Joan's Weekly Challenge - Think Outside the Box

 

We have a fun challenge for you this week at Joan's Gardens.  We want to see different ways you can use your stamps and dies to create any Autumn/Thanksgiving item other than a card.  Many times we don't think out of the box and to use our stamping products for things other than cards.  Joan and I have created a few items to give you some ideas.  You can read all the details about this challenge at Joan's Gardens.

For this week's challenge I have completed two projects.  My first one is a pretty candle ring for a candle centerpiece.

 

I started out by die cutting a doily using rust card stock and the Marianne Designs "LR0180" large plain doily die.  This doily has a solid center for my candle to sit on.  Next I cut a band out of a "fall" design paper to go around the bottom of the candle.  To this band I added my fall arrangement.  The leaves were die cut using the Sizzix "Mini Tattered Leaves" die.  I used a new Sizzix die I just received from Joan's Gardens that makes pinecones.  This die is called "Tattered Pinecones" and is a die cut spiral that shapes very quickly into a pretty pinecone.

 

Can you see the pine cones tucked into the leaves in this picture?  Also this die has a pine branch which i die cut using brown card stock.  You can also use this portion of the die to create green  "evergreen" branches.  I wanted to add some small flowers to my arrangement so stamped and die cut Heartfelt Creations "Posy Patch Flowers" (HCPC 3303).  I used that Cheery Lynn "Mega Italian Flourish" (DL159) doily under the centerpiece. These mega doilies are just beautiful for things like this.  To complete this centerpiece I added a pretty bow.

My next project is a box created for a loaf of pumpkin bread I baked for one of my neighbors.  

To create the bottom of the box, I drew a line around the loaf of bread (on the card stock), and added one inch for the sides of the box.  For the handle I die cut 4 of the Cheery Lynn "Tiffany Border" (B137).  These dies are 8 inches long and I needed 11 inches so just pieced them together.  The handle was attached with ScorTape along the bottom edge of the box.  The pumpkin was die cut using the Sizzix "Mini Acorn and Pumpkin" die cut set.  The leaves are from the Sizzix "Mini Tattered Leaves" dies.  The flourishes were created with the Marianne Designs "Forest Branch" (LR0150).   On the handle and sides of the box I added two Spellbinders Accents.   A Spellbinders Tag was cut, sponged and a small brad put in the hole then attached to the handle with a dimensional dot.  A bow was added to the top.  A loaf of pumpkin bread, wrapped in clear wrap, and placed in the box.

Joan and I are anxious to see what creative items you can come up with for this week's challenge.  Be sure to added your photos to the link at Joan's Gardens.  A random drawing will be held and one of you will receive a nice prize from Joan's Gardens.  There are not many weeks left to get entries in for the challenges this year.  Remember, someone will receive a $100 Gift Certificate to  Joan's Gardens at the end of the year.

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Joan's Weekly Challenge - Create a Box

It is time for another Weekly Challenge at Joan's Gardens.  This week we want to show you how to create a small gift box with a band.  This style box is called "Mini Pizza Box".  There are tutorials on how to create this box at SCS and also Sherry Cheever has a video.  The measurements on my box are the same as these but the way I complete it is a little different, which is explained below.  The band I created is a 1" strip lined with a slightly wider band.  The design paper used on my box is from the Graphic 45 "Christmas Emporium" 12x12" paper pad.  The pretty poinsettia was created using the Heartfelt Creations "Petite Poinsettia Precut Set" (HCPC 3415).  A Cheery Lynn "Holly Flourish (B148) and Geometric Snowflake (DL176) were added under the poinsettia.  The tag is also from the Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium pad.  A small bow was added at the top of the tag.

Mini Pizza Box Tutorial

 Start with a piece of card stock or double sided design paper cut 6" x 11".  Place on ScorPal, with 11" side along the top.  Score at 1", 5", 6", and 10".

Turn paper so 6" side is going across top of ScorPal.  Score at 1" and 5".

Use a bone folder to crease all score lines.  This is where I have changed my directions.  Cut from the short end to create "tabs".  Do this on both ends.  Then cut "tabs" along score lines in the middle of the box.  The reason I want you to cut the tabs from the end is to create a box without the seam showing when looking at it from the front.  There are two pictures below to show you the difference when you cut from the short end and how it will look if you cut the tab on the side.  
 

Place ScorTape or a strong adhesive, on each of the tabs.

Start by folding the center tabs in on one side of the box to form the bottom of the box.  Next fold in the end tabs to form the top and the bottom of the box.

Below are examples of how corners will look according to where you cut the tab.

Front of box will have a smooth front if tabs are cut from the short end.

