Introducing the Make It Market: Post & Parcel Holiday kit!
September 30, 2016
The big day is finally here - time to reveal all of the details of this year's big holiday Make It Market kit!
The Post & Parcel kit combines two of my favorite things - postal themed items and Christmas!
There are a few different things being released tomorrow night - all of them will be available beginning at 10pm Eastern time tomorrow night ( Saturday, October 1st) on the Papertrey Ink website. Here's a quick run down...
The Post & Parcel full kit (image above shows the contents of the main kit!)
The Post & Parcel Trimmings kit
The Post & Parcel Gift Card Envelope die
Post & Parcel Envelope Patterned paper collection, which features papers with pre-printed envelopes that can be cut with the die.
More detailed images of all of the products can be found on Nichole's blog. I put together a walk-through video that shows everything in detail. A complete supply list and kit cost can be found at the bottom of this post...
I bet you're ready to see some projects, right? Me too! I will not be doing supply lists today for each project like I normally do in my blog posts. When you purchase the kit you will receive a download with detailed supply lists and instructions for each project. Nearly everything I'm using today is from the kit or trimmings kit (with the exception of cardstock and ink). I will try to note anything I used in today's projects that isn't from the kits.
First up are some adorable mailbox tags that are so quick and easy to put together! I used the mailbox dies from the kit along with some of the pre-printed elements from the patterned papers. This little mailbox die feature a slit so that you can slip a little insert inside. There are three different icons that you can top the inserts with - a stack of presents, a stack of mail, and a candy cane/ornament bouquet. I show these in a bit more detail in the video above.
For each tag, I diecut one pre-printed mailbox and one from white cardstock. I layered the two with some small pieces of foam tape just along the top and bottom edges, so the insert can slid in and out freely. The little flags are attached with tiny brads from the Trimmings kit. The inserts were diecut from the papers as well. I punched a hole and knotted some twine through the top of each.
Next up are some cute place cards. It's become a bit of a tradition since I started doing these kits, to make my Christmas table decor using that year's full Make It Market kit. I couldn't wait to do it again this year! Here's what I came up with for this year...
I think they turned out so fun! I can't wait to set my Christmas Eve table with them. I used the mailbox dies and stamps, as well as the mailbox post. I cut the post from balsa wood to make it nice and sturdy. I printed all of the names of our guests onto linen cardstock, then diecut them with the postage stamp die and tucked them in the slit in the mailbox, along with one of the tiny envelopes. A pretty bow and greenery diecut embellishes the top. The little flag even moves up and down and is attached to the mailbox using a tiny brad from the Trimmings kit.
The mailbox is just attached to a strip of cardstock that's been scored and folded, sized to hold two chocolate candies.
I put together a video showing how I put these little guys together in case you'd like to make some too...
Next, I have a whole bunch of the letterbox treat/gift card containers. There are dies in the kit to make these cute vintage-style mailboxes that are a great size to hold candy, treats, or a gift card. I diecut a whole bunch of them and went to town decorating them. I will be giving lots of these out this holiday to my kids' teachers and others. Each one has one of the Post & Parcel envelope cuts tucked inside, which was cut with the Post & Parcel Gift Card Envelope die, and the box will be filled with chocolates.
I put together a video that shows these in action and how quick and easy they are to assemble...
I had fun making these, and each one has a bit of a different design. I used the stencils from the kit along with lots of the pre-printed diecuts. I love how those word stencils look on colored cardstock when they're stenciled with texture paste (I use Opaque Matte from Ranger) - they just really pop!
Each one has a tag of some sort clipped to the top, which were cut from the papers in the kit using the dies from the kit. Here I made a cute clip using one of the mini paper clips from the Trimmings kit, topped with a postage cancellation diecut. The airmail twine is from the Trimmings kit.
To get the red striped border on this one I stenciled it with some texture paste that was colored with a few drops of Pure Poppy re-inker. I added a pre-printed greenery/bow diecut to the front as well. I think that little padlock might be my favorite part of the kit!
Here's a peek at the envelope that's tucked inside. Cut using the Post & Parcel Gift Card Envelope die and the coordinating patterned papers.
