Nov 24 2007
Little Gifts With a Flourish
You know how sometimes you want to give a little something “just because”? It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, just one of those things that says, “I was thinking about you”. It truly is the smallest things sometimes that bring the biggest smiles. When a coworker stops to pick up an autumn leaf in the parking lot and brings it to my desk, saying “I thought you’d like this” — there’s a big smile. When another makes sure she photographs the trilliums on the trail because she knew I’d love to see them — another smile. Gosh, even when a patient smuggles a puppy into the Lab in her purse and someone says, “you have to go get Leslie” — that’s a gift. Life is full of them.
So that’s what I’ve made with this set, one of those “just because” gifts. There’s an emery board holder and a sampler box of nail care products along with the matching card. Just a little something. All those beautiful swirls and curls that I love so much are done with my Flourished Elements set. I think the folks at Flourishes have really hit their stride with this set. It combines beautifully with many of their other sets and I’m guessing there’s more to come along this line. Just guessing…and hoping… The “Merry Christmas” on the card is from their Flourished Christmas set, and the “With Love” on the tag is from Flourished Words. The cardstocks are Going Gray and Soft Sky from Stampin’ Up! and the designer paper is BasicGrey Periphery.
That gorgeous frosty blue flower is a Heavenly Prima that I found at Jacksonbelle Embellishments. What a wonderful Prima collection this is! This flower comes sprinkled with blue glitter, too, but it doesn’t show in the photo. There’s also a darker blue in the collection as well as snowflakes and glittered sheer flowers. They come packaged in a rhinestone-studded tin with a clear lid. For a closer look at the flower you can scroll to the end of this post where I’ve included a photo of just the card.
The little box is a really simple version of a 2-4-6-8 box. It was cut 4 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ and scored at 2″, 4″, 6″ and 8″. I covered each panel with the Periphery paper that I’d stamped with Flourished Elements and then trimmed along the top edge with decorative edge scissors before I folded up the box. The construction is the same basic premise as the card tote in this tutorial. Here’s a photo of the box as it was cut and scored:
The emery board holder isn’t exactly what I had in mind when I started. I thought I was going to make a simple sleeve but this large-size emery board was too thick for a mere sleeve so I wound up making, essentially, a long, skinny box. It has a nice feel to it, though. I don’t know if you’d be interested in making this but, just in case, I’ve included a couple of photos and instructions. This is the holder as it looks from the inside after I cut and scored it:
1. Cut cardstock 8″ long x 3″ wide. Stamp design on one side. Score on the stamped side at 1 1/8″, 1 1/4″, 2 3/8″ and 2 1/2″. Turn and score across the bottom at 7/8″ and 1″.
2. Use a 3/4″ circle punch to punch a notch in the center panel, top end.
3. Cut away the bottom flaps as shown. I cut across the remaining flap with scallop scissors. This flap will be folded up on the outside so it doesn’t interfere with the emery board sliding into the holder.
4. Fold sides and crease sharply on score lines. The folds are very close and you’ll flatten one somewhat as you crease the next one, but at this point you’re just establishing the folds. It’ll shape up in the following steps.
5. Apply Sticky Strip to the outside of the long, narrow panel.
6. Fold the opposite side over the Sticky Strip like a very thin box, aligning the edge with the first fold on the Sticky Strip panel. Remember, those tiny 1/8″ areas between the score lines are the sides of the box. Don’t worry about flattening the box at this point.
7. Now, straighten the sides into a skinny box shape. Apply Sticky Strip to the inside edge of the bottom flap and fold up to the outside front. This will secure the box shape.
If you have any overhanging edges you can sand them down to size. I sponged all the edges with Going Gray and added a little Periphery trim and ribbon. It’s quicker and easier than it sounds and if you’ve made any kind of boxes before, this would be a piece of cake.
So, finally, here’s the card. I love the flower with the flourishes and the Periphery paper. The flourishes are stamped with Stampin’ Up!’s Basic Gray and the sentiment is Taken With Teal. It doesn’t look very much like Taken With Teal, does it? It seems to come out a lighter shade when used with this delicate, photopolymer stamp — a very pretty blue.
Thank you for visiting today. I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. I’ve been spending my time either in the kitchen or with family. I did get outside in the garden for a while today, too. It was a beautiful day. Not much time for stamping but I’m sure I’ll manage a few cards before the weekend’s over. After all, I’ve still got a lot of uninked stamps…
Stamps: Flourished Elements, Flourished Christmas, Flourished Words (that’s a lot of Flourishes)
Paper: Going Gray, Soft Sky, Whisper White, BasicGrey Periphery
Ink: Basic Gray, Taken With Teal, Going Gray
Accesories: Basic Gray taffeta ribbon, Heavenly Blue Prima, brad, swirl clip, tag punch, 3/4″ circle punch, Scotch brand dimensional mounting tape
What a beautiful and thoughtful gift … thanks for the instructions and dimensions.
gorgeous gift Leslie! I love the dp and that Flourish set is so elegant. I really like the main image on the card just so elegant. You’ve always been such a great inspiration to me!!