If you cut your tabs along the side, the front edge of your box will look like this.  The box will work the same but I like the way it looks it the first picture.

Next create a band that will slip off and decorate it.  Cut a 1" strip for a "belly band".  Wrap it around the box, creasing on the corners, and attach ends with a strong adhesive.  This band will slip off the box.  Now you can decorate the band with any embellishments you like and add a tag..

Go over to Joan's Gardens to get complete information about this challenge.  I'll be looking forward to seeing your boxes.

Little Gift Box

 

 First I want to thank those of you have sent my neighbor a Get Well Card.  Both Dick and Pat were in tears and ask me to thank you for your thoughts and prayers. They said it is so special to receive cards and know others care even when they don't know them.  They are putting your beautiful cards on the hospital window to admire all day.  Dick went in the hospital for treatment for cancer and some how got a staff infection before they started that treatment and is very ill, so has to wait until that is cleared up before they start the cancer treatments.  His wife only leaves him to go home for a few hours sleep then go back to spend the entire day with him.   If you haven't sent a card, and would like to, here is his address again:

Dick Montgomery

822 N. Oasis Avenue

Deer Park, WA  99006

USA

Once again, thank you to those of you have sent cards -- it truly has given them a lot of happiness.

Today I have been getting ready for two stamping friends that are arriving from Vancouver tomorrow.  I haven't seen them for awhile so am very excited  to see them.  They always attended my workshops when I lived there and they want to spend lots of time stamping while they are here.  I think I have lots of new things to teach them.

For my post today, I made a cute little box that will be perfect for a small Christmas gift.  I used the Sizzix "Popcorn Box" die and embossed it with the Sizzix "Botanicals" (657137) embossing folder.  On the front I added the Cheery Lynn "Ornamental Wreath and Bow (DL143).  The wreath was die cut 4 times to give it a lot of dimension and the bow was die cut twice.  They were layered using dimensional tape.  

For the top of the box I used my favorite poinsettia stamps.  They are the Heartfelt Creations "Petite Poinsettia PreCut Set (HCPC 3415).  Two sizes of the petals were gold embossed on watercolor paper then water colored, cut out and layered.  The doily below the flower was die cut with the Marianne LR0185 doily die. 

As you know, you can purhase all of the products I use from Joan's Gardens.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you have a great weekend.

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Autumn Leather Suitcase Box

 

My Leather Suitcase Box

Side view of suitcase

 

You can see the design on the ends of the handle in this picture.

 

This picture shows drawer open

I had so much fun creating this box.  Does it look like a leather suitcase?  All the dies, embossing plate and stamps can be purchased from Joan's Gardens.  I have used the Cheery Lynn "Burble Texture Embossing Plate" (E164) before, but from the time I first saw it, I thought it would be fun to create a box that looked like a leather suitcase using it.  Well I finally completed this project.  This is a box, with a drawer, that measures 6x9".   I used the Burble texture embossing plate to create texture all over the areas that show on the outside of this box.  What is great about using this texture plate, rather than an embossing folder, is that you can lay the texture plate over parts already embossed and it works out great.  I had to overlay the plate on the embossing in order for it to fit through the die cutting machine.  After all the pieces were embossed, it was distressed with Tim Holtz Distress ink then I patted the VersaMark pad all over it and covered it with clear embossing powder and heat set it.  Doesn't it look like leather.  I was thrilled with the way it turned out.  The box was taped together with ScorTape.  A handle was cut and each end die cut with a Spellbinder tag die.  The handle fit into the opening of the tag die so I could cut just one end at a time.  It was attached to the front of the drawer with an antique brad. 

To design the side of the "suitcase" a sunflower was die cut using the Cheery Lynn (CL) Sunflower (DL121).  There are three layers of the flower.  The tips of the petals were sponged using a darker ink to give depth to it.  The center was shaped with the tools from the Flower Tool Kit and sponged with different colors of yellow and brown inks.  Flower Soft was added around the edges.  The stem for the sunflower is just a thin strip of green card stock.  The leaves, Heartfelt Creations "Distressed Leaves PreCut Set" (HCPC 3376) were clear embossed on green card stock and sponged with a darker green.  They were cut out with the matching Spellbinders Nested Leaves Nestabilities.  

The sentiment is from the JustRite "A Day in the Country" stamp set.  It was stamped on the Marianne tag (LR0 188).  The edges were sponged with different colors of Distress Ink.  The three buttons also come with that tag die and were cut out of brown card stock then twine put through the button holes.  A small piece of wire mesh embellishment was placed under the buttons.  The Indian Corn is also from the same JustRite set.  It was colored with Copic markers and cut out then attached with glue.

