Fun & Easy Gifts With Secret Garden
Hello G45ers,
Get ready to turn those Monday blues into pure sunshine as we bring you some gorgeous ideas for Secret Garden crafts! We have two breathtaking ideas for handmade gifts and cards, including a fabulous tutorial! You'll see Maria Cole's stunning Secret Garden altered gift box and upcycled gift bag. Then Clare Charvill will share a fabulous tutorial for creating an elegant all-occasion card. These cheerful works of art are filled with all the soft colors and elegant designs of Secret Garden. They're guaranteed to make you smile! If you're looking for the perfect gift or a for a fun and easy craft project then today's Graphic 45 blog has everything you need!
Lets begin today's Secret Garden extravaganza with this week's blog contest announcement! We're giving you the chance to win this gorgeous Secret Garden prize pack this week. All you need to do is leave us a blog or Facebook comment for your chance to win a Secret Garden 12x12 paper pad, Stickers, Alphabet Stickers, Tags & Pockets, Flowers, Cling Stamps, Ornate Metal Key Holes, Flower Staples and two Smooch accent inks by Clearsnap. That's a $60 value! Be sure to leave your comments this week for a chance to win. A random winner will be announced on this Friday's blog so stay tuned!
We begin today's Secret Garden craft party with these incredible gift ideas by Maria! These elegant handmade crafts are so much fun to make and are sure to brighten the day of a friend or loved one! It's also the perfect idea for a baby shower gift! Here Maria explains her inspiration behind this superb altered Small Matchbook Box with coordinating mini album and upcyled gift bag. They are such joyful little treasures. Take it away, Maria!
"A dear friend of mine is expecting her first baby this summer. We met last year during my Tropical Travelogue class and it’s been a blast seeing her blossom into a new mom. As my friend is a fellow Graphic 45 fan, I wanted to do something special for her baby boy and G45’s small altered matchbook box was just the trick! When I first saw the small matchbook, I couldn’t get over how cute it was—and how much it made me think of a Kleenex box! In fact, a pocket-sized tissue package fits perfectly inside. Hence, the idea to convert it into a tissue holder that can also display baby’s first mini: a little accordion album titled “Bless You Baby." Secret Garden is one of my favorite paper lines for its softness, so it worked perfectly for this project! And because my friend and her hubby went to the University of Washington, I made sure to focus my color palette on Secret Garden’s pretty purple and warm yellow hues. Because I love upcycling, I used the cover of my old Proper Gentleman paper pad as the base for my gift bag. Of course, with the pretty Secret Garden paper that I put all over it, you’d never know! I can’t wait to meet my friend’s little baby. I’m sure there will be many tears of happiness that day, so I made sure to include extra tissue with her gift!" -Maria
Supplies:
Graphic 45 Paper:
Secret Garden 6 x 6 patterns & solids
Graphic 45 Embellishments:
Secret Garden Alphabet Stickers
Additional Products:
May Arts rope ribbon
Prima mini roses
Tim Holtz Tissue Tape
Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms Die
Next we have another magnificent Secret Garden handmade gift idea. This is Clare's incredible all-occasions card that is just perfect for this sunny season. This is also a fantastic way to use the beautiful Secret Garden Cling Stamps! Follow Clare on her step-by-step tutorial to create this happy card for someone you love! It's so much fun!
"I kept the detail on this card as simple as I could choosing the yellow papers from the Secret Garden patterns and solids 6 x 6 pad for the base and teamed them up with bright daisies cut from the 12 x 12 Beautiful Blooms paper and an art deco themed die." -Clare
Supplies:
6 x 6 Secret Garden Patterns and Solids
12 x 12 Beautiful Blooms – Secret Garden Collection
Tacky Glue
3D Foam Dots
Glossy Accents
Sizzix Die – Ironwork Frame Ref No 657556
Vintage photo Distress Ink
Black Memento Ink
Black card
Tutorial:
Start with a card blank 5 ¾” square and cut out the pieces
pictured below to work with:
These are the elements:
Plain yellow Matte 5 ½” square from Secret Garden patterns and solids
Frame cut from Sizzix die
Using the frames that come with the die cut one black and one yellow matte using the larger frame and one yellow matte using the next smallest die
One black card strip ½” wide that fits the length of the smaller black matte
Two daisy sprays from 12 x 12
Yellow matte 2” x 1 ¼”
To Assemble
Mount the yellow matte onto the card black using double-sided tape/tacky glue
Then take the black frame and stick into position on the yellow matte
Stick the black centre cut from the frame back into place and then take the other frame pieces .
