Custom Gift Wrapping

I enjoy stamps now. I have officially fallen into their allure.

So fun. So pretty. So many uses.

Here's a gift I wrapped with ordinary postage paper. I spruced it up with a ribbon and flower stamps. I actually really like wrapping presents. I think the art of beautiful wrapping has been lost in our society. We all use those bags from the dollar store now...

Paper and Stitches, make great cards Bi- ...kers

What did you think I was gonna say? Prove I was. :oP

I found this really nice paper stock that has fibres and leaves mixed into it. It's wonderful and natural looking. I made these cards from it!

The one on the left was a get well card, and the other I made for Perlabella in the recent Invite Your Partner swap where I gave her a bunny.



Here's some details of the inside of Perlabellas card!



Cute little stitched on heart!

Altoid Tin Swap - Favourite Singer

For this swap my partner was from the UK! The theme was a favourite singer for the altoid tin, plus we were to do an extra.

The person she chose was Robbie Williams. I sent it off yesterday. Here's the set and the tin:


I made a bookmark, and sewed a little pouch. I also included a mirror that matched my black and red theme. :o)



The beading was put on one by one. Glue gun, bead bead bead, glue gun, bead bead bead, etc. It took a while, but it came out EXACTLY how I wanted it to. It looks like he's swimming in sparkles! :o) hehe! I know she'll be thrilled with that.



I asked for my tin to be about Regina Spektor. She used quite a few of my favourite lyrics from her songs. Here's the items and tin:





Unfortunately the bracelet was broken, but I should be able to fix it. I like the theme she did, we ended up going with such similar colours! That record bowl is mini and cute, and has already been put to use holding hair pins and bracelets in my dresser.

Part Two of Paper Goods Swap

Along with the sqirrel who demanded some respect, I sent some other things to Digital Misfit. The package not only included the storage tin, but also an altered book, and some stationary.

These are the cards I made her, following her love of natural forest colours.
(Click to enlarge thumbnails)








And here is the Altered Book. Also matching the forest theme I went with.







The book features a neat little hiding place for her to keep her things. Despite the pretty papers I decorated the front with, if the book were to sit on a shelf with other books, nobody would be the wiser as the spine is unaltered. Clever yes? Here's a peek at how to make your own hidey hole book:

Clamp, seal the edges with a 1 part water 2 part white glue mixture, let dry, and cut pages out of the middle right to the bottom. Seal inside of niche as you did the outside pages. Tada!

Respected Squirrel v.2

Well, here's the new one! Everything was done the same, except this time I did it all with blue papers instead of pink and purple. Oh - and I bought an ink pad so I don't have to hand paint each letter stamp. It was much faster and looks way cleaner. I think I'm getting into stamps. Lord help me to keep it minimal, it's too expensive to collect stamps.

I like my first version better, but I think that's because I went with colours I found aesthetically pleasing. I must remember to keep others prefrences in mind from now on instead of drifting off. I think she'll love this on the blue!





PS: For anyone curious, I made these using apple juice cans with the top carved off. I have a certain addiction to apple juice... so I kinda have a never ending supply of this type of can.

Eff-ing Respect!

Well, This is one squirrel who demands a little attention to his au-thor-it-AY!





The project was originally for a paper goods swap, but I'm not sure if I should send it. She distinctly said she didn't like pink and purple, two main colours I used. Mainly to draw further confusion at the angry squirrel, and to startle people who assume its girly look is all inviting. ;o)

She does love squirrels, and she said she has a penchant for cursing in beautiful art projects. These were my aims for it. I think I hit it, but I'm second guessing myself. If I were to send it, I'd want her to love it as much as I do. Because I really, really, really love this project.

Who could hate this tiny innocent creature??


What I may do for her is the same thing, but in colours she will appreciate. Not looking forward to doing that squirrel again though, I painted all those lines by hand with a safety pin. That's right folks, the tip of a pin!!! Totally worth it for the effect in the end. No paintbrush would give me that look, and markers/pens just wouldn't cut the mustard.

Working Shots: (click to enlarge)