Hotel Chocolat Slab Box

Happy New Year! Today’s project is a box to contain one of my favourite chocolates. These slabs from Hotel Chocolat don’t normally last very long in our house and I have to hide them from Tom or they would all be eaten. The bars are perfect for little presents, however after Christmas and Birthdays, in December the thought of wrapping presents scares me. So I decided to create a box to put the slab/block in. I have previously created a thin bag but thought it did not look right.

Box using Flirty Flamingo Card and the Pattern Party DSP with a belly band using the Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon colour altered with Flirty Flamingo blends.

Measurements

Metric

Base - 16.5 x 13 cm (score at 2)

Lid - 16cm x 12cm (score at 1 1/2)

Imperial

Base - 6 1/2 x 5 inches (score at 3/4 inch on all 4 sides)

Lid - 6 x 4 1/2 inches (score at 1/2 inch on all 4 sides)

1st box using Flirty Flamingo Card and the Pattern Party DSP with a belly band using the Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon colour altered with Flirty Flamingo blends. 2nd box using Basic Black card and the Pattern Party DSP with a belly band using Basic Black Bakers Twine with a sentiment from the Wish for Everything stamp set.

Tips and Tricks

• you can use any card for the base (please do not use DSP as it is not strong enough to hold a weight

• for a snug fit ensure that the lid is slightly larger by adding a shim when scoring the lid (I use a piece of the same card

• windmill the box by making each tab on a different side

• if you are not confident with sticking the tabs down use wet glue as it gives you wiggle room

Box to hold Hotel Chocolat slab using a retired paper and the Highland Heather Grossgrain Ribbon

This is a super simple cute box, which is perfect to practice your box making skills. Pull out your card stash and give it ago. You don’t have to use the Hotel Chocolat slabs, I am sure it will fit lots of different items. What have you managed to fit in yours?

How to make a Father Christmas/ Santa Bag

Every year, I gift my Nieces items for their Christmas Eve boxes, it is normally Reindeer Food and Hot Chocolate or Christmas related Chocolate. Last year I gave them Father Christmas/Santa Bags made from the gorgeous bag die from the All Dressed Up Dies. I first saw this bag on Facebook/ Instagram by the amazing Stacey Marsh. It is really simple to make and can contain Christmas Chocolates and Hot Chocolate.

I used Poppy Parade to make the bag, of course you could use any Red card that you may have, I think of Poppy Parade and Father Christmas because of the Christmas Papers from a few years ago, (Signs of Santa, it was super, super cute.) You need two of the main bag die in Red, two of the straps in red, one of the strap die in black, two black buttons. The smallest sentiment die in Basic White and the buckle in Gold Mirri/ Gold Foil.

Tips and Tricks

• use a bone folder to ensure the fold lines are burnished

• using wet glue for the seems helps manoeuvre the pieces in to place

• I used a tape pen to add the buttons and belt to make it easier to add and less likely to get glue everywhere.

I love these little bags. I definitely think that I will be making these next year as well. Which colour did you make yours out of?

Delicate Baubles Splatter Card

I have been trying to tidy up my craft room as my stash is overwhelming and I keep having avalanches as my piles of items fall. Whilst tidying I found my Cosmic Shimmer Metallic Gilding Polish, which I bought a few months ago to use like gilding wax to use on my Christmas Cards. I had forgotten that I had these. I recently watched a fabulous Facebook live by the fabulous Stacey Marsh which used the Delicate Bauble dies which I have CASEd (copied and selectively edited). I knew I wanted to use the dies but was wandering if I could use the gilding polish to make splatters (and you can you just need to add water and flick with a brush!) I also wanted to add some sparkle without adding foil or mirri card. So I added the gilding polish on to the bauble die cuts as well.

The dies were originally part of a bundle with the Bright Baubles stamps, the stamps have now sold out and have been discontinued. I think that the dies work gorgeously on their own, whilst it is a bonus to be able to colour in the baubles, I don’t think that the stamp set is essential to be able to utilise the dies.

Measurements

My Metric

10.5 cm x 14.5cm (10.5 by full length scored at 14.5cm)

Inside Panel – 10cm x 14cm

Metric

10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5 by full length scored at 14.8cm)

Inside Panel – 10cm x 14.3cm

Imperial

4 1/8" x  5 7/8" (4 1/8” by full length scored at 5 7/8)

Inside Panel – 3 7/8” x 5 5/8”

Tips and tricks

• Use adhesive sheets to make sticking down easier

• The sheet lifts well with a take your pick tool

• The bits will come out, but may need help with the take your pick tool or die brush

• I used the end of a paintbrush to move the gilding polish on to block, which I used as a paint palette

• Use the spritzer to add water to the gilding polish and stir well so will splatter without lumps

• Use different scrap papers for ink blending and splatters (Once finished move the card to prevent the back being covered in splatter)

• Tap off the excess ink from the ink blending brush before using them

• Evening Evergreen darkens Night of Navy

• If cutting a mask ensure the ‘sticky’ side is at top (otherwise the wording is upside down

The video below shows how to create the card.