Now take the 1/2'” black strip, score and fold in half
lengthways and then use as a hinge to join the larger long yellow matte to the
black one of the same size (Black one to the front) to form the flap section
for your card.
Then take the script stamp and using brown ink stamp on the lower part of the smaller yellow matte you have left. Then stick it onto the black front of your flap.
Now stick the flap section onto your card.
Take a plain piece of yellow paper and the key hole stamp,
black ink and stamp out one key hole. Cut out. Stick in place with tacky glue, and add two sparkly brads
top and bottom or use a little tacky glue covered with glitter to give the
effect of fasteners. Stamp out a
butterfly using the same ink, cut out and stick to the top left of the
card. Use a little tacky glue and
glitter to highlight the body.
Now work on the 2” x 1 ¾” yellow matte , black ink and stamp
the daisy sentiment onto it. Put some foam tape on the back of the piece and position
on your card.
Ink the edges of the daisy cut outs, stick one in place (to the left) as per the picture, and
then put foam dots on the second and position over the first before sticking
into place. Highlight the centres
of the daisies with different coloured glitter.
I finished the inside of the card off with a cream matte cut from the same pattern and solids paper pad and stamped two butterflies on it with black ink.
I hope you try out this card – it’s really quite easy to make.Thank you all so much for joining us for this special Secret Garden celebration here on the Graphic 45 blog. We hope you had fun exploring these fabulous ideas for handmade gifts. We want to thank Maria and Clare for their stunning creations today. We hope you will all come back and see us tomorrow for more blissful ideas and inspiration. We wish you all a very happy, crafty day!
Your Pals in Paper,
Team Graphic 45
I definitely need to make one of those for all of my pictures from my garden!! I have tons of daisies in my garden!!
Posted by: Paula Bonnin | August 19, 2013 at 07:05 AM
AS ALWAYS
M
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Posted by: {vicki} | August 19, 2013 at 07:07 AM
Beautiful paper collection and beautiful projects. Thanks for a chance to win!
Posted by: Anne | August 19, 2013 at 07:14 AM
That is such a beautiful prize. I love it. LOVE it! Please, pretty please, may I win this? Thank you for the chance. Pretty items made with it too, esp. the gift bag.
Posted by: Debbie Siddle | August 19, 2013 at 07:15 AM
Wow fabulous projects made with fabulous papers
Posted by: Eleanor Todd | August 19, 2013 at 07:15 AM
Beautiful projects. Love those daisies.
Posted by: Carol Mc | August 19, 2013 at 07:26 AM
such a gorgeous collection, it would be hard to make a bad project--these are all gorgeous! TFS and for a chance to win!
Posted by: Kelly Massman | August 19, 2013 at 07:29 AM
beautiful cards...love the patterns
Posted by: Yvonne Boucher | August 19, 2013 at 07:37 AM
Oh So Inspiring _ I love seeing these beautiful creations- Thank you Designers!
Thanks G45 for the chance to win this great prize- Love it!
Posted by: cheryl Craddock | August 19, 2013 at 07:42 AM
What wonderful projects today! Secret Garden is such a versatile collection, and absolutely beautiful.
Posted by: Kathleen Rimer | August 19, 2013 at 07:48 AM
Beautiful projects and beautiful paper! Currently working on a mini using Secret Garden... lots of FUN! Thanks for the chance.
Posted by: Sleigh | August 19, 2013 at 07:48 AM
I love ♥ , love♥ The Secret Garden ♥
The projects are beautiful!!
Posted by: Jackie QH | August 19, 2013 at 07:51 AM
I love your secret garden!
Posted by: Cathy Ross | August 19, 2013 at 07:57 AM
As the dog days of summer wane this is a great reminder of all the beauty and fun. Thanks so much
Posted by: queenbanana | August 19, 2013 at 07:57 AM
Wonderful projects! And the secret garden is so beautiful collection!
Posted by: SvetlanaV | August 19, 2013 at 08:04 AM
Beautiful projects using the Secret Garden goodies. Love the details and the step by step photos...thanks!