The leaves and acorns, below the sentimen,t were created with the Cheery Lynn Small Leaves #1 (D133), Small Leaves #2 (D134), and Large Leaves #2 (D136).  I love how when you die cut thesem they also have the embossed veins in them.  The acorns and leaves were sponged using small sponge daubers and the acorns were clear embossed.  Everything was arranged on the side of the box then a small bow added to complete the design.

I plan to fill this with chocolates for someone who will be having a birthday soon.

Hope you enjoyed my project day - I sure had a lot of fun creating it.  Remember, you can purchase All these products from Joan's Gardens.

It is a gorgeous Autumn day.  Wishing you a spectacular weekend.

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Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge #3 and Card Box Tutorial

 

Every Thursday it is time for a new weekly challenge at Joan's Gardens.  This week we have something different for you.  Joan has completed the card for the challenge and I have the second half the challenge here, which is to create a box for your card.  You should start at Joan's blog to get all the information.

I have had a lot of people ask me how I mail out my cards since most of them are very dimensional.  I thought I would do a tutorial for you and we would incorporate it into this week's challenge.

I am sending out the above birthday card, which I posted here, and needed a box to put it in.  I think this box would be sturdy enough to use alone to mail off the card, but I put them into a padded envelope because I like to decorate the outside too.

Below are the instructions on how to create a box for your dimensional cards.

My card is 5.5" x 6".  You can use these directions to create a box any size to fit your card.   For the bottom you need a piece of card stock that is one inch wider and longer than your card.  For my card I cut it 6.5 x 7".  It is scored all the way around at 1/2".

This is the outside of the bottom of the box.  You need to cut a slit, up to the score line, on all four corners.  In the picture you will see the score tape on these corners.  Fold in the tabs to create your box bottom.

 

 For the lid you need to cut it 1/16" of an inch larger than the bottom, on  two opposite sides.  For my card  it is 6.5" PLUS 1/16" and on the other side it is 7 1/16". This extra 1/16" will allow the lid to fit over the bottom to close. You again score it at 1/2" all the way around.  On the front side of your lid, you will again cut up to the score line and attach ScorTape to the tabs to create a box shape, like for the bottom.  Do not do this to the other end.  We are going to attach the back of the lid to the bottom of the box.

 

On the backside of the lid, you want to cut off those two tabs as shown in this picture.  Place the ScorTape along the long edge.  I rounded off those two back corners for a neater appearance.  Place the lid over the bottom of the box.  Pull off the protective covering on the tape and press it to the side of the bottom of the box. You now have a hinged lid on your box.

 

The box will look like this when opened.  My card fits perfectly inside the box.

 

To decorate the top of the box, I die cut a doily from the Marianne LR0180 doily set.  There are three doilies in this set plus a corner.  I wanted the box top plain but wanted the doily to standout, so I placed the bottom half of the doily into the Sizzix "Flourish & Dots" (656980) embossing folder so there would be texture on the bottom half.  On the top portion of the doily I used a Heartfelt Creations  birthday stamp then added a bow.

I hope you will join us this week in the challenge at Joan's Gardens.  All the details for the card are on Joan's Blog then you can complete the box for it from this tutorial. There will be a random drawing for a winner from all entries in this challenge and someone will receive a prize.  The winner will also be in the drawing for the $100 gift certificate to Joan's Gardens which will be given away at the end of the year.  Wouldn't you love to win that prize!

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Joan's Gardens Tag Challenge #11

Tag created for Joan's Garden's Tag Challenge

Box with matching tag

It is time for another Tag Challenge and I want to Congratulate Glenda Brooks who is the winner for last week's challenge. Your tag is gorgeous Glenda. When Joan first started the Joan's Gardens Tag Challenges, I thought I would have a hard time creating one every week.  Boy was I wrong.  Now I look forward to creating tags and love looking at all of them in a box ready to use when birthday times come.  Almost all my family has a birthday in the summer so I will be ready with tags.

This week I decided to create a tag to match the box I posted yesterday.  This tag was created on a large manila shipping tag.  You can purchase a whole package of these from Joan.  They are always so easy to use for the base of your tag and are a great size to add plenty of embellishments.    A piece of the Graphic 45 design paper was added to the body of the tag with a small piece of striped paper at the top.  I did use a Martha Stewart punch to create a border along this piece.  It doesn't really match the lace on the box but does have points like it.  The same flowers were created and layered up the tag.  The sentiment is from JustRite Stamps "Birthday Sentiments" and the frame from "Just A Note".  These sets are 1 5/8" in diameter and I find I use them constantly.  They are just the perfect size to tuck in a little sentiment on either a card or tag.  Coral sheer ribbon was added for the hanger. 