Here's a Smokey Shadow version, with one of the larger greenery bouquet diecuts on the front and a cute birdie-topped paper clip on the top.
This one uses the two-step wreath stencil, also from the kit. I added a few of the pre-printed bird diecuts and a bow. The sentiment was stamped inside the wreath using the stamps from the kit.
I also embellished one of the little red clothespins from the Trimmings kit using one of the pre-printed birds.
There is a small sprig/berry stencil too - I used it here along with some texture paste that was tinted with Pure Poppy and New Leaf re-inkers.
There is a little "North Pole Express" stamp in the stamp set that looks cute stamped on these as well. It would be fun to tuck some notes from Santa or his elves inside!
I've been showing the fronts of the boxes with the stenciled borders, but there are stencils for the sides of the box as well. Here the front was stenciled with Pure Poppy ink and the sides were done with Aqua Mist.
Here's another North Pole version, this one was stenciled with the snowfall stencil and some texture paste. Instead of stenciling the whole striped frame here I used just the bottom portion of the frame to add the stripe just along the bottom.
For this last treat box of the bunch I used the tree stencils with Dark Chocolate ink, and the snowdrift stencil with Aqua Mist ink. I added the stenciled snow over the top using texture paste again. A couple of little birds finish it off. I love the little envelope that can be added to the bird's beak.
Here's one more shot of one of the pre-printed envelopes tucked in one of the mailboxes, cut using the Gift Card Envelope die.
Here's a view of the envelope opened up so you can see how a gift card fits inside. Here I also used the large postal mat die from the kit, paired with the bow die. The bow die makes a partial cut so that the bow stays intact with the backing, allowing you sto slip a gift card underneath. I show this in action in the first video at the top of this post. There is a bow stamp in the kit stamp set that goes with it as well.
I also thought it would be fun to create a little scene inside one of the mailboxes, sort of like a diorama. Makes for a fun ornament or home decor piece! I used a Limitless Layers 2-1/2" circle (not from kit) to diecut the window in the front of the letterbox. I stenciled the trees and snow, as well as the "greetings" sentiment on the lid of the letterbox.
Inside, I buit a dimensional scene using the In the Meadow hill dies (not included in kit) and the mailbox, tiny envelope, and other details from the kit. I added some glittery fake snow to the inside, too (not included in kit). This was so fun to put together!
The dies to make these cute letterboxes can be used in several other ways as well! Let me show you a few ideas. This next set of projects uses the backer and lid from the letterbox to make some flat pocket cards. I talk about these a bit towards the end of the Letterbox Assembly video above too, if you want to see them in action. Just another fun way to wrap up a gift card! These would also fit in a regular A2 envelope.
To make these I just cut two of the backer pieces and trimmed a little off the bottom of one of them, and trimmed the other at the score line as well as trimming off the curved top portion. I adhered the two together, just around the sides and bottom, leaving the centers unattached so that a gift card or photo could be slipped inside. Here I used the large postage mat die from the kit with the coordinating bow die.
These would make adorable photo cards, too! I printed my photo sized at 2" square and attached it to a large postage mat diecut, which was cut from some pretty aqua script paper from the kit. I added some airmail washi from the Trimmings Kit to the bottom edge of my photo. I used a tiny paper clip from the Trimmings kit to clip a small postage stamp diecut to the photo, which was stamped with some images from the stamp set. The sentiment was stamped using the kit stamps as well.
That backer for the letterbox also makes really great tags! Just trim it off at the score line! Here I cut one from some airmail striped paper from the kit and topped it with a postal mat diecut. I added a couple of the tiny envelopes and stamped the with the "to/from" sentiments from the kit stamps. The names can be written inside the envelopes. I also stamped some greenery using the kit stamps. The airmail twine tied through the top is from the Trimmings kit.
And here's another tag using the letterbox backer die. This time I used the traditional mailbox stamps and dies layered over the postal mat. The mailbox was stamped in Pure Poppy and the snow detail was stamped with Fresh Snow. You could also heat emboss the snow detail with white embossing powder for a more defined look.
