Sunday, February 7, 2016

Introducing Tiny Town Series


Welcome to Day 3 of Papertrey's 9th anniversary celebration. Today we're announcing another new series from Betsy Veldman called Tiny Town. Tiny Town is similar to Petite Places, only larger, which opens up some fantastic new possibilities.

The February release will be available at 10 pm EST February 15 in the Papertrey Ink store.

The foundation of the new series is the Tiny Town: Basics die set, which is the basic building plus window and door accessories to make it into a house. Additional die sets will include different building fronts and accessories, allowing you to turn the basic building into all sorts of other buildings. We're kicking off the first month with the Tiny Town: Church dies.

So let me tell you about my project for today -- I'm excited about it! Have you heard of prayer boxes?  There are lots of different ways you can use them, and there's even a book about them, but basically, they are boxes, often decorated, where you can store written prayer requests. I thought the church would be super sweet as a prayer box. More specifically, I created today's box with a Bible Study purpose in mind. My idea is that each person in the Bible Study has her own prayer box. During the Bible Study, each person can write down her prayer request/requests and put them in their box. At the end of the study, everyone takes someone else's box home for the week to pray over that person's needs. Bring the boxes back the following week, add additional requests, take out (and celebrate) answered prayers, then exchange again among the members. Wouldn't that be a super sweet way to pray for each other? Of course the church could also be used as a more traditional prayer box, too.


First I die-cut the Tiny Town: Basics building out of white card stock and gave it a church appearance using the arched window and door dies from Tiny Town: Church



I added some grass and flowers using stamps from Garden Variety, and a sweet bunting (or is it a garland?) across the front using an image from Choose Joy. Before assembling, I also scored every half-inch to create siding.



I added a pair of tags (die-cut with Minute To Make: Holiday Tags) stamped with Scripture using a stamp from Phrases & Praises. The tag is personalized using the Type Strips II alphabet and coordinating Type Bits Strip die.

I love that these buildings can be sealed shut if using as decor pieces or the buildings can be made to be opened and closed. Since the prayer boxes will be opened and they will travel, I decided to add the optional carrying handle, which is part of the Tiny Town: Basics set.



I made a bunch of tiny prayer request cards. They're pretty small at only 2" x 1 1/4", but there is some room for writing down requests. I stamped the cards with images from Choose Joy and Garden Variety, stamping off first for extra light stamping that could easily be written over.



Here are a few filled out.



Even though this building construction does open and close, I wanted to minimize the need for that, so I came up with this piggy bank-style input slot.



Just slip the prayer request down in the slot -- no need to open the box at this stage. I used a punch to make the slot.



The person who takes the box home would of course need to open it, and that's easy to do by untying the baker's twine on the handle.

The site I linked to above has some great ideas for ways to use prayer boxes. Some of my favorites:

a prayer box for each family member, everyone fills each others' boxes with affirmations. At the end of the week or month, the family reads them together

a prayer box at each wedding reception table, guests write out a blessing for the newlyweds and put them in inside the church.

fill a box with prayer requests for a certain period of time (month or even year). Keep the box closed until the end of that timeframe, at which point you can open it and see all the requests have been answered.



Dies: Tiny Town: Basics; Tiny Town: Church; Minute to Make: Holiday Tags; Type Bits Strip

Ink: Simply Chartreuse, Blueberry Sky, Sweet Blush, True Black

Paper: white card stock; Soft Stone Stripe patterned paper

Other: True Black baker's twine, Scor-Tape, Scor-Pal, glue dots, Ranger matte multi-medium



   
For more Tiny Town inspiration, visit the Papertrey team:




40 comments:

Bonnie said...

This is just so beautiful Amy and such a wonderful idea! The possibilities are endless....

Sherrie M. said...

Love the idea of the prayer box with these new products! So beautiful Amy! I am a big fan of your blog but don't really comment. Just wanted you to know that you are a constant source of inspiration for me. Thanks Amy!

TracyL said...

What a wonderful and sweet idea! I'll have to do this for all the people I care about. Thank you so much.

Karen said...

I'm just starting a new prayer practice, and this is such a beautiful idea! Your church is gorgeous! Thanks for the link, too.

Birgit said...

Oh my goodness, this is so darling and clever! I love this idea. Is the handle part of the set?

Amy Sheffer said...

Yes, it is. The handle is part of the Tiny Town: Basics die set.

Amy Sheffer said...

