I couldn’t sleep last night.  You know, one of those nights where you lay there and stare at the ceiling?  That was me last night.  My brain just wouldn’t slow down and let my eyes close.  So, I got up. 

I got up.  My eyes didn’t want me to.  They were so heavy, and burned.  I made some hot tea.  mmmmmmmmmmmmm…

While I was sipping on my sleepytime tea, I got the idea to make a few gift boxes.  I’ve meaning to make up a few.  After chatting with Randi Oh for a bit about working hybrid, I had the gift boxes on my mind.  So, I grabbed my sketch pad to take some “Notes to self”.  I always do this.  Pre-planning, especially when doing something hybrid, is almost necessary. 

Once you have your general idea down on paper, you can gather your supplies, and get to work!  I always sketch out my ideas, and of course mid-project I usually change my mind or realize somethings just aren’t possible. LOL!

After gathering all my supplies, I looked thru my stash of digital supplies to see what kit I wanted to use.  Did I even want to do this “hybrid” or did I want to use up some of my paper stash, hmmmmm?    In the end, I decided to go with Candy Christmas by KimB.

So the first step to doing hybrid is the prep work. 

The next step would be creating and printing all the digital items you will need for your project.

For this project I measured the dimensions of my gift box template, and sized my digi-supllies as needed.  Then I just printed them out.  It’s important to use a good heavy card stock, not just printer paper.  Regular printer paper will just fall apart and tear if you try to work with it with glitz and/or glue.  I also change my printer setting from “economic” printed (which is the ink saver setting)  to “High Quality” printing, which is the setting you would use for photographs (ink hog).  This is because I want FULL RICH COLOR.  This does present one problem though.  Cardstock just SUCKS the ink up.  You will need to make sure to let the papers you print DRY before you start working with them.  Otherwise you will end up with smears, smudges, and fingerprints everywhere!  So print it out and set it aside.

While my printed paper was setting up to dry, I went a head and embossed up my label.  For this project I used a Stampin Up stamp set, and Stampin Up white craft ink, stamped onto white card stock. 

Then for embossing, I decided to try this Zing! just one more time.  I wasn’t really happy with it when I used it the first time the other night. 

I guess my issues the other night was the embossing ink I tired to use, because this time it melted right up.  Nice thick and gooey!  YAY!

Using Distress Broken China and my Ink Blending tool with a felt pad, not foam, I inked up my label.  Isn’t it pretty!

Then I had to cut out my label.  Note to self: please invest in some small GOOD scissors!  Please! 

Now its time to cut out the box, using the template.  Its real easy.  Just flip the paper you intend to use for your box body – over, and lay the template on it.  Use a pencil and trace it out.

Then just cut it out! 

Then, I had decided (see on my sketch…) that I wanted my flaps to be a different pattern then the whole of my box.  So here you see me trace to trim out my flaps.  I always trace on the BACK of my printed paper.  This keeps the pencil lines hidden.  If you trace on the printed side, you may see the pencil lines, or worse you may smear your print if you try to erase them off!  Home printer ink is soooo easy to muck up!

Then I wanted to do something snazzy to the little prezzie embellie I printed.  What a better way to test out this new Sparkle Mod Podge!  OMG, if you only knew how happy this makes me.  “Bling makes me happpppyyyyyyy!!!!!!”

Mod Podge on inkjet ink.  ooo.. tricky.  As long as you brush gently and quickly, and don’t do TONS of rubbing etc, it should be ok!

Once it dries completely you can do what you need to do.  I cut it out once it was dry.  Look!  BLING!  weeeeeeeeeeee…

Then I took some Smooch, and painted the blue circles on my pressie.  Just do give it a little dimension, so it wouldn’t look so “flat”.

Once that dries, it’s just a matter of sticking it all together…  I used my Glue Glider to get everything into position, and then any loose areas (like the edges) I added a little extra glue.

Once EVERYTHING was dry, I used my sanding block to clean up the edges of my papers…

Then its just a matter of assembling everything!

ok…
hope you likey.

Im out!

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