Posted by: Kathy Jo | August 19, 2013 at 08:08 AM
Loving the projects thanks for sharing
Posted by: sara mcdowall | August 19, 2013 at 08:09 AM
Such gorgeous projects with my absolute FAVORITE collection ever! Would love to win this prize pack since I am running low on Secret Garden products! I use them for MANY projects!!!! Thanks for the great tutorials and the chance to win!
Posted by: barbara macaskill | August 19, 2013 at 08:14 AM
Wonderful creations to start Monday off just right! Thanks for the chance to win the Secret Garden package!
Posted by: Wendy Wakefield | August 19, 2013 at 08:16 AM
Great ideas and I love "secret garden". Of course, if I could I'd have every single line that they put out. lol Your blog always has such amazing projects. Thanks for sharing with us less talented ones.
Posted by: Judy B | August 19, 2013 at 08:18 AM
Beautiful projects ladies. This really is a lovely collection. I have enjoyed using the 8x8 and 6x6 papers but would love to win the rest of the collection. Thanks for the chance to win.
Cheri- John 3:16
www.djssundries.blogspot.com
Posted by: Cheri | August 19, 2013 at 08:19 AM
Colors are so soft. It's gorgeous! Would love to have it in my collection to craft with.
Posted by: Gail Schmitt | August 19, 2013 at 08:25 AM
One can never have too much "Secret Garden" goodies! It is by far my favorite paper collection.
Posted by: Rena Matus | August 19, 2013 at 08:27 AM
adorable little gift!!
Posted by: pitje | August 19, 2013 at 08:27 AM
So lovely :) Love Secret Garden. Beautiful paper and projects.
Posted by: Paula | August 19, 2013 at 08:33 AM
Such gorgeous cards and gifts! Graphic 45 makes everything beautiful.
Posted by: christine dour | August 19, 2013 at 08:40 AM
What super projects, love the colors & the details. Thank you so much for creating and sharing them.
alsmouse ~C8> Ratty Hugs
Posted by: Ann Richards | August 19, 2013 at 08:53 AM
I would love 2 win this prize pack!!! The Secret Garden is the only collection I have yet to craft with - it's so charming!
Posted by: Sharon Kanaya | August 19, 2013 at 09:02 AM
Awesome projects! This collection is soo pretty and I just love the colors! Thanks for the wonderful inspiration!
Posted by: Patricia Molnar | August 19, 2013 at 09:05 AM
I love this paper! Is beautiful!!! . Thank you for the chance to win!
Posted by: LA LLUNA D'ABRIL | August 19, 2013 at 09:11 AM
Love it.....Love it...Love it...Love it...Love it....
Posted by: Anne Marie Fromm | August 19, 2013 at 09:22 AM
Oooh, pick me!!! What I could create with this beautiful prize pack! The projects are so inspiring as usual.
Posted by: CreativelyMe | August 19, 2013 at 09:47 AM
These projects are beautiful, very delicate, I love this collection is perfect! This award has to be mine, I need this collection in my hands!
Posted by: Katia | August 19, 2013 at 10:14 AM
so loving these papers and yet more inspirational ideas from the team today. Aleays a pleasure to pop by
hugs
Posted by: Daniele | August 19, 2013 at 10:20 AM
I would love to win anything from Graphic 45! I love everything that you have!!!
Posted by: Renee Robinson | August 19, 2013 at 10:22 AM
How beautiful! Would love this set to finish my heritage album I started for my Grandma. She won't be here to see it though, she doesn't have long left. But what a tribute!
Posted by: Leandra Duncan | August 19, 2013 at 10:23 AM
All time favorite collection! <3
Posted by: Gracy | August 19, 2013 at 10:23 AM
I love the Secret Garden was my favorite book growing up . ANd you have just wowed it in this kit .Thanks for all the wonderful tutorials you share with us :)
Posted by: Boni Grabusky | August 19, 2013 at 10:23 AM
I love this collection, the colors are beautiful.
Posted by: Vicki Price | August 19, 2013 at 10:23 AM
What a beautiful prize to win! My snailmail friend is waiting on my next project and this would be great.. I adore Graphic45 & the design team!
Posted by: Robine | August 19, 2013 at 10:24 AM