Recycled Flower Gift Box

When Stampin’ Up! ships out orders, they tightly pack the goodies into their designer boxes with a huge wad of brown packing paper.

20120811-115550.jpgOften times, this packing paper gets folded up and dropped in our recycling bin, but I always feel like I’m wasting it – even if it is being recycled – so I try to come up with ways to use it. Last week I posted a blog entry about how I use the paper packing materials to hold all my wood mount stamps upright in their cases.  Since then, my mind has been abuzz about other ways I can use this paper.  I’ve received suggestions from friends and blog readers (you are also my friends, blog readers – I just haven’t met you yet).

My stampin’ bestie, Pam Morris, suggested making a 3-D flower with the packing paper and punches.  I’ve done it before with DSP (she showed me how to do that one, too) and showcased it on my blog early on.  I kept her project idea filed away in the back of my mind to complete over the weekend.  THEN, toward the end of the week, one of my fellow Pals (Frenchie Hum) posted a picture of a flower SHE made out of the packing paper on our private Facebook chat.  Beat me to the “punch”!  Get it?  Punch?  Ha ha ha ha ha!

I pressed on, undaunted by Frenchie’s creativity and determined to make Pam proud.  I paired my packing paper flower with a kraft gift box and a belly band of Designer Series Paper.  Here’s what I came up with:

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Packing Paper Flower

Here are my step-by-step instructions for making the flower:

  • I cut strips of the packing paper wide enough to fit through the Big Shot. I folded the strips in half and then in half again. The paper is so thin that you can cut at least four at a time. I used the Floral Frames Framelits to cut out a whole bunch of flowers with the second-to-the-largest frame and then cut twice as many flowers with the third-to-the-largest frame.
  • I stacked these cut out flowers on top of my paper piercing mat and punched a whole through the center and then ran a brad through the hole and secured it.
  • I fluffed the “petals,” starting with a full-on scrunching of the center few and continuing with less scrunching as I made my way out.  Don’t be too gentle with the flowers – the more violent you are with the petals, the more rustic and beautiful they’ll be.  πŸ™‚

Belly Band around the Kraft Box

Here are my step-by-step instructions for making the belly band around the kraft gift box:

  • I assembled the kraft gift box.
  • I cut a 12″x12″ piece of Early Espresso card stock at 2-12/”x12″ and cut a piece of Designer Series Paper at 1-3/4″x12″.
  • I placed the Early Espresso piece on the Simply Scored Scoring Tool and rolled it over and over to establish the score lines needed to wrap this paper around the box:

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  • The end result?  Score marks at 1-1/2″, 4-1/8″, 7-6/8″ and 10-1/2″.  I scored the Early Espresso card stock and the DSP:

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  • So, when wrapped around the box, the scored 12″x12″ doesn’t make a complete connection on the top of the box, so I punched a 1-3/8″ circle (a tip I learned from the amazing Mary Fish) to connect the two pieces.  This also gives a nice platform to next my paper flower:
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  • I glue the flower onto it’s platform.  Now, I have to find a gift that will fit perfectly inside the kraft gift box and then find someone who needs the identified gift.

Papers:  Early Espresso (12″x12″),  Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper  Accessories:  Kraft Gift Box, Stampin’ Score, Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Simply Scored Stylus, Floral Frames Framelits, 1-3/8″ Circle punch, 1″ Circle punch, Paper Piercing Tool, Paper Piercing Mat, Brad

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Brian

17 Comments

  1. Brilliant! I’m also guilty for recycling this packing paper. After all! What to do with Miles of UPS packing paper? Bless your heart for reminding us to bring out our Framelits to cut out flowers! You know I tend to use them as labels…but I see they are not just for labels anymore! Tres Magnifique!

    • Thank you, Patti! As always, I appreciate your comments and feedback. You are SO consistent! If I ever DON’T get a response from you, I’m going to think “Patti definitely doesn’t like this project!” πŸ™‚

      • He he he! You’re darn observant!! I doubt there will be the day I don’t care for your project! Drop in my blog & see my CAS card made with Your style in mind! (as I’m guilty of over embellishing a card) Enjoy the day! πŸ™‚

  2. Great idea! I love the kraft colored paper made into a flower- a mixture of rough texture for a soft item:)

  3. I have a box of the packing paper calling my name now!! What a great idea!

  4. You always rise up to a challenge Brian! It turned out so much better than I had imagined. Your post made me laugh a couple of times this morning. I can always count on you for inspiration and humor every morning. Love you!!!!!!!!

  5. Pairing the packing paper with our Kraft gift box was sheer genius, Brian! I adore the rustic look!

    • Katy, Thanks! Once I finished the flower, I couldn’t imagine pairing it with anything BUT the Kraft gift box. I, too, was happy with the rustic look of it. πŸ™‚

  6. Love this! The post and the project are perfection! (<—alliteration is the only creativity I have going so far today)
    Really appreciate the specifics for re-creating this. Tell me, please, does the belly band slip off/slide off easily for potentially clumsy fingers? I've hesitated to do projects with belly bands wondering about that.
    Thanks!–Terri

    • Thanks, Terri! That’s tremendously thoughtful. <— my attempt at alliteration. πŸ™‚ I appreciate your comments, Terri. I measured the belly band to fit tight enough that it won't slide off if you tilt the box wildly but not so tight that you can't slide it off with two hands. Don't be afraid of the belly band! Like me, it is your friend. πŸ™‚

  7. We are military and move every year or two. I usually save some and stamp it to use as wrapping paper for gifts (or have my creative kids draw on it for the same purpose)! We also like to make 3-d objects and paper mΓ’chΓ© with it. Lots of creative ideas to be found though! I love your box an flower! Thanks for all your inspiration!

  8. I don’t have this framelit set, but love the idea…thank you, Brian! I try to use and recycle this paper and appreciate great ideas like these!

  9. Awwwww, my friend ….. I had forgotten that flower , I also made those treat bags with it , try it out, you did a great job , my friend, vary pretty in that package, sorry I beat you to the
    PUNCH , lol ,
    Hugs and happy thanksgiving to you and yours , and momma too
    Love Frenchie ❀️❀️❀️

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