Creation Station: Simple and Sweet

#stampinup    #faithfulinkspirations    #creationstation

Well, we're certainly into the new year, aren't we? I missed last month's blog hop because I was stuck in Minnesota when a certain airline decided not to fly for 5 days. In the end, it all worked out because we got to visit with some family and friends we hadn't originally had time to do and the airline reimbursed us all our extra expenses and gave us a bunch of flight miles. So it wall worked out...except I didn't get to post the project I had actually made in time for the hop. But I'm back for this month's hop!

For the month of February, we're showing you projects that are sweet and simple--or just sweet--or just simple. My project isn't exactly "simple," but it's not too complicated either--especially if you follow my tutorial in the link above. But it certainly is "sweet"!!

This sweet little box holds some sweets inside--but before I show you that, let me tell you how I decorated the top. The box is made from Petal Pink Card Stock. I added a piece of Favored Flowers Designer Series Paper on top. (You can get this DSP FREE during Sale-a-Bration with a $50 purchase!) I stamped a stem of leaves from the "Framed Florets" stamp set in Evening Evergreen Ink onto Basic White Card Stock. I cut it out with the matching Framed Floret Die. I used a Blender Pen to color the leaves--just for some subtle color. I stamped a flower from the same set in Memento Tuxedo Black, colored it with Petal Pink Stampin' Blends, and cut it out with its matching die. Finally, I stamped a sentiment in Evening Evergreen onto Petal Pink Card Stock, sprinkled on Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder, and set it with my Heat Tool. This makes the sentiment shine! I wrapped some gold Elegant Trim around the back of the flower and adhered it to the box top with Stampin' Dimensionals. For a final touch, I added a few Pastel (gold) Adhesive-Backed Sequins.

Open the box to reveal the sweet surprise!

The box holds six Merci brand chocolates! I used the floral side of the same sheet of Favored Flowers DSP on the inside lid of the box and a strip of the checked piece on the inside. Isn't it pretty?!

The sentiment is also from the "Framed Florets" set and is also stamped in Evening Evergreen onto Petal Pink Card Stock, and embossed in the same way as the front sentiment. I cut this one out with one of the Stitched Rectangles Dies and adhered it to the box with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Don't forget to check out the tutorial for this box--and other 3D projects--on my tutorials tab above.

Next up on the blog hop is Yvonne Spikmans-Van Bruggen. You're going to love her take on this month's theme!

tams# 78361

Product List

Framed Florets Bundle (English) [162407] $54.00	Evening Evergreen Classic Stampin' Pad [155576] $8.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Petal Pink 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146985] $9.25
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276] $10.25	Favored Flowers 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [160833] $12.00	Stitched Rectangles Dies [151820] $35.00	Pastel Adhesive Backed Sequins [160387] $8.00
Simply Elegant Trim [155766] $7.50	Petal Pink Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154893] $9.00	Blender Pens [102845] $12.00	Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder [109130] $6.00
Heat Tool (Us And Canada) [129053] $30.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.25	Tear & Tape Adhesive [138995] $7.00	Simply Scored Diagonal Scoring Plate [125586] $12.00
Paper Snips [103579] $11.00	Stampin' Seal [152813] $8.00

Merci Chocolate Box Tutorial

1. Start with a 10-1/2" by 5-1/2" sheet of card stock. Score at 1", 1-1/2", 4-1/2" and 5" on the long side. Score at 4-1/2", 5", 9" and 9-1/2" on the short side.

2. Cut away the X-ed sections, so that you end up with a box template shaped like this. Bevel the tabs; use a bone folder to crease the folds.

3. Fold the box into shape and use Seal+, Tear & Tape, or Multipurpose Liquid Glue to adhere the tabs to the box sides, as shown.

4. Apply adhesive as shown....

5. ...then fold the flap over and adhere to the sides of the box, as shown.

6. Decorate your box. I used 3-3/4" by 3-5/8" DSP on the box top and inside box top. I used 1-5/8" by 3-5/8" DSP for the inside flap.

Creation Station: Holiday Happenings

ETA: Oops! I missed the deadline to hook up with the blog hop due to illness. A list of the design team's projects is at the end of this post.

