Whimsy Stamps ~ Gingerbread Milk Carton Gift Box

Hey friends, I'm running out of November now, how did that happen?! I've still loads of crafty shares up my sleeve, but will have to save some until December now, this month has just whizzed by! So here is my last creation for November and I hope you'll like it as much as I do. I want to create another, I think it's such a fun idea, the gingerbread houses on the white milk carton, but I'd like to do a coloured version, so mulling that one over for December. I come from a huge family, so there are lots of little nieces and nephews to create for and they'd be stoked to get a special gift box like this, so I can see I'll need to make multiple! I used a readily available template for the milk carton and adjusted it to fill an A4 page (UK and NZ paper size). Hand trimmed and scored using my Scor-Pal tool.

I kept the gingerbread elements pretty simple, I inked the elements in white ink and then heat embossed sparkle embossing powder over the white for a subtle sparkle and shine. I didn't add any extra white pen detailing or red accents as one might, as the stamping is so delicate, I didn't want to overshadow any of that. So I lightly inked a blue background with Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide, layered up the gingerbread pieces and finished the scene with a little moon sequin and some gems for stars. Those of you who know our Southern Skies, might recognise the 'Southern Cross' over the house. I finished the milk box design with a simple tie of some red and white baker's twine. I love this stuff and have oodles in my stash, Whimsy used to stock a lovely one from Darice, but it's no longer available sadly. But it's always nice to bring it out for a make. I added a little gingerbread heart to finish the front of the box and red stamped the sentiment below to complete the front panel. 

I used a slightly larger house from the stamp set for the back of the box and added the moon and stars embellishments again. I added a little snowflake above to finish that side a little as the tie faces the front, so only the wrap of baker's twine shows here, which left that top panel a little bare otherwise.

Both sides of the box, I inked the background as I did the others, but left the sides a little plainer, using the same gingerbread house design on both sides and leaving it otherwise pretty plain, so the feature panels are definitely the front and back of the box. A fun little gift box, which as I say, I'll need to make more of, for my sweet nieces and nephews.

I will be back soon with some more makes in December, which my kiddos will finally let me utter the word 'Christmas' in. Our tree trimming happens on December 1st every year and the kids get very excited about that. It's a nice ritual and it really does feel like Christmas is coming by then! I hope your lead up to Christmas is going well and if you've just celebrated Thanksgiving, I hope your day was filled with love and gratitude. I love the concept of 'Thanksgiving', I have tried always to instil in my kiddos, living life with an attitude of gratitude, as we're not served up our hopes and dreams on a platter often, it's something we must strive for and living life with an attitude of gratitude is a great place to come from when trying to draw good energy around you! Hugs to you all and happy Christmas crafting friends xoxo

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