Faux Wood Locked Box

When

I first saw the Sizzix/Tim Holtz “Engraved” embossing folder it reminded me of carved wood. This is the idea that came to mind. (I also used the “Lumber” embossing folder the same way) I took a Ground Espresso ink pad and ran it over the raised areas of the embossing folder and a water spritzed piece of Kraft cardstock. This helps to keep the paper from tearing. I ran it through the Big Shot, the ink goes into the recessed areas and really highlights the design. I ran a Rusty Hinge Distress Ink pad over the raised areas. I took the Distress Embossing Dabber (a embossing pad would work) and ran it over the entire thing, then clear heat embossed it. I did this once for the Engraved top and 2x for the Lumber sides. You end up with shiny faux wood.  I could easily see skipping the clear powder if you want a bare wood look but I like the shine and the extra sturdiness the heat embossing provides. 

I made a cute flip top box based on one I saw on YouTube by DaveHax. He makes the coolest “DIY Cardboard Gift Box” watch the video even if you don’t want to hand make a box, you can thank me later😉.  Mine is bigger so I had to use 2 pieces of cardstock  I apologize for the lack of good pics, I’m not good at the blogging thing.

Two pieces of 8x10 Kraft cardstock, on the short side scored at 2” and 6” turn and score at 2” and 8”. Cut the short tabs as seen above, I cut a little wedge off the end tabs so when glued together it fits better. I used wet glue and paper clips to just hold in place. You can used strong tape, but I like glue so I can adjust it as necessary. On the second piece of cardstock, the only difference is you can cut the square tabs off on the long side and just glue the rectangle to the the 1st piece of cardstock to create a flip top.  

Flip top box

I then cut the embossed panels to fit the top and sides of the box, used glue and tape to adhere. The lock and key is by Idea ology Locket Keys, adhered with Distress Collage Medium. The sentiment is from Tim Holtz Tiny Text stamps.

 Faux, faux, faux! Happy Holidays!

Hero Arts Slimline Card

 

I love this Hero Arts Fancy die, called Joy Ornament. There are 3 of the ornament dies, the other 2 are Love and Cheer. I wanted all 3 but budget constraints, you know. 

This month’s Hero Arts’ challenge was to make a slimline card, my mind started whirling. It only makes sense to make a slimline card if you need the extra space to tell a story. So mine is a faux shaker card with a leak. The stars are at the bottom of the ornament and then a string of stars are falling out. 

I made an alcohol inked Yupo background using Ranger Blending Solution, and alcohol inks in Tranquil Pearl, Denim and Indigo. I let the inks move as they wish using an air tool, then I like to go back with a blotting tool with felt attached, add a few drops of blending solution and pounce over the inks to leave a textured look. I let it dry and then took Martha Stewart Sterling Glitter paste and Tim Holtz’s star stencil and placed the stars where I wanted.

I used the negative space of the diecut to mask off where I didn’t want to stencil, after it dried off I went removed the mask and stencil the stars trailing down from the ornament. 

In other words, Spread Joy!

Susan

Thanksgiving cards

I made this card for Instagram - Susanbcards on Instagram and decided I loved it so much I’d make more, something I rarely do. I used a stamping platform and just kept working assembly style.  I decided to heat emboss each of these leaves and after it cooled I used Tim Holtz Distress inks as watercolors and went back to add more color. ( Crackling Campfire, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron and Evergreen Bough) I used Speckled Egg for the background. The leaves are from Tim Holtz/ Stampers Anonymous “Pressed Foliage”.

I have so many people to send Thanksgiving cards, I’m so thankful for so many people in my life, both family and friends, so many I haven’t been able to see this year. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 Pinkfresh Studio makes some beautiful "Essentials Slim Cuts" dies. This one is called "Slim braided circles panel" It's so pretty, the cutouts scream out for florals. I used "Lovely Blossoms" stamps and matching dies.

I watched a movie while I diecut a bunch of these flowers and then put the negative space into my stamp platform, placed the stamps into the negative spaces and stamped the green stems and leaves. Once the stamps are placed you can just keep putting the white diecuts into the negative space and stamp. This makes doing multiples much faster and I just save the stamped images in an envelope and keep it with the stamp/die set. I saw this technique on Jennifer McGuire's blog, she has a video explaining it on YouTube.

I'm entering this card on Pinkfresh Studio's blog for World Cardmaking Day challenge. You should check it out, there's a number of different challenges!

A "Specimen" treat box

The new Tim Holtz Stamper's Anonymous "Specimen" stamp set screams to be stamped and put into a specimen box. I've made these boxes before, inserting fake flowers or butterflies. This bug is perfect for a Halloween treat box.

