Thinking Out Of The Box

..........and MAKING a Box

Today I'm going to share a very SIMPLE tutorial on making a box using The Fireplace Card that was released by Creations By AR back in November.  I apologize for the delay.  My life took an unexpected turn.  I'm getting  back into the swing of things.  Again, that you for your patience.

Here is the box and card I made back in November...

To make this box, you will need:

The FIREPLACE CARD TEMPLATE ( printed on copy paper and cut out)
1 ~ 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of cardstock
scissors
bone folder
strong adhesive (Scor tape is what I use)

(I always apologize in advance for the pictures. Fluorescent lighting and one handed photography are a bit tricky:)  You will also note that my hands are in the pictures.  That is to protect the copyright of this template.)

TIP:  CLICK ON PHOTO FOR A CLOSER LOOK

STEP 1.

Place template on the cardstock and trace top and bottom except for the area that has the GIANT "X".

Leave off that part of the template for now.
See Photo Below

 

This is a bad photo...it only shows the top part of the traced template.  Make sure you trace the bottom straight across to the marked point that is shown in the middle photo

Step 2.  Flip the template upside down and line up where you stopped tracing with the marks on the above photo.  (See how I just took the template and flipped it over so that the top is now the bottom?  I hope that makes sense.)

Step 3. Trace the right side of the template.  This is the section that had the BIG "X" on it in the first step.

Step 4.  Cut out this "new" traced template.

It should look like this when you are done .....

Does this make sense?  I hope:)

Step 5. Now lay your original template over the top of the cut out template and score where all the "tick" marks are located.  The exception is the middle marks where I have "x'd" on the picture.   Don't forget to turn it around and score the other tab that is at the bottom of the template too.

( As I was writing this out, I remembered my idea for another way to make this a box and for it you have to score ALL the tick marks on the side, but not at the top of the box....I will show you at the bottom of this post the variation. )

Step 6.  Fold on all score marks and then apply adhesive to the small flap on the left ( see X's) and adhere.

Step 7. This picture shows the bottom closure of the box.  It is optional to apply adhesive here.  However, if you are going to put anything inside with some weight, I would recommend it.  Otherwise, the contents may fall out.

Step 8.  Decorate box:)  or not...the choice is yours.

This box is just the right size to add some mini candy bars or a small bag filled with red hots, M&M's...you get the idea.

Here is the variation of scoring all 3 tick marks for the side.  Then at the top, only score the line closest to the body of the box. 

This creates more of a triangular shaped box from the side.  You could close this by tying with a ribbon or applying a temporary adhesive on the under side.  Put a giant flower in the front and have the tab tuck into it even.  This sample is just a mock up because the paper I used did not score well:)

Please let me know if you have any questions.  My email is on the left side bar.

Have a Fabulous day!

It's All About the Bag!

I've got a very easy project to share with you today.  You know how much I love recycling, right?  Well, this elegant bag started out as a Business Reply Envelope.  For some reason, the University of Phoenix thinks that I was in the Armed Forces and wants me to apply.  HA!  They obviously don't know what a wimp I am.  I could never have the courage or drive to be in the Armed Forces.  So, I decided to use the Reply Envelope to make a Bagalope.  Have you ever made one of these?  I think these are the coolest, easiest , most incredible thing.  Really!  Look what an elegant thing you can make from an envelope....

These are great little gift bags.  Just fill with whatever your heart desires.  I've used them to give chocolate, candies, friendship tea.  Great treat bags for kid's classrooms.  The larger the envelope, the bigger the bag.  Here's my tip on these....Go to your local pharmacy or anyplace that sells cards and ask them if they have extra, leftover envelopes.  Usually they will have a bunch from cards that didn't sell.  They are typically larger envelopes and you can usually get them for FREE!  Yes!  My favorite "F" word;).

So how do you make these fabulous things?????

Here's a tutorial I made up for you.  I've never done it like this before so let me know if it doesn't work.

I think that if you click on the picture it will enlarge and then you can select to print it.  Now, you may have to select ( Shrink to Fit) on your printer because I made a little Boo Boo.  I was so excited to use my new PhotoShop for this and merged and locked all the layers and then realized I had some typos and the margins went over the edge for printing.  Hey, I'm a novice and not very bright.  You should still be able to figure it out.  Good luck!  Let me know if there is a problem and I will do a normal tutorial on my blog instead.

BTW, this was made using that Stamper's Anonymous set called, Shabby French.  I made it as my last project for Simply Scrapbooks.  The topper is made using a Spellbinders Label die.  Just cut it out and folded it over the top.  I punched holes on the end to thread my crinkle ribbon through to close it.  The entire back of the topper is adhered to the bag.

I'm entering this into the following challenge.....

The Pink Elephant- Something Yummy...HELLO!  Chocolates inside is YUMMY!

