't getting them by email. If you have a second, please let me know if this is happening to you and I'll try to figure out what's going on. If you're on Facebook, feel free to send me a friend request. I always share on FB when I have a new post, so it's a great way to keep in touch!

Rise Above Scrap Tag

For the past couple days, I've been puttering away in my studio, trying to get my desk clean. I'm a bit of a hoarder and I tend to save everything 'just in case'. It's a horrible habit, but I can't help myself! Today, I looked at the little massive pile of project cast-offs and decided to use a few things to make a quick tag for Inspiration Emporium's quotes challenge.

The tag was one I used to mop up the leftover ink from my Remnant Resist project. The bird was a CHA project reject that was too pretty to throw away, and the flowers were cut from kraft paper when I made my Sizzix Mother's Day card. I put them all together with one of my favorite stamps from Tim Holtz' Way With Words stamp set. I just love that quote!

The bird was cut from Grungeboard using the Bird Branch die and painted with Adirondack Dabbers. When the paint was dry, I lightly sanded the edges and then inked with Corduroy Distress Ink. Some of the flowers were painted with the same paint and then given a spritz of Gold Perfect Pearls mist and layered with the plain kraft blooms. I added a strip of Tissue Tape at the top and bottom, and tied a Distress stained ribbon through the tag. Finally, I added a Remnant Rub to one of the new Tag Labels and attached it to the ribbon with a Wire Pin.

Everything I used can be found at Inspiration Emporium via the links below. Don't forget to use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save 10% on your order!

Sizzix Bird Branch Sizzix Tattered Flower Garland Way With Words Stamps Iced Spruce Distress Stain Distress Stain - Salty Ocean Distress Stain Collection Adirondack Paint Dabber - Pool Adirondack Paint Dabber - Espresso Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist Idea-ology Remnant Rubs - Words idea-ology Tag Labels idea-ology Elements Tissue Tape Idea-ology Wire Pins Jet Black Archival Ink Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink Alcohol Ink Applicator Tool Tim Holtz Paper Distresser Studio Multi Medium Idea-ology Sanding Grip Non-Stick Craft Sheet

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Have you joined in with this month's Inspiration Emporium challenge? You can check out all the details HERE. Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a great week!