Hello Friday! I've got a fun post ready for you today. My Papertrey Ink Tips & Tricks this month is all about summer and using your dies in creative ways. Two of my favorite summertime treats are juicy watermelons and strawberries, so I decided to brainstorm a bit and came up with a way to transform these into paper-crafted creations.
I used two different favor boxes, the first used here is the Favor it Box #2 cut using Rustic Cream cardstock.
My paper-pieced watermelon was created using the Limitless Layers: 2 1/2" Circles for the bottom two layers and the Limitless Layers 1 3/4" Circles for the center layer. This layer is stamped using Background Basics : Hearts in Smokey Shadow ink. I wanted the watermelon to take center stage, so I didn't add too many other things to my favor box aside from a border at the bottom which uses the Filligree Border die and patterned paper from the It's Official Paper Pad.
I pulled out two of my favorite stamp sets for these projects, the first used here is the Fruit Fusion: Melon set and is stamped on a die cut Tremendous Tag using Simply Chartreuse and Berry Sorbet ink. The flowers used here as embellishments and throughout both of my projects use the Flipping Out and Heart-2-Heart #7 dies. I attached my tag to the handle of the favor box using a torn strip of muslin and a strip of vintage trim. A fun way to dress it up without it being too bold.
This strawberry treat box was created using the Favor it Box #1 die cut from Rustic Cream cardstock. I used the Limitless Layers: 2 1/4" Hearts die collection for the bottom two layers and Heart Prints for the center layer.
The leaves for my strawberry were cut using the Lovely Layers die and once again a coordinating tag was created using Tremendous Tags die and the Fruit Fusion: Berry stamp set. I stamped the berry in Pure Poppy and Simply Chartreuse and tied the tag onto the favor box using a strip of muslin and trim once again along with Pure Poppy Baker's Twine.
Now just a little bit about how I put together the melon and berry:
Here are my supplies die cut and gathered. Now we'll get started assembling them.
Step 1: Before adhering any of the layers together, stamp the center circle, cut from 2009 Bitty Dot paper, using Smokey Shadow ink and the Background Basics: Hearts stamp set.
Step 2: Coat the 2nd layer, cut from Limeade Ice cardstock, with spray adhesive and white glitter. Adhere the top two layers to the bottom layer, cut from Simply Chartreuse Stripe paper.
Step 3: Cut the stacked layers in half and you've got a watermelon!
Step 4: Embellish with a Vintage Cream felt flower, Simply Chartreuse felt leaves and an adhesive pearl. I colored a cream pearl with a pink Copic marker to bring in just a bit of color. Have you ever used your Copics this way? It's a fun way to created coordinating adhesive pearls.
Step 1: The strawberry is even easier than the melon. I used Simply Chartreuse Stripe paper on my bottom layer followed by a center layer cut from the 2009 Bitty Dot paper. The heart is cut from Pure Poppy felt. Adhere these three layers together.
Step 2: Die cut the leaves using the Lovely Layers die and Simply Chartreuse felt. Trim each leaf apart from the others and attach two of them at the top of your berry. Embellish with a white button.
Step 3: Finish by adding a Harvest Gold felt flower, Simply Chartreuse felt leaves, and an adhesive pearl.
So simple, but oh, so much fun to make! Summer is almost here, I can feel it.
Thank you for visiting.
Melis
Great post. These are so cute and luscious looking. Thanks for sharing such a thorough step-by-step picture of how you put these together.
Posted by: Kathy Cooper | May 24, 2013 at 04:07 AM
Adorable! Your sweet, little creations scream summer! I'm ready for it.
Posted by: Lynn Darda | May 24, 2013 at 04:19 AM
Adorable summer projects Melissa!
Posted by: Lisa | May 24, 2013 at 04:30 AM
Love this post. I too am drawn to the summer fruits fatten. I am inspired by your uses of the dies and the simple layers.
Posted by: Jodi e | May 24, 2013 at 04:36 AM
Love these projects, Melissa! You've outdone yourself this week- Wow! I just want to re-create everything you make! Thank you for providing the details, it's so helpful when one is bound by time. And...sweet pics of your horses!
Posted by: Donna M. | May 24, 2013 at 04:42 AM
Love the ideas. Very creative . Looks like alot of fun to make.
Posted by: Grace So | May 24, 2013 at 04:43 AM
Very cute!
Posted by: Joyce | May 24, 2013 at 04:45 AM
Really nice and the colors choosen are wonderful.
Posted by: SarahC | May 24, 2013 at 04:46 AM
These are just too cute!! Love them!! They scream "summer time!"
All of your projects this week have been amazing! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Posted by: Marci C. | May 24, 2013 at 04:48 AM
These are the sweetest Melis! They are so well designed they even evoke the sensation of taste!
Posted by: jan m | May 24, 2013 at 05:02 AM
These are just so adorable Melissa! Every time I think you've outdone yourself, you wow me even more. I can't wait to try and recreate these!! So, so cute! :)
Posted by: Audrey Tokach | May 24, 2013 at 05:03 AM
Oh, these are so sweet, Melis! I love the idea of creating the watermelon and strawberry using my dies!
Posted by: Leigh Penner | May 24, 2013 at 05:26 AM
Simply adorable, Melissa, and so inspiring. I love how you show new (to me) ways of using our supplies and helping me see things that I normally don't see.
Posted by: Jennifer K | May 24, 2013 at 05:27 AM
Melis -
So adorable and cheerful! Perfect for this time of year. I love all the special little touches you add to your work. You have such a special style and I love it! Great step by step too. Thanks for sharing with us.
Elaine Allen
P.S. No blues today - LOL!
Posted by: Elaine Allen | May 24, 2013 at 05:47 AM
The favor boxes are so cute! I love the layered heart.
Posted by: Patty O'Malley | May 24, 2013 at 05:48 AM
Very, very nice. This is definitely inspiring me.
Posted by: Rebecca J. | May 24, 2013 at 06:28 AM
Very cute.
Posted by: BeverlyBL | May 24, 2013 at 06:32 AM
So sweet! the circles and hearts make lovely fruit shapes!
Posted by: Cindy O | May 24, 2013 at 06:49 AM
I love both these cute projects. Very colorful and vibrant!
Posted by: KathyH | May 24, 2013 at 06:53 AM
How do you cut your felt so well, I never can get mine to look so good?
Posted by: Sheliah | May 24, 2013 at 07:16 AM
I love the way that you layer card stock, patterned papers, felt and buttons. These are such fun sets for summertime gift giving. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Posted by: Karen Corbett | May 24, 2013 at 07:35 AM
ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL MELISSA!!!!!! :) I'm REALLY DROOLING over that little favor box!!!!! :) AND the way you've decorated it is FABULOUS!!!!!!!! LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE your CREATIVITY!!!!!!!!! :)
Posted by: Becky Green | May 24, 2013 at 08:00 AM
Super awesomely cute!!!!! Thanks for sharing your tips - such fun ways to use the products I already have. I thought for certain the watermelon was the fruit fusion die, but how cool that it is a circle that ends up looking like watermelon. How absolutely clever!
Posted by: Roxanne | May 24, 2013 at 09:25 AM
i love these projects! they are amazing. i was trying to think of ideas for summer birthday cards & you solved my dilema. i'm going to get out my fruit fusion-melon stamp & dies! thanks so much.
Posted by: jeannine | May 24, 2013 at 10:03 AM
i also added the heart to heart #7 & the flippin' out dies to my cart. your little flowers are so cute, they add just the right touch.
Posted by: jeannine | May 24, 2013 at 10:06 AM