BThoughtful10.com How-To:
No. 4 Creative Kids

Author: Brainstorm
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16 Dec 10

In this post we’ll demonstrate how your children can make a Christmas ornament out of our BThoughtful10 gift box. To create your own personalized holiday gift box and message, visit BThoughtful10.com.

Kids love to be creative. Let's indulge them, shall we?

STEP ONE | Supplies: twine, felt stickers and a hole punch.

STEP TWO | Using the online tool at BThoughtful10.com, print your message on card stock. Incorporate the year so there will be no doubt when their little hands made it.

STEP THREE | Use an X-acto knife or scissors to cut-out the boxes for your children. Tip: For uber-clean box edges—use the knife's reverse edge to lightly score the folds.

STEP FOUR | Before the box is folded have the kids layer the felt stickers, avoiding folds. Then fold up the box (See How-To No. 1 for tips).

STEP FIVE | To create an ornament, punch a hole in the bow and tie a loop of twine through it. Tada! You've successfully entertained the kids - for at least 15 minutes.

“What’s a BThoughtful Gift Box?”

For the holidays, Brainstorm designed a little do-it-yourself custom gift box with personalized messages printed inside to give to friends and family. Go to BThoughtful10.com and make as many you like! Think of them as your own personal fortune cookie – without the cookie.

“But I’m craft-less”

The boxes are easy to make, all you need is a printer, a pair of scissors, and something you’d like to say to someone else.

We’ll be posting different decorating ideas and ways to use the box throughout the holiday season. Just visit BThoughtful10.com, or watch for How-To’s here at .think (our .think RSS feed), tagged as BThoughtful10 inside “Topics�? in the upper right-hand corner of this page.

“I’ve got a thought”

You can join in the fun by adding your own thoughts. Just visit BThoughtful10.com and add a message in Your Thoughts, or upload pictures or short videos to the BThoughtful10 Flickr group.

Have fun, and make it a thoughtful holiday.

Want to see some of Brainstorm’s past Holiday projects?:
Brainstorm Wonderland | NorthPoleInc.us | BCause08 | BCause09

Tags: Brainstorm, BThoughtful10, children, Christmas, gift box, holiday, kids, New year, party favor
Posted in BThoughtful10, Branding, Design, Featured, Industrial Design, Inspiration, Process

BThoughtful10.com How-To:
No. 3 MMM Party Favors

Author: Brainstorm
Permalink | No Comments »
16 Dec 10

In this post we’ll demonstrate how to make a party favor out of your BThoughtful10 gift box – replete with sweets. To create your own personalized holiday gift box and message, visit BThoughtful10.com.

It's holiday party time and everyone favors a party. Let's do this.

STEP ONE | Print your message on card stock of any color. We chose a gold, slightly flecked sheet to bring warmth to the table.

STEP TWO | Once your box is cut and scored (see How-To No. 1) apply your guest's initial. We used a green glitter pen but you could use an applique, a stencil, or a quill pen.

STEP THREE | After the letter has dried, complete the box. Fill with tissue paper and an after dinner treat.

STEP FOUR | Finish with a festive ribbon and, voila, your guest has a personalized favor to enjoy now or later.

“What’s a BThoughtful Gift Box?”

“But I’m craft-less”

The boxes are easy to make, all you need is a printer, a pair of scissors, and something you’d like to say to someone else.

“I’ve got a thought”

You can join in the fun by adding your own thoughts. Just visit BThoughtful10.com and add a message in Your Thoughts, or upload pictures or short videos to the BThoughtful10 Flickr group.

Have fun, and make it a thoughtful holiday.

Want to see some of Brainstorm’s past Holiday projects?:
Brainstorm Wonderland | NorthPoleInc.us | BCause08 | BCause09

Tags: Brainstorm, BThoughtful10, Christmas, gift box, holiday, New year, party favor
Posted in BThoughtful10, Branding, Design, Featured, Industrial Design, Inspiration, Process

BThoughtful10.com How-To:
No. 2 All Aglow

Author: Brainstorm
Permalink | No Comments »
15 Dec 10

In this post we’ll demonstrate how to make a glowing BThoughtful10 gift box. To create your own personalized holiday gift box and message, visit BThoughtful10.com.

In the holiday mood? Get all aglow.

STEP ONE | Supplies: Metallic spray paint, decorative hole punch, small, battery-powered tea light.

STEP TWO | The message: Using the online tool, print out your message. Card stock works well.

STEP THREE | Use an Xacto knife or scissors to cut out the box. Tip: For super-clean edges use the knife's reverse edge to lightly score the folds.

STEP FOUR | Before the box is folded, use the decorative hole punch. This will allow light to shine through the box.

STEP FIVE | Once the box is folded you're ready for spray paint. We lightly misted the top with metallic gold to add to the glow.

STEP SIX | You're ready to drop in the candle; be sure to turn it on first. :)

STEP SEVEN | Your warm message now glows!

“What’s a BThoughtful Gift Box?”

