Friday, June 12, 2009

Verve Project Parade: It's a Guy Thing



It's my day to post over on the Verve Stamps blog for our current Project Parade. This month's theme is "It's a Guy Thing: Celebrating the Men in Our Lives" - just like last month's theme, only it's the guys' turn to be celebrated!

For my project, I decided to pair up a custom photo puzzle with the "I Love You To Pieces" sentiment from Sweet On You to make a Father's Day gift for my daughter to give to her sweet Daddy. For the puzzle, I chose a photo of my husband and daughter on their way to their annual Father-Daughter Valentine's Dance. There are numerous online vendors for these puzzles. You just upload or email your digital photo, then choose your finished size along with the number of pieces. Or, for a smaller, DIY version, you could easily adhere your photo to lightweight chipboard (think cereal box weight) and die-cut it with one of the puzzle dies on the market (Cuttlebug and Spellbinders come to mind).

The one I ordered comes in a drawstring bag, so I've put together a box that will double as gift box and storage box:



I started with an inexpensive 30-piece store-bought child's puzzle from Target that I already had on hand. I covered and decorated the box top with papers from Stampin' Up's Parisian Breeze collection. Then I used the box bottom as a template and made a new bottom out of the same Parisian Breeze dp. To strengthen it a little, I added chipboard panels to the inside, both on the bottom and the four sides, then added some coordinating dp to dress it up a little. (By the way, the reason I did it this way was that I found if I covered both the box bottom and the box top, they fit together so snugly that it was difficult to get the lid off.) This photo shows how the top and bottom fit together:



It's always helpful to have a picture of the puzzle to look at, so I've included the picture in a pocket on the front...



... and again in the bottom of the box, where I also included the sweet sentiment from Dad's Day.



I'm hoping this will be something my husband and daughter will enjoy doing together, and when she outgrows it, they'll both still have a nice keepsake.

[Update: I haven't shown the puzzle today because it's not here yet - bummer! It looks like it's scheduled for delivery today, so I'll post a picture when it comes (if I can hide it from my husband, who is home from work today). Gretchen asked about size and number of pieces. I chose an 8.25" x 11" 30-piece puzzle. There were a lot of options to choose from, everything from a small 4-piece 4x6 puzzle to poster-size puzzles with more than 1,000 pieces.]

Remember, just for playing along with our theme, you'll have a chance to win a Verve stamp set of your choice! Just link your creation to the Mr. Linky form over on the Verve Blog Day 1 post before 8 pm MT on Saturday, June 20. We've also hidden another $25 gift certificate somewhere along the parade for a random commenter. So be sure to check out each day of the parade, and leave lots of comments along the way! Have fun!

[Another update: The puzzle came. I was wrong, though - it didn't come in a drawstring bag, it came in a box after all (I still like mine better, though *grin*). It also came with an index photo, but since it was too big for the box I made, I'm glad I did the little pocket on the front and added the photo to the bottom, too. The moral of all of this is ... order early, especially if you have a deadline you're trying to hit!! The last picture is of the completed puzzle.]







Enjoy your day!



Stamps: Dad's Day, Sweet On You (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Stampin' Up Whisper White and Chocolate Chip card stock, Parisian Breeze dp, lightweight chipboard
Ink: SU Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip craft, Ranger Old Paper Distress
Accessories: SU hardware, buttons, ribbon, and clear embossing powder, Spellbinders Mega Curved Rectangle Nestabilities and Pinking Border Piercabilities, May Arts burlap string, sewing machine, child's puzzle piece and puzzle box

27 comments:

Kathy Jones said...

This is just gorgeous Amy!!! Love the colours/papers you've used and so creative to make such a wonderful project!!!!

Dawn Easton said...

Oh my goodness Amy! This is absolutely beautiful!! Love all your details and that picture of them is BEAUTIFUL!

Randee E said...

What a sweet and pull at the heartstrings gift!! And that's just the idea! The way you put it all together is just fabulous! You never cease to amaze me with your talent!

Unknown said...

All I have to say is, "WOW!"

Angela said...

What a great Dad's Day gift. I love the puzzle piece, such a great accessory.

Unknown said...

So jaw-droppingly gorgeous ....again Amy! You make the most beautiful things and her Daddy is going to treasure this so much!
Viv xxx

Judy Rozema said...

Amy, this is the sweetest thing I have ever seen -- what a treasure!

Gretchen said...

What an awesome idea!! How big is the puzzle? (size or pieces) this will make a great present and so fun for them to do together! I love your color choices too- stunning! Have a good weekend!

Basement Stamper said...

Amy, what an awesome father's day gift!!! This is absolutely beautiful.

~Lori Roop said...

So Sweet and creative Amy!! Awesome project!!

Julee (Vervegirl) said...

GASP, Amy!!!! Incredible project! What a fabulous idea! The box is absolutely gorgeous, and I love how you used the puzzle piece on the front. You ROCK!

Crystal said...

Amy ! You hit this one out of the park !!! I love it to pieces !!!

Tosha Leyendekker said...

FANTASTIC!! Love your box and the papers you used to decorate it! And the puzzle idea with the matching pocket puzzle piece card...genius!! What a treasure!!

Amy Rohl said...

Fabulous project, Amy! I'm so excited to use bits and pieces of the Verve designs for DH's Father's Day gifts!

Bastelfrosch's Kreativseite said...

This has become a marvellous box.
I still have such jigsaw puzzle parts, this is a great idea.
Annette

Jackie Pedro said...

What a keepsake for your hubby and DD! This is so creative and beautiful, Amy!!

Nancy Riley said...

Incredible!

Jessie/knightrone said...

WOW, absolutely amazing!!

Carolina said...

Just stunning Amy!!! Love how unique and what a true treasure for your hubby to have.

Chris Olsen, Glowbug said...

This is gorgeous Amy!!! I love this idea and your decorating of the box with the puzzle piece as an embellishment, the parisian breeze paper,and pull out photo is awesome!! What a sweet photo of the two of them!! They will both treasure this for years to come!
Have a great weekend!
hugs and blessings,
Chrsi

Erin Smetak said...

Oh my gosh, Amy, this is absolutely gorgeous!!!! I love all the detail on the lid, and what a great idea to have a puzzle made!!! You're such a genious!

I hope your husband and daughter love it!!!

Allison said...

This is beautiful! Love the details and what a fabulous idea!

Janiel/ janny said...

LOVE this Amy..........and so will the daddy.. janny

marcyh said...

Beautiful all the way around.

Coach Sheffer cleans up quite well ;-)

AlienAnessa said...

Excellent colors Amy, and clearly you put alot of hard work and thought into this project!! Very, very special indeed! =)

Conniecrafter said...

such a darling puzzle, great idea, and love the sentiment with the puzzle piece!

Cindy Haffner said...

Lovin this, awesome job.