Thank you so much! I tend to be a "lurker" too, but I'm glad for your sweet note today!

jan metcalf said...

Amy, this is a wonderful idea with beautiful execution! I like the idea for wedding table too!

Betty Sue said...

This is so sweet and beautiful!! I love...love what you did with the church!! I just love your style!!

Joyce across the Pond said...

Wonderful! A great idea for church prayer groups. Well done!

Joyce across the Pond said...

Wonderful! A great idea for church prayer groups. Well done!

Marcia Hill said...

When I first saw the house dies I thought "cute", but how many am I going to make? After seeing your prayer box idea though, the wheels started spinning for my bible study group...the ladies are going to love this! Thank you SO much for the inspiration Amy!! :0)

Holly Saveur said...

Never heard of them..such a very sweet idea!

RondaL said...

Lovely die and great ideas for the use. I really love the idea of the blessings for the wedding.

jkstiles77 said...

I have never heard of a prayer box before, but am truly enthralled with this idea! Your church is beautiful, Amy ... thanks so much for the inspiration! My granddaughter will be marrying probably within a year, and would love to make the prayer box for her wedding reception tables.

ChickAlizadeh said...

this is the neatest idea I have ever heard of...thanks for the link to prayer box ideas too.. I have been a lurker on your blog for quite some time and have always been impressed...but today you put the cream in my coffee, and the joy in my heart!!!LOVE THIS!!!thank you so much

Amy Sheffer said...

Awww, I cannot even tell you how heartwarming it is to read your comment. Thank you so much!

Amy Sheffer said...

I love that idea, too! Congratulations to your granddaughter!

Amy Sheffer said...

Thanks, Marcia! My last two studies have been online. I need to get back to in-person studies so I can try out this idea!

Natalie Winterstein said...

I love this!

Noreen said...

What a lovely idea!

Nancy Guse said...

Amy, this is truly a wonderful idea with the prayer boxes, your church is beautiful!!

Grenouille Greetings said...

This is such a lovely idea for a Bible study group. I love how you have decorated the prayer cards to coordinate with the flowers in your church garden (on the walls) and with that pretty, pretty tag. Lovely work! Hugs, Lesley

Frannie said...

This would be wonderful for a baptism. I LOVE your ideas

TamiBabs said...

Awesome job Amy!! Great ideas to turn this into a prayer box for many different occasions!

Nora Noll said...

This is one of the most beautiful projects-and the thought behind the project-that I have ever seen. Just stunning Amy!!

Anonymous said...

What a brilliant idea! I love this prayer box concept and the versatility of these dies. I love your blog and your creative style. Your cards/creations are always warm, colorful, and classy. I too, tend to be a lurker, but I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy you sharing your talents and inspiration with all of us. I'm so glad you are on the amazing PTI team!

Kris said...

Amy...this is awesome. Can't wait for those supplies to get to me so I can start making boxes for my prayer partners. Love the visual for putting your prayer power to work!

Marybeth said...

What a beautiful church box and amazing idea! The prayer box is just perfect! Thanks for sharing that idea. Amy!

María Alba Negrón said...

Hi Amy,

Sweet wonderful Amy, this is just like you generous to a fault,GORGEOUS idea, Superbly executed!

Cariños,
María Alba

Nancy Penir said...

So beautiful, and what a wonderful idea to use the church die in this way. Love it to bits! Thank you for sharing your beautiful heart!

Amy Sheffer said...

Thank you, Nora. Your comment is such a blessing!

Amy Sheffer said...

Thank you so much! Lurkers are extra welcome, since I tend to be one too (I blame it on being shy)!

Amy Sheffer said...

What a sweet comment, thank YOU!

Betty Wright said...

This is beautiful, Amy! Wonderful idea with the prayer box.

Lyn said...

How awesome, I sence that your beautiful creativeness is going to bless more people with this idea than you can possibly imagine. Thanks for such a beautiful idea

Shirley said...

Great idea. Lovely church.

Maureen said...

what a glorious idea! Thank you for sharing and inspiring us with the strength of prayer :)

TLady said...

What a FABULOUS IDEA, Amy! I have been missing....my computer crashed & I KNEW I'd missed SOMETHING! I'm glad I came looking! I LOOOOVE your little prayer box & the ideas you've come up with!!!! SUPER IDEAS & BEAUTIFUL LITTLE CHURCH & Prayer Cards!!!! THANK YOU for showing us!!! ;)

Jenny said...

Lovely idea