Don't throw out those empty embellishment containers! Hostess Gifts!

  For this round of my hostess club I've been making a cute little gift item for my 2 hostesses for the month.  This month my ladies received a cute little embellishment container that I decorated and filled with some fun accessories (buttons, brads and I can't even remember what else!).  I had seen somewhere on the internet some other Stampin' Up containers that had been altered so I know this isn't a new idea but it's new to me and I thought I would share.  I grew up with my parents & grandparents saving random stuff "in case someone needed it" so it's no surprise that I have 6 or 7 of these containers stashed away in my stamp room.

 

  I had such fun sitting in my stamp room playing around with different ideas and papers and ribbons.   I knew I wanted to personalize each one with the first letter of their first names.  Then I just started pulling out DSP and ribbons and finding good combinations.

  To prep my empty containers I first tried ripping off the stickers on the lid and the bottom and for the most part they came off easily except for some of the sticky gunk that is always left behind (you know the stuff...it's on every picture frame right on the glass!!).  I tried scrapping it off with my fingernail but I think I would still be at it.  I headed straight for the Goo Gone when I knew my fingers couldn't take it anymore.  I love this stuff, totally took off the gunky stuff and smelled good too.  Just make sure you wash the container out with dish soap and give it a good drying before trying to adhere anything.

  It's so awesome that the largest circle on the Circles #2 Big Shot die fits perfectly on the top and the bottom of the brad containers.  I used Pear Pizzazz DSP from the Level One In Color hostess DSP pack for the "B" container and some leftover, but still awesome, retired Sweet Pea DSP for the "A" container.  For the bottoms I just cut a matching circle of cardstock and adhered it to the bottom for a more finished look.  I adhered all the paper with Sticky Strip.

  The chip board letters were made using the Simple Alphabet dies and some thin cardboard and the DSP and then glued together with Tombow Multi.  I seriously don't know how I got along for so long without an alphabet die.  It's so fun personalizing things with these homemade chipboard letters.  The butterflies are made with the Beautiful Wings embosslit and adhered with tiny pieces of dimensionals.

  Of course I couldn't leave the sides of the containers naked!  Around the top edge of the lid the 1/8" taffeta ribbon fits perfectly!  I just cut the length I needed and rolled my SNAIL adhesive on one side and pressed it right to the plastic.  For the seam binding ribbon on the bottom I stuck Sticky Strip all the way around and then just pressed the seam binding around folding it over as I went to make the ruffles.  You just need to be sure not to put the seam binding too high up on the side of the container or the lid won't close tightly.

  I am really excited to make some more of these for all different occasions.  I think my next one will be for Ryan since he's turning 5 this summer and is going to start losing his teeth.  Wouldn't this make a super cute Tooth Fairy container?  Just boy it up a bit...maybe a punch art tooth?  Or the adorable Tooth Fairy single stamp on page 18 in the catalog.  Or how about a custom made gift box for jewelery?  There is certainly enough room for a bracelet & earrings in there.  You could coordinate it to match your purse and stash gum and mints in it!  What about one for every day of the week for a pill organizer?  It would look so much nicer than those boring plastic ones you get at the pharmacy!  Really the ideas are endless! 

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?


Stamps: None

Ink: None

Paper: In Color Hostess Pack - Pear Pizzazz, Sweet Pea DSP (retired), thin cardboard, Rich Razzleberry, Rose Red

Accessories: Circles #2 die, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Alphabet Simple Letters, seam binding ribbon (Pear Pizzazz & Rose Red), 1/8" taffeta  ribbon, Sticky Strip, dimensionals, empty brad/button containers