Stamping Sunday Blog Hop — Mini Celebration!

Welcome to the Stamping Sunday Blog Hop for April! This month, our theme is celebrations using products from the January to June Mini Catalog. What perfect timing, because my daughter’s birthday is this month!!! She always inspires me to create my best work.

For this blog hop, the designers have a choice to design either:

1. A card and a 3D project or,
2. A beginner, casual, and avid card.

This month, I selected the first choice, because I wanted to make my daughter both a birthday card and a special gift box (or two!) I selected several products from the Best Dressed Suite on pages 54 to 56 of the Mini Catalog. This suite has my daughter’s name written all over it. She is a total girly-girl. In fact, what did she want for her birthday? … Shoes, make-up, and clothes!!!

For all my projects, I stamped the images with Stazon ink on Shimmery White Cardstock and then watercolored with an Aqua Painter. I also used a Wink of Stella Glitter Brush to add sparkles to the shoes and center of the flowers. It’s too bad the glitter does not show up well in the photos, because it’s really pretty in real life.

Under the shoes, I added a few layers using the new Ornate Layer Dies. I thought the lacy look of these dies went well with the feminine theme. I also added a delicate Vellum layer over the entire background embossed with the Parisian Flourish 3D Embossing Folder.

On the inside, I added more shoes and glitter, and a PERFECT sentiment.

Then, on the envelope, I cut out some of the darling Best Dressed 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper for decorations.

For a 3D project, the obvious choice was to use the All Dressed Up Dies make a gift “purse.” I’ve made several of these previously, so I decided to simply put a “birthday” twist on it and move on to another 3D project.

Recently, I saw a really cute gift box designed by Stampin’ Up! Artisan Designer Zsuzsánna Balázs. I loved the peek-a-boo nature of the cut outs on her box, as well as the “upside-down” design. It inspired me to create one of my own.

I designed the dimensions of my box around the Ornate Layers Dies. There’s one die on top and two “cut-out” dies on the sides. I love how you can see through the cut-outs to the colored box top underneath.

There’s a little pull tab on top to lift the box top up and open the box. Before assembling, I punched two small holes in the top of the box, so I could thread the Petal Pink 1/4″ Metallic Edge Ribbon through and tie a knot.

Dimensions of the box measure: 3-7/8″ (L) x 2-1/2″ (W) x 1-1/2″ (H). When I cut the bottom section, I increased both the length and width by 1/16″ (but still scored the sides at 1-1/2″ so it would be slightly larger.

Be sure to cut out all the dies before assembling! I used Tear N’ Tape for a strong, sturdy hold.

To decorate my box, I cut out flowers and leaves from the Best Dressed 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper. Then, I worked the flowers with a Bone Folder and my fingers to break down the fibers. For the smaller flowers in the center, I simply cut out the centers of some of the designs. Afterwards, I assembled the flowers and added them to my box with hot glue. (Tip: Be sure to take the top of the box off before adding the flowers on the sides so you don’t accidentally glue your box together! Haha! Don’t ask how I came up with that tip!!! :))

Well, I think my daughter is going to LOVE her card and gift boxes! I’m so excited to send them. She loves pink, and Petal Pink reminds me of the color of ballet shoes. (She danced from Kindergarten all the way through High School, and now she’s on the Loyola Marymount University Dance Spirit Team, so the color is perfect.)

Have a wonderful and creative day!

See direct links to the products I used on my projects below to order at my online store.

To wrap up, here’s a little trip down memory lane … some favorite and recent photos of my daughter. While I talk to her all the time, I didn’t get to actually see her for her birthday. She’s in Southern California wrapping up her last semester at LMU. Hopefully, we’ll all be together soon to celebrate her graduation!

Use the April Host Code T7BCEZ2P for purchases at my online store to qualify to receive free exclusive tutorials and a special thank you card from me. This month’s tutorials are diverse, creative, and amazing!!!

Product List