I used a piece of 7"x 7" kraft cardstock, 85 lb. Score at 5", turning and scoring at 5" on all 4 sides.

If you've hand made boxes before, this one is simple, if not, I'd tell you to go to Youtube and find a video, it will help. Here I cut a slit in the corner, cutting out a smidge helps when gluing the box together. Cut the corner and turn so you cut the corners as seen above.

The lid is a piece of 5.75" x 5.75" piece of Tim Holtz Idea-ology "Mini Collage" paper it's an 8x8" pad.
I scored it at 1/4" and 1 1/4"all on all 4 sides. I then cut a 3" square out of the center, laid red tape (double sided tape) around the cut out, and attached a piece of clear film cut a smidge smaller than 3" square. This is a regular bakery type box. I then folded and cut the corners as seen above, glued it all together to form a lid.

Here you can see the inside of the lid. I took a piece of 110 lb white cardstock and cut it to 3 1/2" inch square, scored at 1/4" on all 4 sides, cut and glued it together to form a drop where the bug would sit. I sprayed the paper with Distress Oxide spray in Hickory Smoke, Walnut Stain and Vintage Photo before I glued it together to look grundgy for the bug. I put a little bit of glue around the 1/4" edge to attach it to the lid. I stamped the with black archival ink and black heat embossed the bug to give it shine. I fussy cut the bug, inked the edges in black and used a pop dot to give the bug dimension.

 

I attached a specimen ephemera piece from Idea-ology Field Notes Snippets. The Toxiique sign is from Idea-ology Halloween baseboard pack. I didn't attach it, I'm still deciding if I want to put twine around the box, I just though the box needed a little color pop.

MFT Summer School White Space

 Definitely hard for me to leave white space, but this little house die cut from red glitter paper makes for a sweet image. This is from the Snowy Scene Builder Die-Namics from My Favorite Things.

Following the My Favorite Things Summer School 2020 homework for white space.

A Rainbow Card!

 My Favorite Things Planted Blooms is the perfect die for a rainbow card. I got the idea for the watercolor background from a Kristina Werner post, just quick strokes on watercolor paper. She used a white stamped image but I thought it was perfect for a rainbow card, a homework assignment from My Favorite Things Summer School. I always love a good challenge.

Holiday Light up Gift Box

A gift box with a battery votive, put a gift into this 5.75" L x 5" W x 5" D box an light it up!

What I used: Sizzix/Tim Holtz "Merry and Bright" and "Ice Flake" dies. (4) pieces white cardstock cut to 5.75" x 5.5" scored at 1/2" on the short side (the 5.5" side). (2) pieces heavy white cardstock for the lids cut to 9.25" x 9.25", Scored at 1", 2", 7.25", 8.25" on all 4 sides.

4 3/8" x 5 1/4" vellum, Gold cardstock to line the inside of the box (optional) and for the Merry and Bright and the snowflake. I used glue, tape runner and red tape (red tape is very sturdy). Printed cardstock to decorate the box (optional)-(4) pieces 5"x 5.75" for the sides, 4.75" x 4.75" for the lid top, and smaller pieces for the sides of the lid (8) pieces 5.25" x .75".

I made the side of the box last year without knowing how to make it into a gift box. I then saw on Pinterest boxes with 2 lids, one glued on at the bottom and decided this was a good way to go. https://mixedupcraft.com/2017/09/29/big-bow-birthday-box/  Her box is actually better and can be adapted for this box. I used 4 panels and glued them together instead of the way she made it. She has a video and this is the best way to learn to make a box, so please go watch her video:)

Score the panel 1/2' on the 5 1/2" side to make a tab.

I covered the white cardstock with the printed cardstock, cut out the snowflake shape on 1 of the panels, this will be the front of the box.

Attach the vellum to the back of the panel. This photo also shows how the tab is taped to the panel to form a box.

Cut the snowflake out of the gold paper. Attach with glue to the vellum on the front of the panel.

Attach the tape to the tabs, attach the panels together to form a box.

This is how the lids are scored.If you watch the video I linked at the top, she will show you the best way to put it together, I gave the dimensions and scoring lines so that it will fit this box. 

Alcohol Ink on Photo Paper

I

I have an entire package of 3x5 photo paper leftover from the days I used to print my photos at home, and then I realized how expensive it was to buy the ink, much cheaper to do it at the store, if at all.