Hope you will join in on the fun at Joan's Gardens Tag Challenge this week.  Anything goes so you can create a tag with supplies you have, for any occasion. Joan created a gorgeous tag today using one of the new Doily Dies she now carries.  You won't want to miss going over to see it here.  I want to thank all of you who join us in this challenge and also thank everyone for voting on your favorite tag.  Will you be the next person to win the tag challenge.  Hope so!

Covered Box for Joan's Gardens Workshop

This is the box everyone created at Joan's Gardens Workshop.

Punches used for flowers on this box.  The first punch is the "Sakuras"; and the smaller flower is a "Blossom".  The stamens were created with the "Sky Flake" and "frilly snowflake". 

Doesn't this look like a fun project to complete at a workshop!   Joan wanted to use this  Cosmo Cricket Box and cover it with Graphic 45 design paper.    She asked me to help her design the embellishments.  We decided to use flower punches and show some of the techniques to create very realistic flowers.

 The flowers I decided to use on this box were "made up" but I think they are really pretty.    There are two different sizes, each with different stamens. The flowers were punched out of ivory card stock.  They were taught how to cut toward the center of each flower in order for it to shape better.  They then used tools from the Flower Tool Kit to soften the fibers in the card stock so they could shape them to look very realistic.  Rather than coloring with markers, we taught them how to use sponge daubers and apply different colors for a softer effect.  The colors sponged on the flowers were: Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress ink; dark brown dye based ink,  and ColorBox Rose Coral Chalk ink.  The colors were blended well until each flower matched the design paper.   After shaping the flower and stamens, they were glued together then attached over the Sizzix die cut leaves.  There is a piece of acetate over the opening in the front of the box. 

Joan has all the products in stock if you would like to create one of these boxes. 

Tomorrow I will be posting a gift tag to match this box for the Tag Challenge at Joan's Gardens.  Hope you will come back to see it.

Joan Weekly Challenge JustRite Blog Hop

This is a gift box and matching birthday card I designed for this blog hop.  One of my favorite new JustRite stamp sets was used for the sentiments.  The set used is called "You Inspire Me".  It includes five gorgeous frames and five  sentiments. 

This view allows you to see the two different JustRite frames and sentiments.  Punched flowers were created to frame the beautiful sentiments. This birthday card and box, with a gift inside, have been sent to a very dear friend.  Her favorite color is purple!

Are you ready for a chance to win some fabulous prizes? Joan's Gardens 8th Weekly Thursday Challenge is proud to feature JustRite stamps and dies. Your challenge this week is to create a card using these products. You can get complete information about the challenge on Joan's Gardens blog.

JustRite Stamps has generously donated an AMAZING GRAND PRIZE PACKAGE of JustRite products to one lucky winner of this challenge. This prize package includes:  Acrylic Block Set  $8.95; Mini Binder Box  $9.95; Mother's Natures Gifts  $16.95; Fancy Tags $19.95; Happy Everything $32.95; Nested Frame Dies $24.95; Nested Sentiment Dies $24.95; 3 1/4" block $12.95; Fancy Frames $19.95; and Inspires Me $19.95  with a value of over $191. Wouldn't you love to win that!   Plus this winner will also be entered in the Joan's Gardens drawing for a $100 gift certificate that will be given away at the end of the year.

ADDITIONAL CHANCES TO WIN A GREAT PRIZE:   Joan and I are excited to tell you we have invited 12 guest designers to participate in a blog hop featuring JustRite products. We wanted to give you lots of inspiration plus additional chances to win more prizes. While visiting each of the designer's blogs listed below, you have 2 more chances to win a prize package from Joan's Gardens.  In order to be eligible to win one of these prize packages, you need to leave a comment on each blog in this Hop. Out of the 14 blogs below, there are two "mystery" blogs, with a prize package from Joan's Gardens, so be sure to leave a comment on every blog so you don't miss out on the chance to win one of these prize packages.

In brief, here is what you need to do for a chance to win a prize:  Be sure to visit each   blog listed below and leave a comment on each one for a chance to win one of the prizes from Joan's Gardens. Then make sure you link your JustRite card to the challenge and subscribe to Joan's Blog blog for a chance to win the fantastic prize from JustRite!

Carla
Donna
Giovana
Glenda
Gretchen
Kris
Lana
Mary Anne
Nancy 
Selma (you are here)
 Sharon 
Sue
Vicki
Joan (You will find all the information about the challenge here.)

