Simple Stories: Summer Treasure Box

Hello, Simple Stories fans! Today I have a fun summer project you can create with your kids. I am sharing a Summer Treasure Box created with the Sunshine and Blue Skies collection. I adore the vibe of this collection! Not only is it perfect for creating seasonal summer projects, but with the palm trees and hibiscus flowers, it would be perfect for documenting your tropical vacation memories, too!

Every year my three daughters each create a treasure box to keep their summer and vacation mementos in. As we go on our family vacation, road trips, and other summer outings my girls place trinkets they have collected along the way inside.

Some of the things they have added to their boxes have been smooth rocks and seashells from a beach trip, amusement park and movie tickets, and even business cards from restaurants and stores that they want to remember. They love going through their boxes later and reminiscing about all of the places we have been. It’s almost like their own little 3d scrapbook!

The Sunshine and Blue Skies papers were so cute for this box! I love the popsicle pattern of the 2×2 Elements paper on the lid and the Pool Party patterned paper on the inside. I feel like those happy swimmers are beckoning me to come join them in the pool every time I open it up. Awwww, summer!

I decorated the front of the box with the super-cute chipboard Ice Cream Truck, palm tree, and sun. I’m craving a frosty treat right now just looking at it!

If you’re looking for a craft idea to do with the kids this summer, try making a Summer Treasure Box! Your children or grandchildren will love having a special place to store their mementos!

SUPPLIES:

Echo Park Paper: Baby Girl Bathtub Gift Set

Welcoming a new baby into the world is so much fun! After a ten year spread, I just became an aunt again. Isn’t that exciting?!!

When I was thinking about what kind of project to create with the new Echo Park Paper Hello Baby Girl collection, I thought about one of my favorite things about newborn babies … how clean and sweet they smell after having their bath! So, I decided to create a Bath Tub Gift set that any new parent is sure to appreciate.

I cut the bathtub from the star patterned side of the Girl Clothesline paper using my Silhouette Cameo and a cut file by Snapdragon Snippets (Design #267555 in the Silhouette Design Store). I then lined it with the yellow side of the Girl Alphabet Blocks paper. The rim and feet of the bathtub are created from the Light and Dark Pink papers of the Hello Baby Girl Solids Kit.

I decorated the side of the tub with a cute phrase fussy-cut from the 3×4 Journaling Cards paper. I added a die cut teddy bear using the Sweet Teddy Bear Die Set along with a few stickers from the Element Sticker Sheet. Enamel dots add dimension to the feet of the tub.

Next, I added my goodies to the inside of the tub. First, I filled it with white paper shred, then added an assortment of baby washcloths, baby lotion, baby wash, baby shampoo, and diaper rash cream.

I trimmed the pointy end from a couple of bamboo skewers, and then tucked them in among the goodies to create a banner across the top of the tub. The “BABY” pennant shapes are from the Ephemera pack. I punched the triangular pennants from the Onesies paper, then strung them all together on white twine between the two bamboo posts. Anything looks more festive with a banner, don’t you agree?!

Wrap the entire tub in cellophane for gift-giving, or place the tub on a cake plate for a cute centerpiece for a baby shower! Either way, the new mom in your life is going to love having some new baby bath supplies on hand!

SUPPLIES:

Thanks for stopping by today. Happy creating!

Echo Park Paper: Santa’s Workshop Gable Gift Box

Hello, friends! I’m back today to share an idea for wrapping up those holiday treats this Christmas. I used the Carta Bella Paper Santa’s Workshop to create this roomy gable box, perfect for a batch of cookies, loaf of bread, rolls, or whatever goodie you would like to take to a neighbor or friend!

I added a handcut a snowbank from Ultra White Felt Designer Cardstock for the front of the box, so that the chipboard Santa and reindeer had a place to park the sleigh. I cut the “M-E-R-R-Y” letters out from the banner stickers and used foam dots to pop them up above the large “Christmas” word sticker along the top of the box. A couple of chipboard ornaments fill out the top right corner of the box front.

I placed the To/From die cut (Frames & Tags Ephemera) on top of the cheer red/white striped panel (Season’s Greetings paper) on the top of the box. A gingerbread boy sticker is waving “hello!”

I used my Silhouette Cameo machine and the “Poinsettia” cut file by Echo Park Paper (Design #96543 in the Silhouette Design Store) to create the blue poinsettia to the right of the tag. The blue paper is from the 6×6 paper pad and matches the rest of the collection perfectly. I used Classic Green Felt Designer Cardstock for the leaves. The flower center was created using the Gold Shimmer Designer Cardstock and a flower punch a yellow flat-back pearl stickers from my stash.

Anytime I give a gift, I like to write a short note to go with it, so I created this small, coordinating enclosure card using the scraps I had left on my desk. I used the Merry Christmas Decorative Tape adhered to a scrap of white cardstock as a quick-and-easy sentiment. (On a sidenote, wouldn’t this tape be GREAT to make sentiments for all of your Christmas cards this year?! Just sayin’ … *wink*)

Christmas is a few months away, and that means you have the time NOW to think about how you would like to package up those holiday treats. Don’t rush and do something last minute, … make them look special with this adorable Santa’s Workshop Gable Gift Box.

SUPPLIES:

Other Supplies:
Carta Bella Classic Green Felt Designer Cardstock
Carta Bella Gold Shimmer Designer Cardstock
Santa’s Workshop Sticker Sheet
“Poinsettia” Cut File by Echo Park Paper (Design #96543 in the Silhouette Design Store)
“Large Tote 3D Box for Print Panels” by Snapdragon Snippets (Design #274274 in the Silhouette Design Store)
Yellow Flatback Pearls
Flower Punch for Flower Center (Martha Stewart Crafts)
Blue/White Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

Happy Creating!

Echo Park Paper: Fill’er Up, Santa! Christmas House Gift Boxes

Today I am looking ahead to Christmas (Ack! I know!) and sharing a set of Christmas House Gift Boxes on the Echo Park Paper blog using the NEW Merry & Bright collection. These would be perfect for filling with treats and trinkets this coming holiday!

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out these boxes using the Cotton Tail Village SVG Set by SVGCuts.com. Even though this set was meant for Spring/Easter … the house is fun to decorate for other holidays! (It would be cute as a Haunted House for Halloween, too, don’t you think?!) Just change up the paper and embellishments, and waaalaaa!

Each box is created from a mix of patterned papers. This first one features the green plaid Jolly Words paper. The lid of this box is cut from the 2×2 Journaling Cards paper and the body of the box is cut from the Merry Presents paper. The smaller patterns of the 6×6 paper pad were perfect for the roof and trim pieces. Elements from the Chipboard Accents and Sticker Sheet decorate the front of each box.

On this house, I stitched together three die cut trees (Merry Christmas Tree Die Set) to create a dimensional tree to add to the front of the house. Simply bend up the layers with your fingers after stitching together. A Chipboard Santa is waving a friendly “Hello!”

In addition to the stickers and chipboard pieces, I used green and red baker’s twine wrapped around the wreath and an enamel dot for the doorknob to add additional texture. There are even glittering gems (purchased from the Dollar Tree) lining the roofline! These are the kind of details that make projects like this so much fun to create!

Do you enjoy creating holiday gift boxes? Or what types of Christmas projects do YOU like to create?

SUPPLIES:

OTHER SUPPLIES:
House Cut File: “Cotton Tail Village” by SVGCuts.com
Red/Green Baker’s Twine
Red Gems (Dollar Tree)
Adhesive/Foam Squares
Sewing Machine/Black Thread