Gift packaging

Today I have some gift packaging to share - the first one is sized to fit Revlon lip gloss - finished container measures 5.75"high by  1.1/8th" on all four sides.  As you can see it has a milk carton style closure, which I will eventually punch with two holes and thread ribbon through.

Card stock - 6.75" x 5"

Stamp white card stock with the two large circles from Year of Cheer stamp set - I used the combinations of Sweet Sugarplum and Festive Fig, Crumb Cake and Baked Brown sugar and Tranquil Tide and Lemon Lime Twist (not shown here),  My tags used the new everyday punch, and the Tin of Tags stamp set for the sentiments.

On short side score at 1.1/8, 2.2/8, 3.3/8, 4.4/8 and 4.7/8"

On long side score at 1.25, 5.75"  

Fold and burnish all score lines.

Cut up all score lines for the base and remove the small rectangle at the bottom of the flap.

Apply strong tape to the narrow flap, fold over the box and secure to both edges together.

Fold up the flaps of the bottom in this order - both sides first, then the back flap - adhere glue to the front flap and close over to secure.

For the top, pinch the front and back edges with your fingers, and gently ease the sides below the first score line to create the milk carton profile.  At this stage, punch one or two holes in the top for closure with ribbon.  Or you can use small clips.

My next box and lid was demonstrated by Caroline of craftycarolinecreates - I followed her video description to the letter and am thrilled with how it looks in real life.  The lid is stamped and reinforced by a double fold, and the base is plain card stock.  If you haven't found Caroline before, please visit her blog, as she is an amazing crafter and so easy to follow.  Wouldn't this make a lovely gift box for that special person?

Flowers from an unlikely source

I'm back today with a card I CASed from Jill at Paper Daisy Crafting in the UK, which uses the lovely DSP Year of Cheer as a base to create flowers.  Jill used SU new blends, but I don't have them yet, so unfortunately, I have had to resort to my long-time owned alcohol markers.  But I'm sharing anyway, as I think they make a beautiful card - or two.

This sentiment is from Window Shopping stamp set - I just love that font!

This sentiment is the single stamp Sylised Birthday - both stamps are still current.

To create the flowers, Jill used the pansy punch placed carefully over the DSP to include an interesting pattern for the centre, then coloured the flowers with the blends - darker in the centre then lighter.  You would only need one set for each of these, as you can create a lovely gradient of colour by colouring over a few times, then leaving the lightest colour as it is.

My thanks to Jill for sharing this super idea!

Sending Love and Hugs

Today I'm sharing a card I CASed from Leonie at Stamp a latte .  I needed a card in a hurry (don't we always need to make one especially?) for a friend who was struggling with some disheartening health results, and when I saw her card published the other day, I knew it was the one for this occasion!

Now Leonie was actually showcasing the 'ink smooshing' technique, but I chose instead to use colorburst powders, but in almost every other way, it is a direct copy of her lovely design.  I have popped my love die cut up on fun foam to ensure this sentiment stood out!

Stamp:  Sunshine Sayings
Die:  Sunshine Wishes

Joy at Christmas

I've had a lot of fun playing with the new stamp set and suite - Cheers to the Year, and today I decided to stretch an ornament die from last year to add to this suite. I like to re-use my older products in another way - for my own cards, not to demonstrate of course.

I think the embossed snowflake makes the perfect background for last year's Merry Little Tags, with this years gorgeous DSP behind the little tree.  Amongst my stash I found some Ranger embossing powder in the colour of Terra Cotta, and it coordinates perfectly with the paper.

Day 7 and World Card Making Day

The challenge is to make a card - but also to send or give it to someone.  This was easy - I've made a pretty card to give to a lovely gentleman who is selling his car to our daughter, after her car was written off after a recent accident.  Thankfully, she was not badly hurt, and this car will be super for her!  So she picked flowers from her garden, and I made this quick and simple card for him to take to his dear wife when he visits her in care tomorrow.

The stamp set is Watercolour Wings, with Work of Art for the sentiment.
Inks:  Powder Pink, Flirty Flamingo and Melon Mambo with Berry Burst for the sentiment.
Stitched square die over a strip of Fresh Fig card stock.

Challenge Day 6

And today it is to use your favourite Stampin' Up! product!  Not so easy, because we all know how great Stampin' Up! products are and we fall in love with them all quite easily.  However, I have chosen to feature the bird punch - now sadly retired after many years - but this was the first product I bought - at a craft show, and I have loved it ever since.  It is so versatile, but I'm sure you know that.

 Current products used include the patterned butterfly from Butterfly Basics - to add interest to the wings, sentiment from Teeny Tiny Sentiments and washi from the Cheers to the Year suite.

Day 5 Challenge

Yesterday's was the oldest stamp set, and today it is to use your latest purchase.  This is easier!  My latest purchase was the Cheers to the Year stamp set, because I had already fallen in love with the DSP and realised how much better it would be to have the stamp too!

So here is my card for today - and loving the impetus that this challenge has given me!

A clean and simple - but still elegant I feel - wedding card.  The DSP is absolutely gorgeous, and the stamp set has the simplicity I prefer - a perfect match!  My sentiment and fancy circle are both stamped and embossed in silver, to coordinate with the sparkly paper.  The foil motif behind is also part of this suite.