Sunday, March 19, 2017

How To Upcycle Mother's Day Gift Wrapping

Happy Sunday everyone!  Excited to be here today to share how to upcycle Mother's Day gift wrapping for the Craft Lightning Mother's Day Blog Hop!
I recently received and was blown away by the detail in the Beautiful Day stamp set from Altenew and just knew I wanted to do a Tombow Dual Brush Pen watercolor technique.  This post is sponsored, but all of the opinions are mine. 

On to my project!
I am always looking for inspiring ways to wrap a gift as I think the packaging should be as special as the gift inside.  I have several "Moms" in my life - my Mom, my Sister-in-Laws and a few close Mom friends and thought that these sewn book page "pillows" would be the perfect way to wrap a special gift card for Mother's Day!
Altenew features high quality photopolymer stamps that produce a crisp and clean image, even on the thinnest of detailed lines within the image.  I started out by stamping each image four times on smooth white card stock with black archival ink.

I always start my coloring projects with a color chart.  This way I can make sure that I like all of my color combinations before I start coloring my images.  I have included my color chart in the photo above.  Then I begin coloring with the lightest colors first.  Tombow Dual Brush Pens # 761 and 993.
Next I accented with Tombow Dual Brush Pen # 703.


I finished the main Peony flower with the darkest pink Tombow Dual Brush Pen # 815. 


The leaves and greenery were colored with Tombow Dual Brush Pens # 192 and 312.


And the berries with Tombow Dual Brush Pens # 553 and 533.


The next step is creating the watercolor effect, which is super easy since Tombow Dual Brush Pens are water based markers - you just add WATER!  Check out my Instagram video HERE to see the water color process!


Select your book pages.  Mine are vintage, so they are a bit heavier and approximately 8" by 10".  I gave the edges a fancy touch with my scallop pinking shears.  Place two book pages together and sew three edges.  Gently open and fill your "pillow" with your gift of choice.  I have included a gift card, some tissue paper and confetti.  Then sew the fourth side, closing the pillow.


Fussy cut your stamped and colored images, then arrange them on the top of the pillow with a lovely Altenew Antique Trim frame.  Attach with Tombow Xtreme Adhesive.  Wrap with stain ribbon and finish by tying on a tag created with one of the sentiments from the Beautiful Day stamp set - "Wish You the Most Beautiful Day".

I think that this makes such an elegant presentation for a simple item like a gift card.  This packing would be perfect for a Graduation present, Bridal Shower or even a Wedding Gift.  

I LOVE that the possibilities are endless!

Now, it's time to HOP around to the other designers that have contributed to the Craft Lightning Mother's Day Blog Hop!  Just click the link below - I can't wait to see what everyone has created!




Thanks for stopping by! -Beth