It’s a Wrap!

Today, I am the guest blogger for Mary Fish at Stampin Pretty. Mary is Stampin’ Up! royalty, so I am honored to step up to this task. A sweet and simple card just wasn’t enough for this special occassion, so I have an entire project for you today.

I am planning a trip to Charleson soon. While I’m there, I get to hang out with my good friend Caryn. Caryn is the empitome of girly-girl. While she can definitely hang with the boys, Caryn loves pinks, polka dots, flowers, pearls and bows. As a little circe for my visit (just a little “good to see you” gift), I’m taking Caryn a little box of glass coasters I bought from one of those elementary school fundraisers this past year. The coasters have a little insert for a 2″ x 3″ picture. I’ve inserted a scrap piece of paper from Stampin’ Up!’s Twitterpated Designer Series Paper:

But that’s not even the great part of the gift! I also wrapped the box for the coasters in Twitterpated DSP and made a beautiful, hand-made bow as a topper. But the excitement doesn’t stop there! [why do i suddenly sound like a cheesy infomercial?] When I was wrapping the box, I folded a flap in the paper on the front of the box to create a little pocket for a 3″ x 3″ card – a perfect solution for the card enthusiast who wants to put their card front-and- center. No more taping a card to the top of the box.

MAKING A BOW:

Here are instructions for making the bow:

1. Select a coordinating piece of Stampin’ Up!’s 12″x 12″ Designer Series Paper (DSP). The paper you use doesn’t have to “match” the wrap – it just has to “go” with it. I love the fact that our DSP is double-sided and features different patterns on opposite sides of a sheet. WARNING: it can take a chunk of time to narrow down the DSP candidate since all the papers are beautiful and luscious.

2. Create nine 3/4″ widestrips: trim 3 strips to 11″ long, trim three strips to 10″ long, trim two strips to 9″ long and trim one strip to 4″ long.

3. Fold each strip in half – this gives you a guide for folding to the center of the strip. Fold each end of the strip to the crease you created in the center. Do the same for the other side. Staple in the middle:

Repeat this step for all of the pieces, except for the smallest 4″ piece. The small piece should be folded in a simple loop. Adhere the loop with a glue dot (unless you have a wee bitty stapler).

4. Once all the pieces are folded and stapled, stack them together, adding one or two glue dots between each layer. Before adding the final loop, you could run a paper piercer through the center of the whole stack and fasten with a brad.

Before adhering the bow to the top of the box, I added two strips of paper and clipped the ends with the corner of my 1″ square punch.

MATERIALS USED IN THIS PROJECT:
Stamp sets: Morning Post Alphabet Papers: Twitterpated DSP Inks: Baja Breeze Accessories: glue dots, square envelope, paper trimmer, stapler

ONE MORE THING BEFORE YOU GO:

I just received my Morning Post Alphabet stamp set this week. It’s my first alphabet set in clear mount. What a difference! To add Caryn’s initials to the envelope on the front of the gift, I was able to simply clear mount both letters on one clear mount block. No more pressure to line-up the stamps one at a time! I’m in love!


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25 Comments

  1. Thanks for the great bow tutorial

  2. Speechless…. LOVE THIS SO MUCH!

  3. Loved the clever idea for attaching the card! I can’t wait to make one of the bows….so pretty!

  4. thanks so much for being my Pals guest stamper. i’m so proud to share your work on my blog and caryn will love the gift. i chuckled about your remark on trying to decide which DSP to use . . . it’s often a dilemma for me! hugs, m

  5. Hi Brian:
    I found you via Mary Fish’s blog and love your blog. Congrats on your PPA win. I remember seeing your card on the PPA site and loved it. I’m glad yours was chosen. Today’s project is great and I really appreciate your bow tutorial. I’m definitely going to try to make a bow. Happy stampin’.
    Traci

    • Awww…thanks, Traci! I appreciate your kind comments. Thanks for your feedback. I hope you check out my blog again (or subscribe). Hope your bow making project turns out wonderfully!

  6. Thank you for sharing the direction on how to make the bow…now about that flap in front of the wrapped box, great idea, could you share on how to do that? Love your work and have just recently add you to my list of blogs to follow.

    • Sharon, THANK YOU! When you lay out the wrapping paper (or DSP, in this case), simply fold the paper in and then out again where you want the card to be placed. I taped the paper to the bottom of the box, wrapped it around the front corner and then folded the paper inward about a half inch into the front of the box (fold the entire sheet of wrap). I gave it another half inch and then folded it back again. It’s hard to describe but will be easy to do when you try it. My Mom picked up this tip from my Great Aunt. It’s not my idea, but I love it! Let me know when you try it!

  7. Brian, absolutely stunning … your talents and tutorials are wonderful! Happy Sunday!

  8. Hi Brian,
    I am a new follower : ) I’m a demo in IL! I love love love you designs! I’m so glad to see some guys into SU, I think EVERYONE should be stamping LOL it’s just way to fun!
    Happy Crafting,
    Melinda
    http://www.melindaannscraftroom.blogspot.com

  9. Brian, you just rock! Now, I know what to do with my left over paper… make bows.

  10. Totally awesome tutorial, Brian! Great idea, and I love the idea of the flap for the card! I hate taping them to the wrap. Now following you!
    Hugz2u,
    Sharon

    • Thanks, Sharon! My Mom learned this trick from my Great Aunt. I love it too! Takes the mess out of taping the card under the bow. :). So glad you will be following me. I love to share.

  11. Hi, Brian! I totally love your tutorial! Thanks for the idea for the card, too…I hate taping them to the wrap. Following you now…
    Hugz2u,
    Sharon

  12. Brian saw your gift on Mary Fish’s blog. Great ideas and thanks about the wrapping/tucking tip so clever! Hugs

  13. HI Brian I also found your blog via Mary Fish whom I also follow every day. I love your work and will be sharing your “Make a Bow’ idea with my group here in Brisbane Australia at our next gathering. Thanks for sharing
    Janette

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