“But I’m craft-less”

The boxes are easy to make, all you need is a printer, a pair of scissors, and something you’d like to say to someone else.

“I’ve got a thought”

You can join in the fun by adding your own thoughts. Just visit BThoughtful10.com and add a message in Your Thoughts, or upload pictures or short videos to the BThoughtful10 Flickr group.

Have fun, and make it a thoughtful holiday.

Want to see some of Brainstorm’s past Holiday projects?:
Brainstorm Wonderland | NorthPoleInc.us | BCause08 | BCause09

Tags: box, Brainstorm, BThoughtful10, Christmas, gift, holiday, New year
Posted in BThoughtful10, Brainstorm News, Branding, Design, Featured, Industrial Design, Inspiration, Packaging, Process

BThoughtful10.com How-To:
No. 1 Making the Box

Author: Brainstorm
Permalink | No Comments »
15 Dec 10

BThoughtful

For the holidays, Brainstorm designed a do-it-yourself gift box that you can create with your own custom message inside. To make one for friends and family go to BThoughtful10.com.

Make Thoughts

Making the box is a cinch, just add a message, print, cut, and fold. But if you’re the type that likes specific directions, we’ve created the How-To slideshow below that shows you how to make the box step-by-step.

We’ll be posting different decorating ideas and ways to use the box throughout the holiday season. Just visit BThoughtful.com, or watch for How-To’s here at .think (our .think RSS feed), tagged as BThoughtful10 inside “Topics�? in the upper right-hand corner of this page.

Share Thoughts

You can join in the fun by adding your own thoughts—serious or sentimental, funny or frivolous. Just visit BThoughtful10.com and add a message in Your Thoughts, or upload pictures or short videos to the BThoughtful10 Flickr group.

BThoughtful and enjoy the holidays!

In this how-to we'll demonstrate how to properly cut, fold and assemble your BThoughtful10 gift box. Let's get started.

STEP ONE | Create and print your personalized message and box pattern on the BThoughtful10.com site. If possible, use a nice heavy paper stock.

STEP TWO | Cut the box out using scissors or a utility (better yet, an X-acto®) knife and a straight edge - be sure to cut the inner slits where noted.

STEP THREE | Lightly score the dotted lines with a paper clip or similar object.

STEP FOUR | Pre-fold all the dotted lines. Gently fold the bow segments in a sort of accordion fashion. Note the text is on the inside of the box.

STEP FIVE | On the bottom of the box, fold in the square flaps then interlock the notched flaps as shown.

STEP SIX | Lock the notched tab in place on the upper corner. if you plan to place an object inside your box, now might be a good time to do so.

STEP SEVEN | Fold down the two arched flaps on the top of the box and then fold the bow-shaped flaps in and interlock the slits together.

FINIS! | Your box should look like this. If not, one of us has done something wrong. We may need to begin again.

Want to see some of Brainstorm’s past Holiday projects?:
Brainstorm Wonderland | NorthPoleInc.us | BCause08 | BCause09

Tags: box, Brainstorm, BThoughtful10.com, Christmas, gift, holiday, New year
Posted in Artistry, BThoughtful10, Brainstorm News, Branding, Design, Featured, Industrial Design, Inspiration, Packaging, Process

Top 20 Things That May Have Killed Ed (me) in the Boundary Waters

Author: Ed
Permalink | 2 Comments »
16 Jun 10

Refused to pay $7000
for seaplane rescue

Our latest list of inane musings from the Brainstorm office white board:

Top 20 Things That May Have Killed Ed in the Boundary Waters

Minnesotan’s unfailing politeness
The guys from Deliverance
Massive oil spill
Refused to pay $7000 for seaplane rescue
Minnesota wading coyotes
A run-in with Locke (smoke monster)
Inability to update his Twitter stream
Eaten by a Northern Pike
Not knowing what’s going on at Brainstorm
Ran over by a deer
Elk
Bear
Moose
Wild dawgs
Lyme disease
A Flash sideways
Malaria
Snake bite
He’s not dead, just lost
Unfiltered water
Starvation

See the entire white board

Tags: Boundary Waters, Brainstorm, Minnesota, Twitter
Posted in Featured, Top 20

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NorthPole, Inc.

Brainstorm's 2007 holiday blog parody. A new post everyday featured the ongoing drama of an entirely fictitious corporation replete with fictitious products. Items like the "iPlanet," NPI’s personal cosmos transport. Like Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine Happiness Machine, the iPlanet promises a “thoroughly self-absorbed social media experience."? Our content was tongue-in-cheek, but the chocolate and gifts we sent to commenters were quite real.

Bart	Bob	Dana
Denita	Ed	Hiroki
Jenni	Jim	Leigh
Paul	Ryan	Tim

BThoughtful10.com How-To:
No. 4 Creative Kids

BThoughtful10.com How-To:
No. 3 MMM Party Favors

BThoughtful10.com How-To:
No. 2 All Aglow

BThoughtful10.com How-To:
No. 1 Making the Box

Top 20 Things That May Have Killed Ed (me) in the Boundary Waters

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