Have a great Thursday!

Tutorial Day At DCRU!

Good Morning !  I'm all set for a mostly relaxing weekend.  We have a few craft project to do for my son's school.  How about you?  Any plans for the long weekend?

Today I have a tutorial over at A Crafty Little Place.  This is the design team member's blog  for Die Cuts R Us.and I am so honored to have been asked to contribute.  DCRU has quickly become one of my favorite online stores.  Claudia is so sweet, she has super fast shipping, great communication AND always has a super sale on things.  You know how I love a deal.  In addition to all the things on sale this week, she is offering up FREE shipping to anyone who places an order of $50 or more.  I used the awesome April card kit for my cards today.  So go check out the tutorial for all the details.  It is a bit long, I think.  I like to" talk. ' What can I say?

Here is a sampling of the cards I made:

 I'm entering this into the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge ~ Pearls and Swirls and the JUGS Wild Card challenge~ dry embossing.  My embossing folder is swirled.

 This was posted the other day

 This is for the Moxie Fab Challenge, Fun with Fabric.  The flower and heart are from my daughter's curtains:)

Have a great one!

A Satin Rose Tutorial

Sorry for the delay on the tutorial.  I've been feeling a bit under the weather.  When the weather get nasty the old head starts to throb.  Hoping for a better day today.

You can see the finished flower on this card HERE.

One thing I want you all to know is that this idea is not mine.  I saw it done in one of my last demonstrator magazines.  I have also seen it done with larger, more voluptuous bows and a glue gun.  Take your pick.  Either way it's a fun way to embellish a card.

Here's what you will need:

A scrap piece of card stock
Scortape or other strong adhesive
ribbon of your choice ( I used Aqua Mist satin by PTI)

Step 1.  Line your scrap paper with adhesive in a large enough area to cover the size of flower you wish to make. 

(In my photo I used adhesive by Adtech.  I can get this at Walmart, Michael's or Hobby Lobby.  Usually I have no problems with it adhering well.  Occasionally, I do have an issue.  I do have to say that I made this flower back at the beginning of February and just used it this week with no problems.)

Step 2. Place the end of you ribbon in the center of the adhesive lined section.  Smoosh it down well:) and gently begin to twist your ribbon.

Step 3.   As you twist a section secure it to your adhesive.

Step 4.  Keep repeating Step 3 as you wind around in a spiral like this.....

Step 5.  When you have reached the desired size of your flower.  You will carefully cut around the edges of your card stock as close to the ribbon as possible.  (This will gum up your scissor a bit.  Just wipe with some Goo Gone or even alcohol.)

My picture shows the flower all cut out with a scraggly edge.

Step 6.  To finish off that scraggly edge simply turn your flower over and apply some more adhesive to the back and tuck the stray end under. You can reinforce that spot by placing some tape over it as well.

I would also leave a bit longer tail before cutting than I did here.

Here is the finished card again...

BTW, my leaves are just some green crocheted trim that I folded over and hot glued.

One day I WILL have video on here.  Just be patient.  Thanks for popping in!

Beary Special!

This is a long post. Grab a cuppa "whatever" and hang in there with me, ok?

Happy Sunday! This week Stamptacular Sunday Challenge would like you to use a BEAR somewhere on your project.

I did NOT have one single stamp of a bear or with a bear in it. I knew what I wanted to do for my card so the search began for the "perfect" bear to fill the bill or rather fill the pocket in this case. I'm so glad my friend Kathie introduced me to a local scrapbook/stamp store. It became a bit of an adventure for the kids and I to search the entire store for something with a bear. It's probably the first (and last) time they've ever enjoyed going into a craft store with me.

This card is not my original idea. A friend of mine had something similar to this from her upline...years ago. I have held onto the stamp set POCKET FUN just so I could make a card like this. I took her idea and embellished on it. Since my SIL keeps having babies every year, I figure I better stock up on baby cards. I made a girl one that I will show at the end of the post.

UPDATE TO SHARE: My sister in law called me THIS morning. She had her baby 3 weeks early. We now welcome Gabriel Richard into our family! Better get another boy card ready ...just in case.... for her next one:)

First, I thought I'd share how I made this one. I have some tips along the way. "Bear" with me on the photos. (Cheesy pun totally intended) My tutorial shots are always done under fluorescent lighting.

The Template

This is just your standard 4 1/4"X 11" piece of card stock folded in half from top to bottom.
Measure in from each end 1 1/16" and then cut down 1 5/16". Do this on both sides and then cut across to remove that section. The bottom can be left straight or you can create the "illusion" of little legs by finding the middle of the card, marking a spot about a 1/2" up or so and then cutting on an angle up to that mark.

