I have projects in one post today- one is a layout (yes, an actual paper layout!) and the other is a set of gift boxes that were so simple that I didn't want to put them in their own post yesterday.
Both of these projects are for Lawn Fawn's August 2015 Inspiration Week festivities, leading up to the release of all the new products introduced this summer. The new goodies are also available for preorder at Simon Says Stamp right now if you want to check everything out.
I'll kick things off with a layout using the Let's Polka in the Dark paper collection and the new Small Stitched Leaves die set.
I've mentioned a couple of times in the last month or so that I've been streamlining my layout process so that pages only take about 30 minutes. The switch to 8.5x11 pages and printing photos at the same size were both a huge help with that, and I've also simplified my background choices, trying to stick with white, gray, or kraft (all of the cardstocks I'm using are by Neenah and are 80lb weight). If a scrapbook line has a great grid or neutral pattern that would work as a background I won't hesitate to use it, but starting with just a neutral canvas and a limited number of colors to choose from really helps things a lot.
I'm also typing out my journaling, but instead of trying to use a typewriter to add it directly to a page or using text boxes in my word processor to fit it to a certain piece of paper, I'm instead printing it out double-spaced on the same color paper as I use for my layout background. Once the journaling is printed I cut it into strips and arrange it on my layout however it best fits. I'm loving the tone-on-tone look and the tiny bit of dimension that it adds!
The layout's title was cut using the Cole's ABCs dies and some wool felt from a sample pack I purchased on Etsy a couple of years ago. I bought a 6x9 sampler of every color of felt that Benzies Designs carries, and it's the most awesome thing for making titles!
I mixed Lawn Fawn's new Small Stitched Leaves dies with the previously released larger set (you can see a layout that I made with the originals here) and cut both of them out of some gold metallic vellum to make custom accents for my page. I also used the Tag, You're It die set and coordinating Winter Gifts stamps to heat emboss a little gold on some clear vellum to layer over my white shipping tag.
My second project for today is a set of gift boxes made using Lawn Fawn's new Pillow Box die and add-ons! We give a lot of gift cards and cash as gifts, so this die is going to get a workout for sure.
Not only does the die make pillow boxes super easy and fast to put together, but there are also some adorable coordinating cuts that can be used to quickly decorate them. I used the Give a Hoot and Peek-a-Bat dies on these.
Give a Hoot cuts an adorable owl face and feathers into the box itself, and there's a separate die in the pack that also cuts out wings. I used some plain kraft cardstock for this box and then lined the inside with the same orange paper that I used for the wings. I also blinged it up a little by adding a small sequin on top of each cutout feather.
For the bat box, I used some black paper from DCWV's Glitzy Glitter Stack for the main portion and a purple glitter sheet from the same pack for the face and wings. The ears are lined with a couple of scraps of gray felt to add a little soft texture.
The other girls on the Lawn Fawn team have done some absolutely fabulous projects with both the Pillow Box dies and the Small Stitched Leaves dies, so be sure to check out those posts over on the Lawn Fawn blog.
Thanks so much for stopping by today! Hugs!
If you are interested in the products that I used in this post, you'll find them linked up below. I do participate in affiliate programs and use those links where possible. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links I do earn a small commission, but it doesn't cost you anything extra. The Lawn Fawn and DCWV products used in this post were provided to me in exchange for design work. The remaining products were my own purchases.
