Challenge: Gift It

The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge for September 21, 2016 is to “Gift It”! we are to make a gift card, a gift bag, a gift box, or an actual gift for this challenge. I opted for the gift.

Back in May, 2015, I created a binder for my layering stencils for a Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday Challenge. This binder has accommodated my entire collection of layering stencils, including the mini-layering stencil sets, complete with indexing dividers, while keeping my stencils untangled and easily at hand. For some time, I have been contemplating giving a set of the chipboard tags for similar binder sets for my two crafting buddies for our annual Christmas exchange. To that end, I had ordered two sets of chipboard tag sets from Heart of Texas early this past summer and they have been sitting in my gifting stash ever since… I decided to take them out and embellish a set for each friend.

My first step was to use layering stencils to add pattern to the chipboard cover. I used the same stencils for both binders, although I varied placement so that the two binder covers were slightly different:

I then used an actual layering stencil, layering it on a pieces of colored card stock, tracing around it with pencil and cutting it out to act as a) a cover embellishment and b) index sheets for the inside of the binder. For each binder cover, I took one of these fussy-cut “tags” and applied the same stencils using a slightly darker ink, matching the stencil placement so it was contiguous with the pattern on the chipboard:

Next, I used Multi Medium Matte to adhere the stencil cardstock to the chipboard piece:

Now came surface decoration, I varied the embellishments so that each cover was unique to the recipient. 

For the blue/purple cover, I used glitter tape, some paisleys (some heat embossed, and then fussy cut) and some Big Chat stickers (also colored with a blending tool and Distress Ink)

For the red cover, I used glitter tape, a Dina Wakley scribbly bird (fussy cut) and some Big Chat stickers (colored with a blending tool and Distress Ink):

I keep such binders relatively clean and simple since I don't want embellishments to catch on a carrying bag and/or fall off during daily use. However, they are very amenable to further more dimensional embellishments should my friends be so inclined.

Products used for the blue/purple cover included:

• Stamps: All Night Media Paisley stamp (480F02)
• Stencils: Layering Stencils “Chevron” (THS024); “Honeycomb” (THS005) and “Bubble” (THS002)
• Inks: Distress Inks “Vintage Photo”, “Dusty Concord”, “Wilted Violet”; Versamark
• Embossing Powder: Top Boss “gold”
• Papers: Heart of Texas chipboard tag set; scraps of dark blue and various purple card stock
• Embellishments: American Crafts “Glitter Tape”; Idea-ology “Big Chat” stickers (TH93192)
• Adhesives: Multi Medium Matte

Products used for the red cover included:

• Stamps: Dina Wakley “Scribbly Birds in Flight” (MDR47636)
• Stencils: Layering Stencils “Chevron” (THS024); “Honeycomb” (THS005) and “Bubble” (THS002)
• Inks: Distress Inks “Vintage Photo”, “Candied Apple”
• Papers: Heart of Texas chipboard tag set; scraps of four shades of red and pink card stock
• Embellishments: American Crafts “Glitter Tape”: Idea-ology “Big Chat” stickers (TH93192)
• Adhesives: Multi Medium Matte