Good morning dear blog friends! I have a project to share with you that I gave you a sneak peek of here last month. In retrospect, it is one of my favorites so I thought I’d share it with you in its entirety. As cardmakers I think inside we always hope that we’ll share something that the recipient will think of as a keepsake. I don’t know how many times I’ve talked with other stampers and we’ve all cautiously agreed that we’re more likely to send one of our fru-fru, detailed cards to someone we know is gonna keep it. I’ve laughed out loud when a friend of mine said, “ummm….yeah…I don’t think he’ll be getting a handmade card.” Oh my goodness . . . no! So strategically sometimes I like to make something that has all the parts, pieces and effects of card but is a little bit more substantial – throw it away if you must dear recipient but since it’s not just paper and words, I’m hoping you want to keep it!! Mercy, where would we be if our ancestors threw away all their love letters and mementos. I hope that one day, someone who never knew me opens a box, pours over something I made and comes to know about me. Sure I’m here today, but one of the most important things on my heart is creating a legacy.
Well this is a simple project and laughably not a legacy piece, but at least you know one of the reasons I create. To me this felt like a pocket full of blessings and I love creating things that have tons on sentiments. This uses several of my very favorite Our Daily Bread Designs sets that give “that” kind of mileage because there are so many sentiments – Quote Collection 1, Quote Collection 2,Scripture Collection 8, Scripture Collection 9, Sentiments Collection. So the story of this is that during one of my trips to Michaels I picked up several of these little sewing kits thinking I could always use the contents but I was particularly interested in the shell. I figured out how to easily remove the contents, paint it and replace it with a bouquet of accordian folded wishes. The first picture show the gift box with the Pocket Full of Blessings inside; the second picture shows the gift box opened.
Here you see the shell opened up.
When you pull out the accordian there are five different sentiments that I’ve decorated with a little bit of bling.
Not one to waste an ounce of paper, I put an additional five sentiments on the back.
You can also see that I lined the inside of the shell with design paper and added a small amount of decoration to the outside (enough to let it fit comfortably in the gift box).
Here’s how to create this trinket:
(Click on pictures to see an enlarged view)
Start with your $1.00 plastic sewing kit from Michaels Bargain Bin. If you can’t find those, look around to see if you can find something else similar :-)
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Remove the contents of the sewing kit (keep them for another project!!) and use a sand paper or a spongy fingernail file to sand the outside of the kit. The idea is to rough up the surface so that it will hold paint. Then go ahead and spray paint with your desired color – I gave mine 2 good coats with about 35 minutes drying time all together.
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Using cardstock cut to 1-7/8″ (or the height of the inside base of your project) , score every 2-1/4″ (or the width of the inside base of your project). Stamp or decorate each segment, distress, then accordian fold and embellish as desired.
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Once shell is painted, measure width and height of inside base and cut design paper to cover – mine are 2″ wide by 1-7/8″ tall. Glue the lining in place then glue the accordian to the bottom of the pocket so that it will pull out easily when opened. Close and embellish the top!
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For gift box, cut a piece of cardstock 5″ x 9″. Score at 1″, 4″, 5″ and 8″. Then turn and score 1″ from each long edge. Add Scor-tape as shown above. Snip where indicated for a nice fold. Remove adhesive and assemble box.
| SUPPLIES I USED |
| Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs – Quote Collection 1, Quote Collection 2,Scripture Collection 8, Scripture Collection 9, Sentiments Collection Paper: Mind Minds Eye – Lost and Found 2, Bazzill Ink: Versafine – Vintage Sepia, Vintage Photo Distress Ink Accessories: Michaels Sewing Kit from $1.00 bin, Prima Flowers, Recollections Pearls, Seam Binding, EK Success Scallop Punch |
I hope you enjoyed my little project, I enjoyed sharing it with you. I’m happily creating in the background, life is so good!! Have a fabulous weekend and {{big hugs}} for being the best readers ever!!