HERE'S THE TIP

I used the retired background stamp called Just Jeans. When using a background stamp it's always a good idea to use a brayer to get an even coverage of ink. Now if you've read my blog long enough you know that I am a "lazy" stamper. This takes extra time, effort and clean up. I am telling you... IT IS WORTH IT. Don't believe me?


SEE THE DIFFERENCE

The one on the left looks so much better and definitely more like actual denim.



Want to know how I made the straps? OK! Here's what you do. Stamp another piece of coordinating cardstock with the Jeans background stamp and cut a strip that is 1 1/16". You will use the rest of this stamped cardstock to make the pocket so just hang on to it.


Next take the large Oval punch and punch out a section. You should be able to make two of these from the one strip. You will also have to trim off on the one end to fit at the top of your card properly.

I decided after adding the brass buttons on the front that I wanted my straps to stand out a little. So, I did what I refer to as the "partial pop."

This just means that I put adhesive at the top and added a dimensional along the bottom. That way the whole thing isn't sticking up off the paper.

Now about those buttons. I think they are by Making Memories. I can't find them anymore. They aren't really a brad. I'm not sure what they are called. Five little prongs stick out the back and you have to pierce them through your paper and hammer down the backs. THAT could be why they don't make them anymore. They aren't the easiest to use. BUT they are so CUTE!

A little more about the card. I stamped the pocket using Night of Navy ink and then cut it out and popped it up with dimensionals. The entire card is faux stitched with a Night of Navy marker only(no piercing) and sponged. The bear and bottle are colored with Copics. I added Crystal Effects to the bottle to make it look more like glass. You can click on the picture to get a larger view if you like.

Here's the "GIRL" version

I decided to make the pocket from a heart template. See, you don't have to use a pocket stamp. Be creative. I also added scalloped "trim" to the bottom legs. Recognize the paper? It's that lovely Tiny Princess Pattern from The Digichick:)

On this one I didn't "partially pop" the straps either. I am less than thrilled with my coloring on that bunny. Still figuring out how to use these Copics with my minimal supply.

WOW! That was looonnngg. Thanks for hanging in there with me. Now here are the deets!

What's In It?
Stamps: Just Jeans (SU), Baby ( Hampton Art)

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Night of Navy, Versamark
Paper: White, Brocade Blue
Other: sponge, white EP, Copics, MM buttons, dimensionals, large Oval punch, brayer, SU Vintage brads

Stamps: Baby (Hampton Art)
Ink: Choc Chip
Paper: Tiny Princess Patterns digital
Other: The Paper Studio buttons, Pretty in Pink marker, heart template, Copics, Scalloped Edge punch, dimensionals

Hey, don't forget to check out some of the CUTE samples the design team has made. Go to their blogs located on the left side bar. Leave them some comments. Me too please. I love to read comments. Then dig out your bear stamps or get some digital bear stamps and get creating. My favorite digitals are The Digistamp Boutique. HERE is the link that will take you right to the bears. Can't wait to see what you make! Don't forget to link your creation to the Stamptacular Sunday Blog for a chance to win some goodies from our own design team member, Janneke.

Have a good one!

Finally!

I have had a super busy, but fun day. I said I would have a post sometime today. It's just really late. I am hoping to sneak in a power nap before football practice tonight. As my son would say...." I'm so tired I could die like the wind." I have no idea what it means really, but somehow it seems very fitting to say right now:) I made this card in the wee hours of the morning for the Weekend Sketch Challenge. I messed up the stitching, but had no time to reprint and cut the paper. Mistakes = Handmade and Handmade= Goodness and Love, right?

I got this really fabulous paper at the Digichick Boutique. I'm addicted I tell ya. LOVE that digital paper option. I don't have all this extra scrap laying around. This was just released last week and I fell in love with it. Wish I had gotten the coordinating paper when it was on sale. This is called Tiny Princess and I love the soft vintage feel to it. Still using that 50 cent yellow ribbon from Joann's. I also used another stamp from my Unity KOTM (June). I have never really liked the color Sage Shadow from SU, but it went perfectly with this paper. I think this card seems very calming and in my hectic life at the moment I welcome that feeling. I made this for my sister. She just bought her very first home. I know it has been fun, as well as, stressful. I hope this calming color will help her too.

I came up with a very quick tutorial on how to make a coordinating layer for my butterfly located in the top right corner of the card. This is also an option just for making a paper butterfly.



FIRST, I am aware that my punch looks ATROCIOUS in this picture. It is one I have let my kids use for many years. I just recently confiscated it back. I'll try to clean it before my next impromptu tutorial.

What you need:

A heart punch of any size that fits your needs

designer paper....heavy cardstock most likely won't work.....too tough to punch through 2 layers

Here are the supplies I used. Now follow the directions on each picture. Remember that you can click on the picture to enlarge it if you like.

