Monday, October 4, 2010

The Beauty of a Gift!

Bring Back  Beautiful_edited-2


Hi all and welcome to another Bring Back Beautiful challenge! THE CHALLENGE FOR OCTOBER: As we get closer to the season of giving, let’s take the wraps off your creativity to come up with beautiful ways to gift give. Do you have a fun template for a beautiful box? Or, do you have a beautiful presentation for gift cards? Show us what you’ve got! Link up your Bringing Back Beautiful Challenge card here on this post to enter using the inlinkz widget. If you upload to SCS, please use the keyword BBB03. You have until October 30th to enter!

Now... to my "gift"! Since we are entering cold and flu season, there really isn't anything better than a warm cup of cider full of vitamin C when you come down with a case of the sniffles. So, my creation is meant to be slipped into an envelope to share some cheer with those friends who are a bit under the weather!

When I first laid eyes on Flourishes' new Apple of my Eye set, I just knew that one time, I would want to paper piece the entire branch... leaves, flowers, apples and all! So, using the Prima Annalee 6 by 6 paper, I literally ripped page by page. The green is actually from 7Gypsies Victorian paper pack. I just stamped the branch multiple times on different decorative papers. Then... the cutting-fest began! I did decide to add some depth by adding color to portions of my flowers and leaves with the help of some Copic pens. I used RV02 and RV00 on the petals and G24 on the leaves. Add some white to the centers of the flowers with the help of an Inkssentials pen and you're pretty much done! After I added all my "pieces" to the base, I did some shading with E53, blending with a Copic Blending Pen. Mat it up on some decorative paper, add some stitching and... voila!

Now to the gift part!! Here's a peek at the tag that sits on the top sending well wishes!


And, when you tug on this ribbon, you can reveal the treat inside! I've made a ton of these in the past -- mostly with hot chocolate. But, I think, no matter what you put inside, it's a fun little surprise. To make the sleeve, you just litterally fold the paper around whatever you stuff inside. Keep the bottom open and punch some holes at the top to allow the ribbon to slide through. Easy Peasy!
Want to see how our Beauty Girls tapped into the beauty of a gift... hop on over and see....

Beate Johns
Becca Feeken
Cindy Coutts
Kathy Jones
Yvonne Hagane
Michelle Woerner

Thanks for stopping by and sharing a bit of your day with me! I'll see you back here soon!

17 comments:

Kathy Jones said...

***THUD*** OMGosh you paper pieced the entire image --- it's ABSOLUTELY stunning!!!!!! Love the look, love the papers, love the tag......if I told you I was sick, would you send it to me!!! LOL!!!!! LOVE IT!!!!

Yvonne Hagane said...

Awww...Julie you always create the most beautiful pieces!! What a great gift idea. Just gorgeous!

Glenda said...

A wonderful gift idea! I'm always looking for things to give as gifts! Sometimes just a little pretty to add to some little treasure is all you need! Love this!

Lisa H. said...

gorgeous! love the piecing and the great gift slider.

Becca Feeken said...

Julie this is absolutely gorgeous!! I love, love, love the paper piecing! Truly a beautiful presentation for a gift!

Jerri Jimenez said...

What a wonderful gift idea Julie! So perfect for winter with seasonal colds coming on. I love it for just about anything though, a tea, a child's school party, so many possibilities . . . very creative!

Emily Keaton said...

So clever and very, very cute. I love the bright and cheery colors you used!!

Beate said...

What a gorgeous project, Julie! LOVE it! Love the papers, love the gorgeous new set (that I have to get dirty soon) and you pieced those apples.
Simply beautiful!
Hugs and smiles

Cindy Coutts Designs said...

Julie, now this is truly beautiful and how you stamped the image on several different DPs and then colored them is outstanding! Love your concept of enclosing a packet of apple cider too.

Christy Farneth-Kerr said...

Very Clever Julie !! Beautifully colored.

Shawna said...

Gorgeous and creative!!!

Janine said...

What a sweet card and gift Julie!! How have you been!!?

Silke Ledlow said...

Julie, this is soooo fun.....love your beautiful gift idea!!! Hugs ~S~

Leslie Miller said...

Amazing paper piecing on this, Julie! Beautiful choices all around, and such wonderful packaging. Cider never had it so good!

Michelle Woerner said...

WOW! This is really amazing. What a ton of work piecing everything, but it was so worth it!

Joanna said...

This is awesome!! Love that you
used all of the apples and then
paper pieced -- WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also like the clever get well
goodies attachment.

ellepaulette said...

Sooo yummy! I love this!