Dee
This is so beautiful and gorgeous–you will bring a smile to someone’s face!!!
Oh my heavens!!! My heart almost stopped when I saw this!!! You KNOW how much I love Flourished Elements and you have worked it up so beautifully here with the gorgeous Periphery paper — this is truly a gift of beauty!!! WOW — someone will surely be lucky to receive this!!! I am in total awe — this is GORGEOUS!!!
This is the most gorgeous set! Truly stunning. I love the emory board box. The recipient could even keep it that way in her purse, so it doesn’t scratch anything, like her cell phone screen.
For a “simple” gift this is absolutely jaw-dropping - it’s GORGEOUS!!
Wow, jaw dropping gorgeous!
Just Beautiful!!!!!
You have great gift ideas!! Thank you so much for sharing and for instructions. Alot of times I see something so beautiful but there is no instructions to it and I haven’t reached the point in my stamping that I can always figure them out!!!! Enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend with your family!!! You Rock!!
Oh my goodness!..This is sooooooo yummy!!…and what a thoughtful gift idea! Thanks so much for the “tute” also….the idea that keeps on giving!!
What a beauiful set! I love the nail file holder. What a great idea and a wonderful small gift…for any gal who puts a smile on our faces! Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas!
Wow! What an amazing gift set! So beautiful!
Beautiful little set
What a beautiful gift.
Very beautiful Leslie! Those colors with the “Flourished Elements” are gorgeous!
Wow!!That is gorgeous!!!You might think it’s not much but I think it’s
a big wonderful just because gift…
and it adds so much because it’s all
hand made,what more can you ask for!!
I love the colors!!!! Beautiful job!!! - Melinda
Wow! I think you’ve hit your stride too! These “little” gifts are sooooooooooo gorgeous. Thanks for sharing your talent with us!
Shawn
Beautiful!
This is a lovely gift, i really liked the color combination
thank you so much for the instructions.
Breathtaking combination, Leslie!
Beautiful Gift set, love the colors, pretty flower and great flourishes!
What a gorgeous gift! The colors are so classy and beautiful. That’s so cool that you made your own emery board box. Thanks for sharing the instructions! Maybe when I get my Scor-pal for Christmas I’ll attempt one. (I suck at scoring! LOL!)
That is exquisite! The colors are just gorgeous. Great idea for a gift package!
Ooh! These are just stunning! I LOVE the rich, gorgeous colours! WOW!
Gorgeous gift set!
Lovely gift set! I love the colors and the images… TFS!
Love your post… I agree… I love the little things that make me smile! And this is an adorable gift!
Very prety and the gift set is so cool. Love your colors as well.
Pinky
Oh my goodness! You’ve used the Periphery paper for such a fantastic project! Beautiful gift set, Leslie! Love your boxes (thanks so much for the tutorials) and the card is so gorgeous! I really like the Basic Gray with the Soft Sky. That heavenly prima flower is just that - heavenly! More enabling on your part. Linda
Leslie, What a beautiful gift! LOVE the sets from Flourishes and your super beautiful creations. Thanks for the instructions, they are wonderful. Jennifer
OOOOH, this is just stunning!! I love the blues, flourishes, wow! Love the added swirl clip too, I haven’t used one in forever! Thanks for the reminder!
I just love your Swirly Blue gift set. I can not choose a favorite part….love them all. What a great idea to make an open 2468 box. Of course the DP, ribbons and prima flower so perfectly match. Another Wow set from leslie
TFS
Oh I really love this blue swirly gift set, Leslie! Every little element is just so!
What a fantastic and absolutely lovely gift idea. Nothing to expensive, but showing off a warm caring heart.
Wow…your set is so stunning and gorgeous!! I love the colors and everything you’ve done. Thanks so much for all the details. You rock!!
Absolutely beautiful!
What a wonderful wonderful gift set Leslie. Anyone would be more than thrilled to receive such a heartfelt beautiful set!
Wow - this is truly amazing!! You are sooo talented!! Love what you have done and thanks SO much for the directions!! Your site is awesome!!
Wow! This is gorgeous!! You are amazing!
You just out-do yourself every day! All these items are just beautiful!
And for me it’s a gift to see this beautiful creation of yours!