'Tis the season for gift packaging...

And even though this gift is for a retirement party tonight(military retirement,people...we're not that old yet), it gave me all kinds of ideas for Christmas this year. I'm not going to lie. Stenciling this box took a little over an hour, but it was SO worth it. I couldn't find any good masculine looking gift bags that didn't have a fish and tackle on them(how cliche is that?) so I bought some plain 'ole white robe boxes on sale at Hobby Lobby and dug out this SU! stencil I bought a few months ago. I have a total fascination with anything even resembing a medallion. When I bought this, I envisioned using it on a cover for a mini-album(still haven't got around to working on that yet), so I knew it would look awesome all over a gift box.

I used Spiced Marmalade, Vintage Photo, and Tea Dye Tim Holtz distress inks and the applicator and used some stencil tape that wouldn't tear the box as I positioned these. Originally I was just going to do the top of the box, but then I thought it would look really cool if I turned it on end and continued the stencil along all the sides. I started by dabbing the Tea Dye with the applicator all over the stencil, then used Vintage Photo from the center out(but not all the way to the edges) and finished with a little Spiced Marmalade in the very center. I love these autumn colors!


I made the tag using a Cuttlebug cut/emboss/stencil folder I found at Hobby Lobby as well. I had never seen these before and I'm really glad I picked this up. It was super easy to make a really nice detailed tag. There's 5 different tags on it too. It cuts and embosses with one pass and then there's a flap on the back that you lift up, place your tag back in it's place and stencil over the embossed areas if you choose. I used Vintage Photo on the tag and a PTI sentiment stamp with white embossing powder to finish it.

A thick ribbon tied in a knot with a bit of jute cording to attach the tag completes the packaging. If you were using a smaller stencil on a smaller box, it would be a very fast way of making your own unique gift box. I have a small Heidi Swapp damask stencil I can't wait to use now!

You know what this means, right? I'll be scouring the stores looking for cool stencils...

Hope you enjoy the Halloween weekend and save some of that candy for yourself!

Babies Babies Everywhere!

Supplies used:October Afternoon papers,PTI felt,Sandylion,Lawn Fawn stamps,PTI,Spellbinders dies,DMC floss,Martha Stewart border punch


It seems like everyone we know is celebrating new arrivals! Here's a little card I made for some good friends of ours that hubby served with in Korea. When I went over to Seoul to visit in September of '06, this couple had just become 'a couple' so it's especially exciting to see how their relationship has grown, attending their wedding 2 years ago and now the birth of their first child. So happy for them!

As you can see, I guess I wanted to play with felt. I think it added a little softness and made me think of swaddling little babies in those receiving blankets. I used a mishmash of stuff on this one, shopping from my stash. I've been reluctantly absent from the papercrafting world for months now while hubby and I are going through the {sometimes horrible} process of having a new house built. Unfortunately for the next 6 weeks or so, it will most likely consume my time and it's definitely consuming the finances, so FINALLY I might actually be forced to use what I've already bought!

I think some craft therapy for stress reduction is in my near future so check back soon...