I want to thank JustRite for donating this fabulous prize and thank all our guest designers for creating such gorgeous projects for this blog hop.  I am looking forward to seeing your card/project created for this week's challenge and hope you are the winner of this fabulous grand prize.  Don't forget to comment on all the designer's blogs for an additional chance to win a great prize from Joan's Gardens.

A box created "With Love"

It is Wednesday and a lot of new projects are posted on the Heartfelt Creations Blog.  There is also a sneak peak of the fabulous "New Life Collection" that is scheduled to make it's debut on February 8, at 12 Midnight EST. There will be 7 new PreCut Stamp Sets and 1 coordinating, exclusive, die made for Heartfelt Creations by Spellbinders.


Above is a fun project I created using some of the beautiful Heartfelt Creations rose stamps.  It is a little  box I decorated with the beautiful "Grandiflora Rose" stamp sets.  (The products used are listed at bottom of this post.)   Stamping a variety of sizes of the rose, with rose colored ink, on pink card stock, each flower was cut out with the matching Nestability die. On all but the bottom layer, I cut between each of the petals in order to shape them. I misted the flower with water and shaped each petal. The pretty rose bud was stamped twice on green card stock, then three times on pink card stock. I wanted to layer the pieces to give it dimension. Each layer is attached with a thin piece of dimensional tape. The rose and bud both look so realistic. I used some die cut Cuttlebug rose leaves under the flower. To create a realistic look, I stamped each leaf with a texture stamp using green ink and shaped it before adding them under the rose. The  Heartfelt Creations sentiment was stamped with VersaMark Ink and gold embossed on ivory card stock.  I love the font used in this sentiment set.   It was cut out with one of the JustRite label Nestabilities. A few pink pearls were added to complete the box.

It is so easy to create realistic flowers with the beautiful Heartfelt Creations stamps and matching Nestability dies.  Hope you will give it a try.

Heartfelt Creations Products used:  HCPC 2261 Grandiflora Rose 1 PreCut Set; HCPC 2262 Grandifloral Rose 2 PreCut Set; HCPC 3363 Inspire Me Sentiments PreCut Set;
Blossom Nestabilities

Heartfelt Creations Poinsettia Gift Box

This is a box I designed for Heartfelt Creations using HCPC 3340 Holly Leaves PreCut set.  Using the Holly Leaves I created a poinsettia. Twelve large, six medium and six small holly leaves were stamped on wine card stock with VersaMark ink and clear embossed. They were cut out with matching dies. Three large holly leaves were stamped on green card stock using VersaMark and were clear embossed. They were cut out with matching dies. The poinsettia was created the way Emma Lou demonstrated in a video on the Heartfelt Creations blog using one of the Petal precut sets. Gold beads were added the the center using Zip Dry glue.

The box I used is from Cosmo Cricket.  A 6x6" piece of KaiserCraft designer paper was used to decorate the top and sides of the box. The poinsettia and leaves were attached with glue dots. A double wired bow was added and shaped. Strips of another piece of green designer paper were cut and added to the sides, then a piece of gold trim was added around the box. It was attached using ScorTape. Four gold, flat backed, beads were added to each corner of the lid and four large beads added under the box to serve as little legs.

On the inside of the box another piece of designer paper was added to the bottom. One of the verses from the "Joyous Noel Precut set" was gold embossed and cut with a Nestability Eight die. It was attached with ScorTape.

Be sure to check out the Heartfelt Creations blog to see all the beautiful projects created by the designers.


JUGS Template Challenge

It is time for another JUGS Challenge.  It has been a lot of fun being a guest designer this month.   This week we received a template from "My Time Made Easy". The name of this template is "In Suspense".   Isn't this a great idea -- a box that will hang on a door knob.  I printed out the template and cut it out using design paper from Martha Stewart.  The hole for the knob was cut out with a circle Nestability. 

For my decoration on the box I used a cardinal from the Heartfelt Creations  "Snowy Cardinal Precut set".  The cardinal image was stamped using black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers. The image was cut out with scissors.   I stamped one of the single cardinals from the  Cardinal Family Precut set, colored it with Copics, then cut it out with the matching Cardinal Family diecuts.  It was attached with dimensional tape to give the design a 3-D effect.  This image was attached on the front of the box with dimensionals. 

The greeting on the lid is from the JustRite "Something Sweet" stamp set.  I cut around the outer edge with scissors and it is also attached with dimensional tape.  Three small red pearls were added to it.  A pretty silk bow was made and attached on the top.  I added some krinkle paper strips and filled the box with  Chocolates.

I think this will be a very cute "surprise" to leave on my neighbor's door.

Be sure to check out the JUGS blog to see a lot more cute ideas using this MTME template.  Hope you will join in on this fun challenge.