Pillow box (not pet)

I wanted to do some cute packaging for a little gift - I love pillow boxes for this kind of thing. I have two different sizes of box templates, and while this little gift could have used the smaller one, I always go for the bigger one because it's more fun to decorate.



I had a lot of fun with this - the pink layer is a Martha Stewart wrapping paper that I've used before with a really nice quilted texture, and the patterned paper and brad are from the Basic Grey "hello luscious" collection. I wanted to coordinate the flower with the patterned paper, so that was my starting point. I pulled in the wrapping paper and glittered letter, and then went a little crazy with the baker's twine. Turned out pretty cute, don't you think?

CAS Fun with Scoring

CAS - Clean and Simple. It's not something I've ever been very good at. I like my layers and ribbon and embellishments and colors and embossing and die-cutting. From my understanding, CAS is defined as one base layer (usually white), one dominant color, and one embellishment. In this case, I've got my white base layer, my Raspberry Fizz color (with a little black accent), and my glittered score lines.



I think my score board is really what's helped me appreciate the CAS look lately - now that I can do a nice effect quickly with just the base layer, it's easier for me to see how to put everything together without looking too plain. This image is yet another from the Papertrey Anniversary set that I've been using, and the glitter (done with the same tape technique I explained the other day) is Doodlebug Designs "Sugar Coating" glitter in the Cupcake color.

More Fun with Scoring

I also picked up some German glass glitter (my favorite kind) at Smitten, and the color is fantastic with Papertrey's Lavender Moon and Plum Pudding. I tried a scoring/tape technique I've seen around, and I think it turned out great!



I scored lines just far enough apart to fit double-sided scrapbook tape in between them. This super-strong tape (I don't remember what this brand is, but others I've seen using the same technique use Scor-Tape) is fantastic for making nice straight lines of well-stuck glitter. I poured the glitter over and shook off the excess, then patted it down to secure it.



You know what the worst possible thing to do with glitter is? Try to get it back in the original container. The first time I use a new color of glitter, I always get out a gladware/tupperware/ziploc container with a sealing lid - actually, I really need to get a new matching set, because I've got all my glitters in different sizes of container - and use it to catch any excess glitter. It works so much better, and then when I'm doing anything else with the glitter I can just use a spoon to add it.



The cupcake and sentiment are both from the Papertrey Anniversary set.

Happy Father's Day

A simple card today for Father's Day:



I've been looking at score-boards for a while and ended up getting the Martha Stewart board at Michaels with a coupon - very reasonable! I really like the look I've been seeing lately of a simple card with scored lines, and I picked up some red baker's twine this afternoon at one of my favorite shops, Smitten. Everything in the shops this month is red, white, and blue, leading up to the 4th, so this seemed like a fun color/design combo. The star is from the Papertrey Anniversary set (2009, I think?), and I printed the words on my printer.

And The Winner Is...

Abbey wins the fabulous glitter prize, with her abstract button-y ATC. Congrats!

Extending the contest

I'm extending the contest until Friday at midnight, because I'm a terrible contest promoter and haven't had any entries. I probably should have known - as soon as I had an idea that would involve posting examples of the contest item, I'd never get around to doing it. That's a guaranteed way to make me not be in the mood to stamp.

So, Friday. Enter the contest, email me a photo of your ATC, hope you win the prize.

Lazy post & reminder

Because it's been a busy weekend and I never had the time (or inspiration, honestly) to put together any ATCs, I thought I'd link you to another blog post that has some really gorgeous ones: Making Your Art Accessible

I have ONE entry into the ATC contest so far - I'd love her to have some competition! Please enter here - photos/ATCs need to be in by midnight tomorrow!