How can it be December already?! Does the holiday season sneak up on you every year like it does for me? First it's Halloween--did I buy candy? Then it's Thanksgiving--who's coming over? What will I be making? And then we're sliding into Christmas--what do the kids want? Have I done my Christmas cards? (Yes, they're ALL made--over 100 of them. Are they signed, sealed, and delivered? Of course not!!) 

One of the things I like to do for the holidays is make little gifts for my officemates. We all hang stockings outside our cubicles and get little goodies throughout the month of December. I thought I was done with that since I retired at the end of July--but (what was I thinking?!) I've gone back to work part-time to the same office to work on a special project. So I'm needing a few little goodies to spread the holiday cheer.

I found the perfect inspiration from Barbara Reed, the Wexford Stamper. She's my Stampin' Up sideline and she is the QUEEN of box-making. She is really and truly amazing! You should give her a follow on her blog and on You Tube.

Today I present to you a forest of candy-filled Christmas tree boxes!

Aren't they just the cutest?! You can make your own by following my tutorial. I used Shaded Spruce Card Stock, Glittered Organdy Ribbon, and Festive Pearls. To make the zig-zagged stitching pieces, I used the Stitched Rectangles Dies.

Mono Multipurpose Liquid Glue is your friend for putting these together!

There's a clever secret to opening these boxes to get to the goodies inside without ripping open the box: slide the bow up the hanger and then you can open the side of the box.

Since I missed linking up with the Creation Station Design Team's blogs, I've posted their links below. You can start on any one of these blogs and hop around this month's projects.

Denita Wright-Smee

@denitawrightsmee

Sara Nell Langland

@saranell7710

Elizabeth Price

@seeinginkspots

Mikaela Titheridge

@thecraftyoinkpen

Barb Pfeffer

@justbstamping

Yvonne Spikmans-Van Bruggen

@thecreativeteapot

Sara Levin

@theartfulinker

I hope you have the happiest holiday and an excellent new year! (I'm @kkstamps on Instagram)

tams# 76967

Product List

Shaded Spruce 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146981] $9.25	White 3/8'' (1 Cm) Glittered Organdy Ribbon [156408] $8.50	Festive Pearls [159963] $7.00	Festive Pearls [159963] $7.00
Stitched Rectangles Dies [151820] $35.00	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755] $4.00	Simply Scored [122334] $30.00	Paper Snips [103579] $11.00

Christmas Tree Box Tutorial

1. Cut cardstock to 10-1/2" by 7". 

2. Score the long side a 3/4", 4", 6-1/2", and 9-3/4".

3. Score the short size at 3" and 4". Score at 2-1/2" down to the second horizontal score line; score at 4-1/2" down to the second horizontal score line. Turn cardstock 180 degrees and score at 2-1/2" and 4-1/2".

4. Mark 5-1/4" inches on the long side. Use a ruler to draw a diagonal line to the score line. (See pattern)

5. Cut the tabs for the box as shown.

6. Cut the box sides and tree shape as shown.

7. Cut the other four corners of the pattern, so that you have just the box parts remaining. Save the larger pieces of cardstock for a later step.

8. Use your bone folder to crease all score lines. Add liquid glue to two flap, as shown.

9. Fold the side of the box up and adhere to the sides of the tree. A bit of the flaps will extend passed the tree. Snip these off.

10. Fold the other side of the box in to form the tree. Punch a hold in the flaps at the top of the tree. This will be where you insert the ribbon hanger.

11. Cut about 12" of ribbon and thread through both holes in the flaps and tie in a knot at the top. Cut another 12" of ribbon and tie a bow around the hanger. (See sample box) The bow slides up the ribbon hanger to allow the box to be opened to retrieve the candy. The bow also helps hold the box closed.

12. Use a Stitched Rectangle Die to cut 4 rectangles from your reserved card stock pieces.

13. Use liquid glue to adhere these strips to the front of the tree in a crisscross pattern, as shown.

14. Once the glue sets a little, turn the box over and snip off the overhanging pieces.