Technique Tuesday - Adorable Owls

 Well, we have actually had rather a lot of snow here! YAY! Today I have been using one of the stamp sets from the Saleabration catalogue coming out in January... only a few weeks away! I am using Adorable Owls which are extremely cute. I made a trellis of strips of paper on one side of the card and an embossed mat of red card on the right of the card to cover the edges. A label from the Designer Tags dies and a punched pair of ovals using the ovals duo punch. I stamped the little owls in Smoky Slate, a very light gray and coloured one in with the blends pen and the darker one in with the Stampin' Write Marker pen.

Which owl do you like the best?

 

Make It Simple Monday - Go To Greetings

Welcome back to another very cold week here in the UK. We have had temperatures here of -6 and it has been extremely very cold! I don't like the cold at all! We had our Christmas dinner get together with many Stampin friends on Saturday and spent a lovely few hours eating, laughing and chatting. It was great. Now back to the blog. Today I am using the lovely ascriptive stamp set called Go To Greetings. It has 5 different phrases in 3 different fonts and sizes, it's really very pretty. 

I have made a very simple card using some scraps of printed paper. I cut 4 pieces for each card. (yes, I made 2 cards this time). They are both very simple cards but just each one was made in a different direction. These papers are from the Celebrate Everything Designer Series Papers.

Fun fold Friday gift card and packaging

 For my final project this week I've created a card that holds a present and is shaped like a present! It's  a very easy project but one that I think has a bit of a wow factor to it.

This gift card holder starts life as a a piece of cardstock measuring 9.5cm x 18cm scored at 9cm. Fold it in half and then adhere along the 2 long sides to create a simple pocket.

Now to ceate the stand . Take a piece of coordinating cardstock measuring 9.5cm x 7cm . Score at 1cm.  Adhere  this to the back of the pocket part only above the score line. This then becomes the card stand.

Now cut a piece of cardstock measuring 10.5cm x 4cm and score along the long side at 2cm.

Now you need a piece of coordinating cardstock measuring 7.5cm x 10.5cm. Adhere this piece to the center of the long narrow piece on the inside and sandwich it together. It then slips into the pocket part of the card. 

I  used pretty pattern paper to decorate my gift. I also created a paper bow and die cut 3 gold stars. The bow is simply a strip of cardstock.  Run it along the edge of a bone folder or your fingers to soften the fibers a little. Now bringing both ends to the middle and adhering together.

I  think its  a fun project to finish this week's inspiration. 

I hope you've enjoyed my week of gift card and packaging ideas 💡 I certainly have 🙂

Well that's all folks for this week join me next week when Gill will be sharing her creations with us all.

Have a good weekend and if you're in the UK or anywhere else cold wrap up warm.

Have fun 

Cary xx

This or That Thursday gift card and packaging ideas

 Gift boxes come in all shapes and sizes and can be filled with many things. Yesterday's box was cute and not overly large. Today's is much bigger! Big enough for a half bottle of presseco or any other goodies you like 😉.

The box is made from 2 simple boxes of the same size. How do they stay together? Well with very simple inner and outer bands!

Start by taking 2 pieces of cardstock measuring 29.7cm x 17cm.  Next score it along the long side at 7cm, 14cm, 21cm and 28cm. The at 7cm along the short side. 

Then cut up to the score line as shown below. Remove the tab as shown.

The box is then folded and adhered along the side tab. Fold the bottom in adhering each layer to create a strong bottom and top for the box.

Next create the insert for the bottom box. I used the same colour cardstock.  The insert measures 29.7cm x 4cm and is scored at 6.9cm, 13.8cm, 20.7cm and 27.6cm. Adhere the insert into a square uing the small tab. Now adhere to the inside of the box bottom so that half is showing above the top.

For the outside band I chose to use a different colour cardstock so that it became a feature of the box.  The cardstock measures 29.7cm x 4 cm but is scored at 7.1cm, 14.2cm, 21.3cm and 28.4cm.  Adhere to the box that is going to be the top at the open end . I wrapped it around with the box adhering it so that it was appropriately 2cm over the edge of the box.

This is the basic design . I  decorated mine to give the feel of Father Christmas in his red outfit. I used red cardstock for the boxes and black for the outer band. A small piece of gold sparkle for his belt and it was finished.

The inner and outer bands make sure the base and lid stay together snuggly. 

I really liked the look of this gift box. It's simplicity is elegant. .. But then my imagination got going and I came up with this version. .

I die cut a circle of white cardstock with a scalloped edge. I then used some puffy white paint to create some texture to his beard added a small pink circle for his nose.  I then cut it to fit over the front of the box and attatched it to a 7cm square of red cardstock and stuch it to the top of the box and voila!!

Isn't he cute 🎅 ?

 So now I don't know which I prefer 🤔 with out beard? Or with? Decisions, Decisions!! Which do you prefer this?