Oh my gosh, Becca! You have taken card making to another level! Wow! I love this project and want to do something like this myself. You did just one awesome job on this and I love the colors and the bling and and and….
Oh this is SO clever! You’re such an inspiration! thank you!
I think creating to you must be akin to breathing! You are amazing at the things you come up with…and they are all so beautifully done.
My fave thing in a long time…….beautiful and looks fairly “doable”
Hugs, Irene
Out of this world Becca, as usual ! Now to find the sewing kit. Love it and Thanks for sharing again one of your wonderful ideas. Blessings !
That is just gorgeous you have such wonderful, inspiring ideas. Thankyou for sharing. Anne x
What a precious project for some extremely lucky person! I have never seen anything like it and found it enchanting. Thank you once again, for sharing your creative genius with us. It is deeply appreciated.
I’ve always said one of the things I love about your craft is that you think outside the box! Not so this time! LOL! You thought INSIDE the box! Just adorable!
SO pretty!!! I think that floral paper is my favorite of the season! Love how you’ve taken an everyday item and turned it into something spectacular!
Oh my goodness!! This is such a fantastic idea. Beautiful and inspiring!! You really inspire me to take my crafting to a whole new level. I look forward to checking your site every day!! Thanks for sharing your talent and your ideas with all of us.
Whomever is the lucky recipient of this gorgeous handmade gift box created lovingly by you, one can only hope they will feel exceptionally blessed and grateful to have received such a lovely gift from you. Blessings to you Becca for a very special and wonderful Mothers Day.
Happy Mother’s Day to everyone on Becca’s blog :) :) Pam B.
What a lovely gift! Had to giggle about who you send hand made cards to vs. bought ones – how true! Lovely gift you have put together here! I’m sure the recipient will treasure it. Have a blessed Mother’s Day :)
Becca, I too create hoping that the legecy of things I love will be treasured. Sadly my grandchildren live thousands of miles away and I wish I could be a grandmother they share their daily lives, however, I will be satisfied if they will share stories of me with their children. I try to create things they will want to save, treasure and share. Paper allows me to create beautiful things. You, my dear, encourage me to think out of the box and to try something new. Thanks so much for your inspiration. God Bless and Happy Mother’s Day.
Oh Becca, this is just the most beautiful project! Thanks so much for sharing it; such a wonderful idea and what a charming little spirit-lifter for someone — I think I will make one for my sister!
Darling project, Becca! I love the way your creative mind works! Most people would’ve just seen a little sewing kit…but you see it’s potential! I bet you see people like that too!
Have a lovely weekend!
Adorable! I know someone who loves mini albums so this will be the perfect gift for her!
BEAUTIFUL Becca!!!!!!!!!! What a LOVELY gift for a friend!!!!!!!! Thanks for showing us!!!!!!!!! (I’m gonna have to get my hubby to take me to Michaels!) :)
HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you, Becca… for sharing your wonderful ideas… and Wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day!!!
Hi Becca, This is a great gift idea and so affordable. I will not rest until I find this sewing kit or something similiar. You did a wonderful job and the tutorial is great! Thank You Becca for sharing your ideas with us. You are so giving. I would like to take this time to wish you a Happy Mother`s Day! Hugs! Patricia Tumpkin
I create to help mask my pain of loosing my son. Some days the darkness just won’t go away. Creating cheers me up especially when I make something for someone else. Your project is just lovely Becca. You always have some of the sweetest ideas. As always Becca, FS!!! ;-D
Happy Mother’s Day…you are one inspiring woman 365 days of the year!
Creative Wishes,
Claire S.
Beautiful and so precious.
Merci beaucoup.
Francine
Beautiful project Becca, and it would be really fun to figure out how to make beautiful miniature sewing kits with the contents. That would be like getting two projects for one dollar!
I agree with the legacy thing. I always hope that someone will appreciate something I made 100 years from now. I’ve done just about every craft you can name at different times in my life, and a lot of people have the things I made, so I’m hoping that at least a few of them will survive.
