Simple technique for a different paper look

Today’s project is very simple really. Take a box, wrap it in pretty paper and add a sentiment. Nothing special about that you might think. Well no, except when you add a simple technique for altering the paper it takes on a whole new look…

"Just for you" gift box created using the Hydrangea Hill patterned paper, Sweet Strawberry Stamp Set and Messages Die, all from Stampin' Up! #papercraftwithme

DRAWER BOX MAGIC

I began by making up the drawer-style box which wasn’t difficult at all. It’s one of the new Love Always Treat Boxes from Stampin’ Up! They come in two parts; the drawer and the sleeve, and assemble without any cutting or sticking. I showed how to do this in this short video.

With the box assembled I then decided to wrap it with a piece from the Hydrangea Hill Designer Series Paper (DSP) pack.

The paper I chose is a fairly plain Rococo Rose coloured background. I cut it to 4″ x 9″ and wrapped it around the box sleeve as tightly as I could. Then I secured the paper to itself using Tear & Tape Adhesive.

ALTERED PAPER TECHNIQUE

Now the box was prepared, I was ready to start on the more decorative part of the project. For this I cut a 2-3/8″ x 3-5/8″ strip of DSP with the wide hydrangea border and plain centre section.

While I liked the design I decided to alter it just a little with the use of a Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker. Using the marker I simply drew around the individual flowers on the hydrangea head and the outer edge of the leaves and stalks. This wasn’t difficult although it did take a little patience and attention. However I think it was well worth the effort.

Change the look of patterned paper simply by drawing around the images. #papercraftwithme

Once I’d finished adding the lines, I mounted the paper onto a 2-1/2″ x 3-3/4″ piece of Gorgeous Grape Card using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow). Then using Stampin’ Dimensionals I attached the assembled layer to the top of the wrapped box sleeve.

JUST FOR YOU

That just left the sentiment to do and I chose “just for you” from the Sweet Strawberry Stamp Set.

Sweet Strawberry is a clear photopolymer stamp set which meant the next step was really easy. I looked through a bag of pieces I’d pre-cut from Thick Whisper White Card using the Messages Die. I was quickly able to see which shapes my chosen sentiment would fit on, and settled on a pretty scalloped oval.

Next, using Gorgeous Grape ink I stamped the sentiment onto the shape, looking through the clear photopolymer to get it perfectly placed. Then I attached the sentiment to the front of the box with a Stampin’ Dimensional.

Finally I chose the Blushing Bride twine from the Snail Mail Twine Combo Pack. I tied a small bow and using a Mini Glue Dot attached it to the sentiment. And that was it, my decorated gift box project was complete.

I love how this box turned out, is so sweet and just needs to be filled with a gift. Sometimes the simplest of techniques are the most satisfying. What do you think?

For more projects featuring the Hydrangea Hill DSP see these earlier blog posts:

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS – I bought the Sweet Strawberry Stamp Set in a bundle with the Strawberry Builder Punch (not used today). Ordering the coordinating items using the single ‘bundle’ item number saved me 10% off the cost of buying the stamp set and punch separately. I also bought he Messages Dies in a bundle with the Many Messages Stamp Set (not used today). I’ve included links to both bundles below in case you want to explore these options further.