Or That?....

Watercolour Wednesday gift packaging

 Today there is no watercolour involved as it's all about the  gift box. I wanted to create a fun box that I can put a little something special in. 

So I went for an unusual shape.. a triangle! This box will be just right for a special gift or some gorgeous truffles or what ever you want to pop in it!!

It all starts with a piece of cardstock measuring 24.5cm x 17cm. Score along the landscape side at 4.5cm and 12.5cm. Rotate and score along the portrait side at 4.5cm, 10.5cm and 18.5cm. Now remove the panels as shown below. 

Once you've scored and removed as per the picture mark the center point in the remaining outer panels at 4cm. Next score from the center mark to the bottom left and right corners of the panel as per the picture. 

Now it's time to adhere the bottom right panel to the triangle flaps next to it. This creates the box.

Then close the other panels around the box. 

And decorate as desired.

I chose to use a hole punch and punch out 2 holes in the front flap and box front. Which I then treaded ribbon through for my closure. You could use magnets or velcro or even create a belly band to close the box with.

 

I do think decorating the inside of the lid as well as all the outside panels gives the box the look of luxury. 

This cute box will certainly make the recipient feel that you value them for sure!

Tips tricks and techniques Tuesday gift cards and packaging

 For today's inspiration I have gone for a gift card holder. This is what I'm  calling a pop out gift cards holder. It's really easy to make and is a great way to show off all those beautiful pattern papers in yout stash! 

It all starts with a pieces of cardstock measuring 25.5cm x10.5cm ( 10" x 4 1/4"). Next score at 7.5cm (3"), 10cm (4"), 12.5cm (5") and 20.5cm (8") as per the picture below.

And that is as hard as it gets!!

 Now its time to decorate. Starting with the inside of the card holder cut panels to fit all the sections.

 

Now turn over and decorate the 3 larger panels. Place narrow tape around 3 sides of one of the narrow panels as shown below 

Next remove the tape liner and gently secure these 2 narrow panels. Next turn the piece over and where the narrow panels are take a trimmer and snip upto the pattern paper off. This creates the opening for the gift card to slip into. 

To keep it closed I made a little belly band . All I did was wrap a strip of coordinating cardstock around the closed holder. 

I stamped a sentiment .  Die cut a lable in cardstock and another to fit inside in pattern paper.  Then adhered them to the band.

I used another sentiment and a little die cut tree to decorate the inside of the gift card holder.

I think this is a great way to give someone a gift card! No boring envelope here!!

 

Make it simple Monday gift cards and packaging

 This week I'm  going to be sharing some gift card and packaging ideas. Christmas is coming and I  don't know about you but I  am always in need of gift card or  small gift packaging !! So this week I'll be sharing projects that will be appearing underneath a tree near me soon 😉

So to start the week off I have 2 super simple packaging ideas for you. Firstly let me just say that I've chosen to use pretty double sided pattern paper but you can use alsorts of other papers. Newspaper, magazine pages or wrapping paper are just a few that spring to mind.

So for my first project I thought I'd share a no measure sour cream container. It all starts with a square of paper. I cut a piece that measures 15cm x 15cm or 6" x 6' . 

I rolled it into a tube and stuck it along the long edge....

Then stick one end together in one direction and the other end will be adhered in the opposite direction once it's filled.

 

I finished the  package with a cute ribbon bow.

The next project is a no measure gift bag.  Again it starts with a piece of 15cm x 15cm or 6" x 6" paper . I firstly folded the top 2.5cm or 1" over revealing the other side of the paper. I then added double sided adhesive along the long edge and formed a tube.

Next flatten the tube with the seam in the center.

Now fold up from the bottom end about 4 cm or 1 1/2" . I highly recommend a bone folder for this project. It will ensure your folds are nice and crisp.

 

Now it's time to create the bottom of the bag. First open the filded part and push the corners in and flatten them.

Repeat on the otherside . It should look like the picture below 

Next fold the 2 edges towards each other slightly over lapping the center fold.

Use double sided tapeas shown below to secure the base of the bag.

Next to create the side gussets fold 1cm or 3/8" in from each side from the top of the bag to the bottom.

 Now open the bag up gently pushing the base down and pinching the sides in to create the gusset. 

Now all that needed to be done was to punch 2 holes through both sides and secure that bag with a piece of ribbon.

These 2 packaging ideas are both great for those last minute gifts or those hard to wrap items. I have used the bag in particular with wrapping paper to wrap footballs and other round gifts!

In the next picture you can see the same bag made with a piece of 30cm x 30cm or 12" x 12" as well just so you can see how useful they can be.

As it's #makeitsimplemonday I shall be doing my Facebook live at 4pm GMT over on our Facebook page here.  I will ne demoing how I created these 2 gift packaging ideas.  So please join me if you can. 🙂

Here's  the video