Forgot to mention that you should now punch out the paper, hehehe:)

So that's it. Now here's What's In the Rest of the card:

Stamps: Bevy of Butterflies, June KOTM (Unity),

Ink: Sage Shadown, Baja Breeze, Close to Cocoa, Barely Banana, Mememto Rich Cocoa
Paper: Tiny Princess digital, barely banana, sage shadow, vanilla,
Other: Ribbon, Oval Nesties, 1 inch circle punch, scalloped edge punch, stickles, Janome Sew Mini


Thanks for stopping by today. You will see my blog changing a bit over the next several weeks. I'm bored with it and working on something else. Bear with me through these changes. I hope to have another challenge card for you tomorrow. Have a super day!

Picnic Basket Tutorial and Happy Memorial Day

Thanks for checking back for the tutorial on how I made my picnic basket. Now the original idea was not mine. I found it on Splitcoast under the New Technique Challenge. It was called a Round Top Box and you can find the original template for it on THIS LINK.

Later I saw Julie Buhler make two of these boxes and put them together in this really cute project HERE. I decided to take this a little further to create the picnic basket.

Here is what you will need:

2 8 1/2 x 11 pieces Choc Chip card stock

2 3 x 3 3/8" pieces of Riding Hood Red Cardstock

2 2 1/4 x 3 3/8" pieces of RHR cardstock

1 2 x 12 piece Bella Rose DP Sticky Tape...oops that's Dora speaking. I mean Sticky Strip:) THIS IS A MUST!

Scalloped Edge Punch

Corner Rounder

Crimper

Do each step twice since we are making 2 boxes and then adhering them together.

YOU CAN CLICK ON ANY PICTURE TO SEE IT UP CLOSE

This is what the basic components of each box look like (except for the inside of the lid) Let me show you how we get to this point.

Step 1

Print out Template on Chocolate Chip Cardstock and cut out. (Remember to do two) I altered my template at the top because it was too tall for my liking. So I just cut the rounded top down a bit. May sure that both boxes are the same though.

Step 2

At this point you can stamp your box and then make sure you score each line and assemble.

I also cut a small piece of chocolate chip cardstock to place inside my box on the bottom once it was assembled because I knew my cherries would be heavy. I think the piece was about 3 x 1 5/8" give or take.
I recommend doing this to help keep that bottom section intact.

This is what you need to create the "lid" or flaps.

Step 3

Using the Scalloped Edge punch, punch the Bella Rose Dp on both sides. You could use another punch too. Play around a bit:)



Step 4

Cut down the center to create 2 strips. THIS STEP DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPEATED TWICE




Step 5

Using a crimper, crimp both scalloped sections. This is not a step that I recommend skipping or you will have problems later in creating your ruffled edge.




Step 6

Take the 3 x 3 3/8 piece of RHR cardstock and score in 3/4" on the 3" side. This is the section that will get adhered to your box to create the flaps.




Step 7

Next round the outer corners and snip in about 1/8" on each side of the scored end. The amount you snip may need to be adjusted in order to fit in your box. I also ran mine through my cuttlebug for some texture.



Steps 8 and 9

Line the edge of the lid with the sticky tape and begin to wrap your Designer Paper around.. Try to make sure it is even on the outside.




You should end up with very little DP left over when you reach the other side. Make sure to overlap just a bit to make it look ruffled. This is a technique I learned from Jan Tink HERE.
( this picture does not show the tape because I forgot to take a picture originally. You need the tape silly)



Step 10

It should look like this when you are done. That piece at the top is the inside of the lid to hide the rough edges. Adhere that with glue and sticky strip.


Almost done......


Step 11

Put some sticky strip on the back side of the scored flap and insert into the box. This is where you may have to snip a bit off if it doesn't fit. DO A TEST RUN BEFORE REMOVING THE RED FILM FROM THE TAPE:)





Here is a picture of the inside:




You will see that I have these red half circles on the edge. Well, after full assembly I couldn't get those flaps to lay flat. I realized they needed something to temporarily hold them in place. I punched out a 3/4" circle and folded it in half. I then glued in it place and used my 2 way glue pen to add some glue on top of the half circle and let it dry. This allows it to be sticky, but not glue it completely shut. This works. However, I am going to invest in the little magnetic snaps by Basic Gray. I think this project is something that people will hold onto and reuse. So, to me, it's worth the investment.

FINAL STEP

Punch a handle if you like using a Large Oval Punch for each box and adhere boxes together with the Sticky Strip. Decorate to your liking:)

I hope you enjoyed this VERY LONG tuorial. Let me know how I could improve. I'm not very experienced with doing tutorials so any tips would be great. My picture quality will probably never improve since I'm in a basement with fluorescent lights though.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a blessed day!