The mailbox has an insert attached to the stack of presents that pulls out to reveal the "to/from" tag. The "a gift for you" sentiment and the present stamps are from the kit as well.
Here are some more tags I made using the backer die from the letterbox. This time I trimmed them a little shorter and rounded the bottom corners with a corner rounder. I stenciled the wreath from the kit stencils using Vintage Jadeite ink for the leaves and texture paste colored with Pure Poppy re-inker for the berries. I also stamped the string/bow image from the stamp set across the wreath. The sentiment and stack of presents are also stamped.
I went a little crazy making tags - I use so many of them during the holidays and I love having them on hand! Here I used the lid die from the letterbox, paired with a trimmed down backer die. I really wanted to use that cute padlock die on some tags, so this is what I came up with! The front of the tag was stamped with the striped frame from the stamp set, along with the "north pole" sentiment and some small berry sprigs and the postage cancellation. I also added one of the pre-printed diecuts to the front of each.
The tag opens up to reveal the "to/from" stamped on the inside.
Here I used the letterbox backer to make a different sort of treat wrap. I cut two of them and adhered them together by overlapping the bottom flaps. I added a couple of score lines at the top and sandwiched a glassing bag between the two layers, filled with candy. I punched holes at the top through all of the layers and secured it with some gray striped ribbon from the Trimmings kit.
These are quick and easy and would be fun to mass produce. Here's a side view so you can see how the glassine bag is wrapped inside of there. I embellished the front with a 1-3/4" circle diecut (not from the kit) stamped with some berry sprigs and a pre-printed postage stamp diecut.
And next I have more tags! I had so many different ideas, I just couldn't stop. I mentioned in the first video in this post that there is a "slit only" die for the mailbox as well, so that you can stamp the mailbox directly onto your project instead of layering a diecut. This little die will just cut the slit for you so you can slip something inside. I used that here on these tags. I stamped the mailboxes onto the postal mat die and used the slit only die.
I stenciled a striped border on each tag base using the stencil from the kit. Inside each mailbox is one of the tiny envelopes, secured with a mini paper clip from the Trimmings kit. Each one is stamped with a sentiment from the kit.
I'm also excited to use the items in the kit and the Trimmings kit to dress up some packages. Here I stuck with a kraft theme - just some simply brown paper is the perfect complement to the theme of this kit.
Here I used some airmail ribbon and faux pine from the Trimmings kit. I wound up just a bit of the pine to create a little wreath and tucked it under some of the airmail ribbon. The knot is embellished with a diecut bird from the kit. Underneath is a pre-printed postal mat diecut. Not sure you can see it real well, but I used the airmail washi tape from the Trimmings kit when wrapping this package with the brown paper.
This letterbox was done in kraft cardstock, too.
A postal mat diecut is tucked inside, all ready for a gift card to be tucked under that bow.
Also in the Trimmings kit is one of these really fun mini mailbox tins. So cute for a small gift or favor. I dressed mine up with some patterned papers from the kit, diecuts, and twine.
More airmail ribbon and diecuts. So quick and easy, and cute!
One of the mailbox insert tags tops this box. I wrapped some washi tape from the Trimmings kit around it, as well as some white cotton twine (not from the kit).
Well, so far I've shown you lots of ideas for tags, wraps, and treats, but what about cards? This kit is great for that too. Let me show you a few!
First is a card I showed when the kit was first sneak peeked a few weeks ago. I created the background using the stencils in the kit - trees, snowfall, houses, and snowdrifts.
In the foreground I placed one of the mailboxes - the mailbox was done with pre-printed diecuts, but you could stamp it, too. A stack of letters is tucked in the mailbox, and the sentiment was stamped using the kit stamps.
That backer die from the letterbox works pretty great on cards, too! Here I diecut two of them -- one from Aqua Mist cardstock, and one from white. From the white one, I diecut a window using the large postal mat die from the kit, then layered them together.
