Graphic 45 Book Box

I just love G45 products, their paper, as well as their staples.  This book box is one of their Staples.  Inside the box a tag book is included.  I did add some extra tags for my book.

My plan was to make this for a little girl.  Her mom just loves pink and girly, girly stuff.  I went through my stash of paper and came across several different manufacturers of girly paper.

I started by painting the edges, spine, and back cover with pink paint about 1" in from the edge because paper will be added so there's no need to paint the whole outside.  The inside front cover was also painted about 1" in from the edge.  The side inside the box were all painted pink, and the outside of the box was painted only about 1/4" from the edges.

I then began cutting the paper for the outside of the box.  For the front cover, spine, and back cover, I cut the paper about an inch smaller than the size of the cover, spine, and back cover.  When I applied the paper to the box, I added it 1/2" in from all the edges.  Same thing for the spine and back cover.  With all the paper added, you will see about 1/2" of pink paint around the edges of the paper.

To finish off the front cover, I added a small white frame with thin velcro, so that a picture can be added and you can then stick the frame right back on.

To finish off the spine, I added some hardware from my stash, as well as a glitter thicker representing the first letter of the baby's name.

I did the same thing for the inside front cover, I cut my paper 1" smaller than the actual size I needed and applied it 1/2" from all edges.  The inside front cover contains a pocket which holds three different tags that the mom can write on.  Ribbon was attached to the tags for easy removal.  The tags were from Theresa Collins' Chic Bebe Girl line of paper.

To finish up this book box, I made the tag album.  I measured the tags and the placement of the hole at the top and made a file on my electronic cutting machine software to cut out the paper for the tags. That insured a perfect fit and the brass hole at the top is still visible.

For each tag, there is a different theme, and there is a photo mat for a picture on each tag.  Below is a pic of each tag.

I was given a pink Christmas Tree embellishment a while ago.  I had no idea what I would use it for, but it sure came in handy for this tag book Christmas page!

Photo mats were placed on the reverse side of the tags, so additional pictures can be added.  I used the brass ring that came with the tags to hold the mini album together.  And, if more tags need to be added, I can simply order them from Graphic 45.

Hope you enjoyed this box box, and as always, have a crafty day ~ Deb

G45 Wooden Box

As I stated in a previous post, Graphic 45 paper collections are my favorite.  While it took some time to actually cut the paper, once I got started, I found that it was easy!

For this project I used a wooden box.  I painted the side edges and a portion of the top edges black.  I also painted the inside sides of the box.  I didn't need to paint the whole box, because I will be adding strips of paper so only a small portion of the black will be showing on the outside, and the inside bottom and top will be covered completely with paper.

For this box, I will be using Graphic 45 A Ladies Diary paper collection.  I first chose the paper for the top, cut to size and glued onto the top.  For the top embellishments, I used a couple of the cards and a tag that came with the paper collection.  I also used a Petaloo black flower on the bottom left, a printed flower on the top right, and a die cut dress form.  The middle space looked a little barren, so I added one of Tim Holz's hearts.  I think that gave it the finishing touch.

Now for the inside, I chose two different papers for the inside top and inside bottom.  I'm not one to have the same paper together inside a box or even on a scrapbook layout.  I love to mix patterns, and with the Graphic 45 collections, that's really easy to do!

For the bottom, I added a couple of my favorite cards in the collection.  On the inside top, I used G45 A Ladies Diary pocket and made a tag that I could slip into it.  The ribbon at the end of the tag makes it a little easier to pull out. And on the outside front, I removed the metal closure that came on it, and replaced it with a Tim Holtz clear knob. On the tag, I wrote a message to my BFF, to whom the box was being given.

Well, this concludes My Ladies Diary box.  I hope you enjoyed my version of a simple wooden box.

Have a crafty day ~ Deb

G45 Matchbox

It's no secret that I am a HUGE fan of Graphic 45 products.  I have just about every line of paper they have made, as well as their staples products.  Most of the paper I won't cut because it's just too beautiful lol.  But, what good is the gorgeous paper if you don't use it?

For the project, I used the Graphis 45 By the Sea collection and their Small Matchbox.  I inked the edges of the box with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Wild Honey.  I then chose the paper I wanted to use for the top and sides.  I cut the paper about 1/8" smaller than the actual size of placement area.  For the top, I mitered the edges so that it would have a nice clean look.  I ran the strips through my Xyron X and applied to box top and sides.

To finish off the top, I used the seahorse from Tim Holtz's Sand and Sea die.  I used several colors of distress ink on the seahorse.  I then covered the whole seahorse with Tim Holtz Clear Rock Candy Crackle Paint.  When dried, this left small crackles throughout the seahorse.  I then cut some coral and seaweed with my Cricut Explore. I sanded the edges of the coral and seaweed to give it a distressed look.  The finishing piece to the top was a piece of old fishing net applied to the underside of the square hole in the top of the box.

For the inside, I cut paper the size of the bottom and glued it in.  I then used the lighthouse card contained in the paper pack and placed it in the bottom center.

I hope you like my version of the Graphic 45 Small Matchbox.  I found that it's really not too difficult to cut into your favorite papers!!!

Have a crafty day ~ Deb