IT'S A BOY!!!!!

Hi all! It has been a busy few days and time is just flying by! I have to go to the doctor again today which is almost an hour drive away because he is a specialist so I am not looking forward to that (it cuts into my stamping time!) BUT there is a Target and a Starbucks so that will make up for it - LOL! So, my husband came home and saw a project I had just finished for a friend who just had a baby and said, "hey, can you make one of those for xxxxxxxx at the office, she is having a baby and the department is throwing her a shower". So, I said sure, when is it, to which he replies, "Wednesday"!!! I swear, one of these days he will give me just a little time to plan - LOL! But, because I love him dearly, I went ahead and created this baby boxed gift set for his employee even though I have never met her and could not pick her out of a crowd! Now, I am going to tell you right up front, not everything I used is Stampin' Up! I had some really cute paper from Daisy Ds that is her baby boy line and I wanted to use that! However, where I could, I did use SU! products! First, the box. This is the top of a square paper mache box that I altered. The whole box, even the bottom is covered in designer paper - I used two different patterns from Daisy Ds - childhood plaid and butter polka dots. I love this paper, I think it is perfect for a baby boy (it should be, it's her baby line, lol!) Anyway, once the paper was adhered, I added some gauzy yellow ribbon to all the sides to cover the seams and a piece of lace ribbon to add dimension all around the box. Here is a picture of the side to give you an idea of what I mean. Notice that I cut the dp in diagonals in order to use both patterns on all sides - clever, huh *wink* I did this all the way around the box. On the top of the box, I also added the yellow ribbon and the piece of lace ribbon that you see diagonally across the tip. Then, I made a tag out of card stock, added some faux stitching, and stamped the duck from the Bundle of Love stamp set on the top. I did paper piece this little guy as well. The little blue tag is also a stamp from that set which I punched out with my small tag punch. I also added a Jumbo pewter eyelet and some beautiful burgundy and yellow gauzy ribbon to the tag. The chipboard 'b' is from SU! and I covered it in dp and added some ribbon. The flowers are inked with Bravo Burgundy ink and have a Brocade Blue brad in the center. I also made a matching card for the box using Nicola's sketch challenge. She was kind enough to let me participate with my SU! stamps - thanks girl! Here it is! I made a square card to match the shape of the gift box and I am happy with it. The base of the card is Bravo Burgundy card stock. I then cut a diagonal piece of each of the dp I used on the box, added to the BB, and faux stitched all around the edges. Then, I added a piece of Brocade Blue card stock, and a smaller piece of Bravo Burgundy card stock. I added two Jumbo Pewter eyelets to this piece which I laced with more of that yummy yellow ribbon (I think it may be May Arts but can't swear to it!). The image is stamped in Brown Stazon on Naturals White card stock, then stamped again on both of the dp. I cut the whole hippo out of one piece of dp, and then just the bow out of the other so he matches both - isn't he cute??!! I then stamped the sentiment in Brown Stazon, adhered the whole thing to a piece of YoYo Yellow card stock and did some more stitching. Lots of that in this project, and my hand really feels it!! Last, I added some more flowers that are inked with Bravo Burgundy and each has another Brocade Blue brad in the center. Now, because this is a gift, I went ahead and did the inside of this card. I cut a piece of Naturals White card stock and then inked the edges with Bravo Burgundy Classic Stampin' Ink. I stamped the verse and the little duck image in the same color ink, then stamped the duck again on the dp and paper pieced this as well! And, then, I was done! I really hope she likes it, it WAS a lot of work, but if I can bring a smile to her face, well, it will all be worth it! After all, that is why we do what we do - to bring joy to others right?? I hope you guys all have a fabulous day - now I am off to squeeze in a few blogs before I dash off to the doc!Toodles!