I also agree with the thing about who we give our cards to. :-D
This project is AMAZING. But then again I haven’t ever seen something of yours I don’t adore. I have a question too…I have already made myself a peg bow board thingie. It’s not nearly as pretty as yours but is equally as functional. I went looking at your bow tying videos on YouTube the other day and they are no longer available. Is it at all possible to buy JUST the dvd you have of your bows and not the bow maker too? Please let me know.
You never cease to amaze me. At 1st glance, I wasn’t sure I’d like this project, but after I saw what was in the box, my whole perspective changed. I’m glad I kept reading and I’m glad you keep sharing. Thanks.
A box to remember. What a a clever idea, and done so beautifully too.
what you do with the bargain bends is amazing. Think I had better take closer looks next time. thank you so much for sharing your blessings……Happy Mother’s Day……thank you for this lovely gift idea. …..hugs and blessings
Such a thoughtful present for someone.
What an awesome and beautiful project. Luckily there is such joy in the creating, otherwise I am not sure who would receive my cards and projects! I hope the recipient of your gift is one who “gets it”. Hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day.
Amazing project- you my friend are one talented lady. I am really loving your ideas and thank my stars for finding your blog it gives me so much inspiration and makes me feel happy just looking at your work. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful idea and showing us how it is achievable. Happy Mother’s Day…………wishing you a lovely weekend.
Hugs Rizwana xx
Ahhh, Becca, this is one of my favorite papers!! I try to scoop a couple of pieces up whenever it is on sale. I love the sort of turquoise/green and the rich rose and pink. I found it because I was looking for something that looked like a paper Becca would use; a small floral with rich color. Looks like I was right on the dot. I agree completely with the desire to leave behind something worthy of discussion in the future, which is why I try so hard to make things that won’t fall apart! It does kind of pinch a little when someone doesn’t get how much love and effort went into making a card just for them. But, who knows what they are thinking and when they may draw that card out and give it a second look. How it is received can never diminish the care and thoughtfulness that is attached to the gift.
Uh, oh, Becca…. I took a look at some of the comments up the line and found another person looking for the bow tutorials just like me!! Hmmmm….
Happy Mother’s Day Becca,
I went to my Michael’s when you first showed us this last month and they
did not have the little sewing kits in the dollar bin, and I looked all over the store.
Loved this from the moment you posted on the ODBD blog. I completely understand your feelings….I despair over the thought of my scrapbooks being “tossed” someday, and it breaks my heart to see a piece of embroidery in a garage sale or thrift shop!
Love your Blog today!!! Oh your friends are so special, cherished and Blessed to know you. What a legacy you are leaving for all whom will be touched some day in the long, long off distance by your creativity. I too love giving of my paper crafting (actually any of my crafts I make), it’s a huge joy to me to know that I made someone else’s day special by giving them a specially handmade card or craft. My newest tradition is that I make ‘Mother’s Day’ cards for 5 co-workers/friends, as I haven’t had my mom to make special cards for since 2001, I shower my friends with them, Oh Boy, do they love getting them, it’s a total design surprise for them!
Hope you have a wonderful ‘Mother’s Day’
What a wonderful project and I love the repurposing of the sewing box. I have several left over from travels that I could use. Thanks for sharing.
Becca wow i just love how you have taken yourself to a new crafting level. Love this idea and thank you.
Hugs Trish.
That sure is thinking outside the box by re-purposing the original item into a totally beautiful creation!!!!!!
Thank you for opening my eyes and encouraging me to think and create differently!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas with me/us.
You are so right my friend and this creation is AMAZING! God Bless You for sharing it with us!
Are you kidding me??? How do you think this stuff up? This is fantastic!! I absolutely love it and will be racing down to Michaels tomorrow . I hope I don’t run over any of your blog readers on the way, because I know everyone will be going down there to find these little sewing boxes. You are brilliant, Becca.