On the left is Tim Holtz/Ranger Alcohol ink and Metallic Mixative with Alcohol Blending Solution on the BACK of the paper. The photo paper had the brand (Epson) written all over it but the ink covered the logo. I used the same colors pm both.

On the right is the FRONT of the paper, where the photo would normally be printed. The ink didn't want to move and the Metallic Mixative just sat on top, you can see how it's dotted all over. 

On both I put some blending solution down, added the alcohol ink and used a blower to move the inks. I then took a piece of felt attached to a blending tool, dotted it with the Metallic Mixative and a few drops of blending solution, started stamping it over the alcohol ink. Usually if I put a few drops of blending solution on the felt it leaves those pretty spots that mottle the ink. You can see it on the left paper but not so much on the right.

In my opinion, the backside works better. I like the Yupo paper better, it's lightweight, good for diecutting and attaching to cardstock, etc. but the photo paper is a nice alternative. And it's cheaper, especially if you already have it! Others have said Yupo takes less ink but I have no way to judge this, unless I start measuring the amount of ink I use:)

Sizzix Tim Holtz 2020 dies

This is a combo of 2 die sets, Holiday Village (buildings) and Christmastime (couple)
The background is an Alcohol Ink background using shades of blue and blending solution.The finished piece is approx 5”x 9”. I made it as a panel, my first attempt at putting all the pieces together.

Here is the order of each layer of the Holiday Village die: The back of each die has a color name printed on it. There’s a Sizzix video on YouTube that shows how to put it together. 

I didn’t take photos of the layers of the holiday couple, they are more straightforward, but I cut each person a few times so that I could make their clothes from different paper. The lamppost is included with the couple. I added a scrap of yellow I hand cut to fit inside the lamp.

Here is a simpler version where I skipped the yellow and just colored in the star and dots on the tree. I also skipped the blue highlights and added fewer trees (only because I misplaced them, I'd add them if I was diecutting them anyway.

Handmade House Gift Box

Box dimensions 3.5" x 3.5" x 5.5". The lid is 2.5" x 3.75"x 3.75"
For the walls of the box I used: (4) pieces of beige cardstock 4"x 9" each.
For the roof lid I used: (2) pieces of brown cardstock 3.5" x 7.75" each.
Sizzix Tim Holtz 3D "Brickwork" embossing folder
Assorted brown Distress Inks
Window die 2.5" x 3.5"
To make the door Sizzix Tim Holtz "Lumber" 3D embossing folder
Assorted lightweight printed paper and brads
Sizzix Adhesive Sheets

For the walls: Score the paper at 3.5" on the long side. Turn the paper to the short side and score at 1/2" (these will be the connecting tabs). The long side on the left will be the walls, the square side will be the bottom of the box.

Place 1 of the beige pieces into the Brick embossing folder, carefully lining it up so the bricks are straight. I didn't want the bottom of the box to be embossed so I put a piece of washi tape on the embossing folder to let me know when to stop running it through, this is similar to partial die cutting 

I did this for each of the 4 pieces.

I glued lightweight printed paper on the side of the wall to decorate the inside of the box. Not necessary but a finishing touch. I diecut the rectangle where I wanted the window to be, that way the window opening would show through but since the window die is larger, it will stick onto the brick. I cut one window die for both the inside and outside of the walls. 

Glue the walls together to make a box: Take a wall put glue on tab, attach it to another wall on the side without the tab.

Glue the bottom of the box together.

For the roof lid: Take the 3.5" x 8" brown cardstock and score at 1/2" and 2.5" on the long side. Turn the cardstock once and score at 1/2" and 4 1/8". Glue the tab to the side with no tab to make a lid.

I used red tape on 2 side of the OUTSIDE of the lid (the 1/2" part)

I made small fold marks where it'll press in.

Glue on all 4 sides of the INSIDE of the lid on the 1/2" part

Remove the red tape plastic to expose the glue, push it all together to form the milk carton lid. It's a little troubling, but just carefully push it together I used more scrap lighweight paper to decorate the lid.

To make the door, I put a piece of brown cardstock into the Lumber embossing folder, ran it through the Big Shot and then used brown, black distress ink over the raised areas, added a little white Distress Crayon to give texture to the piece. I then took a piece of kraft cardstock the same size as the Lumber piece and attached a piece of Sizzix Permanent adhesive sheet to it. It's sticky on both sides. I then cut the Lumber piece into 1/4" strips and attached them to this adhesive. I then partially diecut this piece using a rectangle and then used an oval die for the top of the door. I forgot to take a pic of this part.

I know these instructions are a bit confusing and probably need a video to do it justice. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have questions