Cardmaking Catch-Up

I’ve been so busy crafting (yay!) and teaching crafting (double yay!) that I’m falling behind on blog postings. Let’s catch up a bit.

I’ve been having lots of fun with this pop-up box die from Lawn Fawn. I was always so intimidated by the idea of a pop-up … until I got the Scalloped Box Card Pop-Up die and  watched this terrific video.  Surprise! It’s really easy, thanks to the die (which does the hard part of cutting the pieces.)

What I love about this card is that it folds flat so you can stick it in an envelope:

Everything used on this card is from Lawn Fawn, including the patterned paper. The stamps are from the Stuck on You set, with matching dies.

Here’s another card using the same die, with the Elphie Selfie set:

 

(Here are my earlier attempts using this die)

Thanks for “popping” by!

Upcycling a Gift Box

Can you ever have enough gift box or bags? Obviously not!
Here’s a project I made using an old matzoh box (yes, left over from Passover!) and some old calendars (from Cavallini).
I love boxes. I love using up scraps. This was a project made in scrappy heaven.

Here’s the original box.

Notice how the covering is just that, a covering? So I could easily strip it off to get to the plain box:

I then used some heavy duty double sided tape and glue to fold the flaps to the inside. I clipped them until the glue was dry:

This beautiful calendar was the perfect cover:

To make the handle, I just poked holes in the sides and threaded some ribbon through, knotting the ends inside the box.

A little Stickles glitter glue for sparkle and I’m done:

Now, who do I give this to????

Quick Halloween Project with Duck Tape

In preparation for an upcoming craft project for Craftideas magazine, I’ve been playing with Duck brand Duck Tape®. Here’s a quick Halloween project using the tape and a recycled shipping box:

I’ll just toss some candy in there and be ready for any trick-or-treaters! For this box, I simply took the roll and started wraping it around the box, cutting where I needed to using a non-stick scissor. I used three layers so I’d have enough to cover the raw edges at the top of the box.

I’ve been having a little too much fun re-purposing various boxes (boxes my husband keeps trying to throw out!)

Here’s another quick one that went from this….

…to this:

I love the way the box was cut — a perfect way to hold some cards:

For that box, I used a sheet (instead of rolls). I set the box down on the paper-covered side of the sheet, then did a rough trace of the bottom and sides to get my cutting lines. I peeled off the lining and set the box bottom in the middle. Then I just folded up the sides, making slices where I needed to overlap or maneuver the tape. (I put the box on a large cutting mat and used a craft knife to slice. I didn’t worry about being neat or precise.)

These are so fast and easy, you’ll want to cover every blank surface!

Fabulous Finds Friday — Teeny Little Boxes

This darling little box die (Curvy Keepsake Box) from Stampin’ Up! (and Sizzix) is perfect for holiday gift giving.

How cute are these? I love the way the box closes — slits in two of the flaps slip right over the teeny handle. (I think they could be hung on a Christmas tree.)

Here’s a close up:

I’m going to fill these with chocolate kisses to give to some co-workers. And then I’m going to make more for Valentine’s Day!

Thanks for stopping by!

Boxed In

As we know, I love boxes and I love this box die from Lifestyle Crafts (now owned by We R Memory Keepers).

The wood-look papers are from Kaisercraft, the rosettes were cut using a Tim Holtz/Sizzix die.

The papers here are from Basic Grey.

These were so fast and easy to make — I used them as gifts for my co-workers.

That was a quick posting, eh? Have a great week.

Pretty Boxes, Easily Made

I love boxes and I love this box making die from Lifestyle Crafts. It was fast and easy to create several boxes for holiday gifts.

This set features papers from Basic Grey.

Here’s another, using paper from KaiserCraft:

And check out the rosettes! (See, I promised I would do something with all those rosettes I showed in my last post!)

One other cool thing about this die is that you can also make an open lattice basket. Here’s an example of the basket:

News You Can Use

Earlier this year I made two jewelry pieces to be donated to a journalism group for a fundraising event.

I used newspaper stories and headlines to create the background on Formica chips, sealed with Mod Podge. When the Mod Podge was dry I used a VersaMark pen on the edges, then added gold embossing powder. And finally, some beads and gems.

Naturally, I needed something cool to hold them, so I fashioned these recycled gift boxes from a box that held soap:

Again, I covered the box with newspaper (hey, this was for a bunch of journalists!) and punched a hole in the sides for a ribbon. But the most fun was the flower, made with the Tim Holtz Tattered Flower die (Sizzix) and, you guess it, newspaper. I spritzed the flower with Ranger’s Perfect Pearls (I think gold and another color… I’m so bad at remembering.)

Here’s a close-up of the flower:

Thanks for swingin’ by!

Fablous Finds Friday — Die Cut Basket

I am crazy for this basket template from Lifestyle Crafts:

(Do check out my fun Easter baskets that are featured as the Craft of the Day on the Crafts ‘n things website.)

What I like about his die set (besides the fact that it is stinkin’ cute) is the variety of baskets and boxes you can make with this one set. Here’s a look at the first set I made, just for practice:

Above is the basket, using all four of the lattice inserts. But you can use just one or two of the inserts and keep the other sides solid, or leave them all solid.

The set also comes with a cover so you can make a box:

I’ve been playing with a variety of paper to create more boxes and baskets, some of which will be featured soon at www.craftsnthings.com.
Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for hopping on over!

Textured Boxes

I love boxes, especially little boxes. Using textured paper and a Spellbinders Nestabilities die cut set, I created these in just a few minutes:

Paper above is from Core’dinations.

The red leather-looking cardstock below is from an old stash … sorry I don’t remember the manufacturer.

Friday Eye Candy

A quick post showcasing a drop spine box I made using this box making kit from the Paper Source:

And the inside:

(It’s called a drop-spine because the spine is not attached)

What I like about these kits is that thick book board is already cut — to me, that’s the hard, icky part! Gettng those pieces cut straight… ugh. The kit comes with just the board pieces and instructions.  The paper and book binding cloth are also from Paper Soure. First you build the box (I used PVA to glue the pieces together) then you cover it. Such fun!

Have a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by!