Asian Inspiration

I spent a couple of years as a mom before I heard the term "scrapbooking".  Before I discovered this fabulous industry, I kept regular photo albums of my daughter and used my creative juices elsewhere.  I crocheted, quilted, made candles and jewelry, running from one craft to the next and then coming back as I got bored with each one. 

My main source of creative joy centered around birthdays.  I would spend 3 months preparing a perfect theme party for my daughter.  Elaborate invitations, decorations, favors, wardrobe, music, and food (ok, so I was paper crafting and just had no idea!) took over my life and my office.  Each party for the first five birthdays of each child was a full and complete theme.

Three stand out as favorites among the family.  For my son's first birthday, I created a country hoedown worthy of Nashville.  Allison's fifth birthday fiesta was whimsically titled Cinco de Allie and included extra Mexican flair.  For her first birthday, I put together a Chinese New Year extravaganza.  And I was thrilled with it until Provocraft sent us these fabulous Asian folders.

How can I travel back in time and completely remake the party with these?  I can only imagine the looks on the faces of my family and friends if I could use these embossing folders and the ScrapStreet designers to plan a new party.  Since I cannot turn back the hands of time, we would love to help you plan the perfect theme party!

Imagine receiving your invitation inside of a fortune cookie in a Chinese takeout box.  How excited are you to arrive?  As you exit the car, the walkway is lit with delicately embossed paper lanterns.  Over your head, tea light banners sway softly in the breeze.  Follow me into an asian wonderland.

Take-Out Boxes and Fortune Cookies by Brianne Nevill

Supplies: Paper: BasicGrey, Embossing Powder: American Crafts, Floss: DMC, Other: foam. Digital Supplies: Take-Out Box and Fortune Cookies Templates by Brianne Nevill, Software: Adobe CS3. Tools: Embossing Machine, Embossing Folders: Cuttlebug (Provocraft).

Design Notes: I wanted a cute favor to put on the table for this Asian-inspired Alice in Wonderland tea party and what cuter way to do it then by using a takeout box. I went one step further and embossed thin sheets of foam with the lace design by braying embossing ink onto the Cuttlebug folder prior to running it through the machine. After the foam was removed from the folder, I dusted it with gold embossing powder and applied heat. I then cut out a large circle from the foam and folded it into a fortune cookie. To get the foam to stay in place, I stitched a small portion of it together as glue did not seem to hold its shape.

Paper Party Lanterns by Brianne Nevill

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper, Embossing Powder: American Crafts, Ink: Colorbox (Clearsnap), Specialty Ink: Maya Road, Other: tissue paper. Digital Supplies: Lantern Template by Brianne Nevill, Software: Adobe CS3. Tools: Embossing Machine, Embossing Folders: Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Heat Gun: Marvy Uchida.

Design Notes: I created a paper lantern template in Photoshop and then printed it off in two different sizes onto kraft cardstock. Once cut, I sprayed each with a metallic mist and let dry. I then created the screens by running tissue paper through the Cuttlebug in a folder that was brayed in embossing ink. I then dusted the image with embossing powder and applied heat.

Tea Light Banner by Brianne Nevill

Supplies: Paper, Buttons: BasicGrey, Ink: Colorbox (Clearsnap), Ribbon: RibbonFX, Other: yarn. Digital Supplies: Tea Light Template by Brianne Nevill, Software: Adobe CS3. Tools: Embossing Machine, Embossing Folders: Cuttlebug (Provocraft).

Design Notes: Banners are really hot right now but instead of using the typical shape, I decided to really bring in the Asian flair by using small paper tea lights. I embossed each hand cut piece of the tea light and then brushed ink over the raised areas to bring out the beautiful design. I then created tassels to hang from each tea light. I underestimated the size of the tassel while creating but still love the off-balanced look of the banner.