I added a mailbox which was all done with the stamps from the kit. I added the bow around the mailbox and some birds to tug at the ends. I also added some flocking to the top of the mailbox by stamping with a glue pad. The flocking is from the Trimmings kit. The base of the card is made from Berry Sorbet cardstock, which was sponged with some Pure Poppy ink at the bottom, and stenciled with texture paste and the snowfall stencil at the top.
I had fun creating some different scenes inside these frames made with the letterbox backer. For this one I used the stencils again for the houses, hills, and trees. The snow at the top of the scene was done by brushing some liquid glue over the stencil and then sprinkling with the flocking from the Trimmings kit. (just be sure to promptly wash your stencil!).
The sentiment is from the stamp set. I also added a couple of bows to the corners. The background uses some of that pretty aqua script paper. Some gray striped grosgrain ribbon from the trimmings kit it knotted through the top of diecuts.
One more pretty scene! :-) This time I sponged some Aqua Mist ink onto the solid tag, then stamped and heat embossed the large greenery image with white powder. The berries were stamped with Pure Poppy ink.
The birds were stamped with Berry Sorbet and Pure Poppy inks. I tucked a berry sprig in one beak and a tiny envelope in the other. The sentiment is also stamped from the kit. In the background is some Soft Stone script paper.
This card uses both the large postal mat and the small postage stamp diecuts. I cut three of the postage stamps and embellished each with some of the smaller diecuts from the kit. I lined them up on the larger postal mat diecut. Underneath is a stitched banner from the Tag Sale: Quilted die set (not included in kit), cut from some striped paper from the kit.
The sentiment was stamped using the kit, and everything was attached to a kraft cardstock base. I love how this one turned out - so fresh looking!
As much as I absolutely loved putting together all of these holiday projects using the kit, I have to say I'm just as excited to put them to use for everyday occasions! I just had to play around with using the mailbox for a birthday card, with that stack of presents stamped in bright birthday colors instead of holiday colors.
When stenciled with green ink, those snowdrifts make great hills! I'm going to be using that over and over, I have a feeling! I added some bright tulips using the Bitty Bouquets stamps and dies. The "birthday wishes" sentiment is from the Keep It Simple: Belated Birthday set. (I just didn't ink up the "belated" portion). This would be cute for a thinking of you card (using the stack of mail instead of the presents), or get well, or just about any other occasion you can think of! I'm also dreaming of making those cute letterboxes for other holidays - can you imagine them done up for Valentine's day? I think they'd be so adorable!
Well, believe it or not, but I think we've come to the end of the projects! Thank you, thank you for sticking with me to the end! :-) I told you I couldn't stop once I got started with this kit! Ready to see more? Be sure to hop around to the other DT girls sharing projects today using the kit...
Danielle Flanders
Amy Sheffer
Heather Nichols
Melissa Phillilps
Kay Miller
Just to recap, the Post & Parcel kit, the Trimmings kit, and also the Gift Card Envelope die and Envelope paper collection will be available to purchase beginning at 10pm EST tomorrow night - October 1st, only at Papertrey Ink! It is a limited edition kit, so just keep that in mind. If the initial stock sells out quickly, a preorder will open for an established time. Below is a complete list of contents for the full kit and the trimmings kit, as well as the price for each.
POST & PARCEL KIT CONTENTS:
Post & Parcel stamp set & labels
Post & Parcel 8-1/2" x 11" paper collection (1 sheet each of 14 designs)
Post & Parcel stencil collection (set of 4)
Post & Parcel die collection
Post & Parcel Details die collection
Post & Parcel Accessories die collection
Total Retail Cost: $108
POST & PARCEL TRIMMINGS KIT CONTENTS
Teal Twine (2 yards)
Gray Striped Ribbon (2 yards)
Red/Blue Striped Ribbon (2 yards)
Light Blue Velvet Ribbon (2 yards)
Miniature Ming Pine Garland (5 feet)
Mini Screw Fasteners (1 package)
Mini Paper Clips (1 package)
Mini Mailbox
Airmail Washi Tape (1 roll)
Red Mini Clothespins (5 clothes pins)
Miniature Cardinals (2 Cardinals)
White Flocking (1/2 ounce)