Christmas Project #5 - Gift Card Tin

Since there are only two weekends (one really since this weekend is almost over) before Christmas, I figured it's time to get wrappin'! My family draws names, so fortunately I have only a few to do, which leaves me with a little more time to personalize what are normally fairly impersonal gifts, gift cards. Since they're small, generic and not as exciting as other gifts, I try to make gift card containers a little more interesting.

Gift Card Container made with Ranger, Maya Road, and Making Memories products

These are fairly quick and easy to make. Especially if you use your heat gun to speed up the paint drying process :)

Step 1 - Alterning the Making Memories "Vintage Findings" Tin Box

• Coat the top with a generous layer of "Peeled Paint" Crackle Paint (Ranger). As you're applying the paint work some texture into it. Use heat tool to speed up drying.
• Paint edges and sides with "Lettuce" paint dabber. Then rub a little of the lettuce paint on the top too. Use heat tool to dry.
• Highlight high spots with a little "Walnut Stain" Distress Ink (Ranger) on top and sides of tin. Set ink with heat tool.
• Add a little "Gold" paint dabber around the edge of the top for a little shiny glam :)

Step 2 - Create the layered poinsettia embellishment

Poinsettias made from Grungeboard with Maya Mist and Cricut

• Cut 4 poinsettias from the "Joy of the Seasons" Cricut cartridge.
• Blade: 6 | Speed: High | Pressure: Max | Multicut: 2
• As it's cutting you made need to help hold the grungeboard in place.
• Once flowers are cut and ready to go, place in a box and spray with Maya Mist
• Spray 2 with Strawberry Metallic and 2 with Pink Grapefruit.
• I let them sit briefly, then lightly sponged dry with a paper towel to get a look that was more metallic than pigment.
• Once dry, use a stylus to bend and curl the leaves to get a little more realistic dimension going.
• Stack and use a brad to secure (I liked using the brad because that allowed me to continue turning them once stacked until they were right were I wanted them.
• Once you're happy with how they are stacked, pull a piece of metallic pipe cleaner through an "Bubblegum" pink button (American Crafts) and then affix it to the brad and flower stack with hot glue.

Step 3: Finishing off the top

• Punch a 1" circle from a scrap of cardstock.
• Cut pieces of light and dark pink tulle and attach with a tiny attacher as you work your way around the circle.
• Then, holding the poinsettia to the center for reference, use scissors to trim down until it's just slightly bigger than the top of the tin. I also was careful to cut the tulle in triangle or wedge shapeds beause I wanted to create a base that resembled the skirt of a ballerina or little pixie fairy.
• Use hot glue to affix the tulle pinwheel to the poinsettia and then again to attach the whole thing to the top of the tin.

Place the gift card inside, add gift tag and you're ready to rock your holiday!