I am not sure if the splatter technique will work with all gilding polish but it works very well with the Cosmic Shimmer Metallic Gilding Polish. I love the Shaded Spruce and Highland Heather examples, which is your favourite?

Simple Stencilled Snowflake Card

Change of plan again today to share this gorgeously simple stencil card. My original plan was to share a card I had created using the Pine Embossing folder however, it is currently on backorder. I have changed the card as Stampin’ Up! are changing their back ordered items policy.

Due to extreme difficulties caused by, the global supply chain crisis starting on 1 December 2021, Stampin’ Up! will no longer take orders for products that are not in stock. This means that Stampin’ Up! will no longer accept backorders. This change will help to reduce frustrations from unpredictable product availability and allow you to order products that will be delivered right away, rather than products that may not be delivered for months. If you’d ever like to know if a product is available, please check my online store, the product will show currently unavailable if it is not orderable .My online store is a great resource to browse products, determine availability, and place orders for in-stock items and also to find inspiration for cards.

You may have noticed that I love stencils and ink blending, I think that they are quick easy cards which can be duplicated easily but that create individual cards as no two are the same. Once you have added tape to the stencil and remembered to cover up the parts of the snowflakes which are not needed (I forgot to do that on my first card and have shadow snowflakes, where I do not want them.)

Lately I have been subscribing to the Chloe school of bling (love her cards) and therefore have added more diamantes/rhinestones than I normally would. I think it makes a plain card look better.

Measurements

My Metric

10.5 cm x 14.5cm (10.5 by full length scored at 14.5cm)

Inside Panel – 10cm x 14cm

Metric

10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5 by full length scored at 14.8cm)

Inside Panel – 10cm x 14.3cm

Imperial

4 1/8" x  5 7/8" (4 1/8” by full length scored at 5 7/8)

Inside Panel – 3 7/8” x 5 5/8”

Again this is a simple card which could be created with any stencils and corresponding stamps. My favourite part is that you can choose what bling to add and also how much or little is added to your card.

Christmas Cards from Tags

I am a bit bored of gremlins again this week, gremlins have meant that I changed the card I was going to share. But I think that my card is actually ok.

My inspiration this week was a card created by one of the artisan design team, the lovely Helene Den Brujeen from the Netherlands. I loved her card when I saw it. You can find it on Stampin’ Up!’s Facebook page with the other Artisan design team information. The card uses the gorgeous Bright Bauble Bundle., in red and white. The Bright Bauble Bundle was on my wish list as soon as I saw it, but I haven’t had chance to use it and it is is retiring, I am very sad! I was hoping to have a bit more time to play with them. The Bundle is perfect for making super easy tags and also cards.

Measurements

Metric

10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5 by full length scored at 14.8cm)

Inside Panel – 10cm x 14.3cm

Imperial

4 1/8" x  5 7/8" (4 1/8” by full length scored at 5 7/8)

Inside Panel – 3 7/8” x 5 5/8”

Instructions are below but my hints and tips are:

• ensure you use an embossing buddy or anti-static powder tool before heat embossing

• make the snow backgrounds the night/day before to ensure that they are dry

• this card could use any colours, don’t feel restricted to blues and greens (although I love Night of Navy/ Misty Moonlight and Garden Green)

• I have used adhesive foam, you could use layers together to give the tree height, however, paper piercing multiple layers can be difficult

• if you want to create a flat version I would suggest using adhesive sheets, this should help, hold the die cuts together

Instructions

1. Stamp sentiment on inside piece of card in colour of choice

2. Stamp outside sentiment on strip of card with Versamark ink (don’t forget to use your embossing buddy or powder tool to remove static)

3. Add embossing powder (tap and blow off excess) and heat using heat tool

4. Cut sentiment down to size using punch or trimmer

5. Take card base - choose snow background (options can be found here)

6. Cut green card to fit tree

7. Add Green card to foam (keep excess foam for sentiment)

8. Cut tree with die - I run the die through the machine twice

9. Trim the tree to remove the excess foam and card

10. Add Wink Of Stella to tree

11. Cut Star from Gold card (Gold Foil, Glitter Card Mirri Card or yellow card)

12. Add star to tree

13. Remove foam backing (if one bit doesn’t come off don’t worry as long as outside backing is removed)

14. Add tree to card

15. Add strips of foam to add of sentiment

16. Add sentiment to card

17. Glue in inside of card

18. Decorate with bling if you like

Don’t forget, I tend to prefer simple cards, but add more bling if that is your preference. I love both versions but I think I like the splattered background better. Which is your favourite?