I am so inspired by your projects. This is beautiful, as usual!! So creative! Thank you for the tutorial! Hugs to you this weekend. Happy Mothers’ Day!!!
Wow, this is such a neat project. I don’t think anyone would throw this out.
I’ll have to check out M’s for some of these as they would make an awesome gift. Happy Mother’s day to you.
This latest project is just beautiful. I would like to try this for my daughter and daughters-in-law for Mother’s Day. Not sure if I will get them done in time.
Your work is fabulous and I just love it.
Can you add the name of the die you used in the little box.
Hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day.
ooo! what a cutie idea! So lovely for someone to be able to pop in a bag and have with you where ever you are! So cool! love how it was done too – super pretty! Another winner!
gorgeous project! tfs
THIS IS A K E E P E R ~ for sure! Thank you a million times for
this wonderful “card” Gift. I too have given cards to people hoping they
would sense it was given to them from my heart – a Keeper! I LOVE
all the cards I’ve received from my husband when he was alive and all
six of our children…they are TREASURES!
aGAIN, GOD HAS RICHLY BLESSED YOU BECCA ~ for that we are
privileged to know you this way.
love ya,
WOW! Becca. another wonderful project!
Hi Becca!
You always come up with the most amazing ideas!! This is just precious!
Have a blessed Mothers Day tomorrow!
Hugs
Amanda
from sunny South-Africa
Hi becca,
Greetings from india. :)
I often go through ur blog when i am lost, with no inspiration ….
i totally know what u mean by Creating a legacy :) i dream of a similar thing too :D what u make truly reflects ur soul and i am happy to have found ur blog. And the tutorial fabulous as ever!
I absolutely love this gift box! It certainly is a legacy piece in my estimation, Becca. I would love to recreate this and when I collect enough verse stamps I may do that. How uplifting it would be to receive this box! Thank you for sharing how you created this beautiful piece!!!
Gorgeous, I can not see anything you made ever being thrown away, it would jump back out of the basket :)
Thank you so much for sharing this. I love it, and can’t wait to “love” what you have in store for us tommorrow. BTW, if I don’t get on the computer tomorrow, have a Happy Mother’s Day.
This card is so beautiful. You can tell that it was made with much love. Blessings, Becca! ~Cynthia
Oh my, is this beautiful and whoever receives it would be blessed! I have tins though not the exact same, that I could give this a try. I know a couple of ladies who could use some encouragement. . .thank you, so much for showing how you did this piece of artwork! hugs and Prayers. . .
Becca Happy Mother’s Day! Thankyou for making and taking the time to make all of these beautiful items that you make I have really enjoyed making some of them and ever day I look at your stuff love them thanks again.
Happy Mothers Day Becca! This is beautiful and truly a keep sake. You come up with the best ideas. :)
I have several of these. These are such a good idea! I will have to get busy!
You are so creative Becca! I just love this idea and those inspirational sayings. Thanks once again for sharing.
Beautfiul idea!!! I love your blog. I love your creations. Thank you for sharing.
I love everything about this idea…just awesome…you are so creative and thoughtful…
It is 8 in the morning and I am relaxing and was thinking about life in general and mine. CREATING is one of my life saver and it brought me to Florence in Italy. I left my country 9 months ago to to bring ma career of art teacher and painter to another level, the one of restorer. I now work to restore painting that are 400years old. Give them back their original beauty by keeping the integrity of the original artist. This new life also brought me love. I met a really special man and we felt in love together. A Florentine DOC as he say with a smile. All that with the need of the word CREATE which is my blood that keep me alive and happy. Just needed to share those few lines. happy day to all of you. Sandra
please do a video on how to make your beautiful haedpins.
A beautiful project Becca. I have found your site through Stamptv, and have just read your tutorial on circular embossing. How clever you are! I must give it a try, as I too have those little folders and thought they were limited. Great work!