Designer Crafts Connection - Handmade Gift Ideas

This month we are sharing ideas for handmade gifts.  It's funny that I had an actual reason to create something handmade to give to a friend yesterday, and I will be sharing what I made for this post.

Our quilt group was invited to visit the home of someone who helped us get our little group off and running several years back.   We were all invited to go and see her large collection of quilts and other quilt related pieces, as well as her personal creative space and the Gammill Long-Arm quilting machine.  

Front of card box

I will share a few photos of some of the stacks of quilts were had the opportunity to view.  She also shared several patterns with us.  We decided that we needed to once again work on a larger project, with a new application that none of us have tried before.  So Maureen graciously offered to once again to guide us through a new project.  

To show my "thankfulness" for this wonderful, inspiring visit, I wanted to make a little "handmade" something to give her.  

I created a box of note cards for her.  This is a small gift that anyone could make in their own variations, with tools they have available.  

Box back - stamp details

To make the set of eight cards I used blank white cards and matching envelopes.  For the colored cardstock cut-out design, I used a design for a card (#59910 - adapating the front) for my Silhouette machine.  Eight different colors of textured cardstock were used. To add a little contrast to the cut-out area, I used a blending tool and went over the area with coordinating Distress Inks.  I added a coordinating, decorative paper to the backside of these pieces.  Each of these were then glued to the the blank cards.  Another piece of each decorative paper was trimmed to fit into the envelopes for a liner paper.  

The box to hold them was also cut from a Silhouette file (#54224) using a kraft colored paper.

To decorate the box with a "quilting" theme, I used Ann Butler Faux Quilt design 2" stamps.  

Each design was stamped with clear embossing ink and sprinkled with Ranger Gold Pearl embossing powder.  Heat the powder with a heat tool.  Once all designs are stamped and embossed, I added inks over the images to off-set the embossed areas.  Use a blending tool to add the inks.  I used Frayed Burlap Distress Ink and Archival Potting Shed for shading.  Each of the squares were trimmed down to measure 1 3/4".  Cut two black panels of cardstock just 1/4" or so shy of the box front and back.  Glue the faux quilt squares onto the black card stock, leaving a little black show between the squares.

Add a pretty piece of ribbon for tying closed.  

NOTE: I created a small "thank you" card to attach using another image for a card from Silhouette.  I resized it to make it smaller.  Attach a decorative paper to the inside front of the card.  Add a little sprackle with some glitter.

There is something special about making and giving a gift created with your own hands! 

Now just a few photos of the absolutely beautiful array of handmade quilts -

That is just a small part of what we were treated to seeing!  Amazing!!!!!