Tag Box Tutorial

Here is a tutorial I worked up today because of a request from a customer. She wanted me to do a tutorial on a box that could hold a few gift tags. I made this box very simple to replicate for anyone wanting to do them in bulk. The first step is to start with a piece of cardstock measuring 6" x 10". Lay the cardstock sideways as shown on your Scor-Pal or other scoring device. Score at 2.5", 3", 7", and 7.5".


Turn cardstock the other direction as shown. I find it difficult to score right next to the left edge of the Scor-Pal, so I scored 1/2" and 1" in from the right edge.


Next, turn your cardstock around so the unscored side is to the right and score again 1/2" and 1" from the right edge. Your project should have scoring marks just like the photo shows.

Now, cut on the scoring lines, leaving just the small square remaining. Note where I have left the square attached, on just one side, making a little tab. I have lifted up the tab so you can see better.


Cut all 4 of the corners of the project as shown, leaving tabs on all 4 corners.


Now, stamp the cardstock as desired. Since my customer is planning to make Christmas tags, I went with a Christmas look. It will not matter that the stamp doesn't stamp on the scoring lines since the project will be folded there anyway. If it bothers you, just stamp before scoring.

I wanted to make a see-through window on the backside of the box (or frontside, depending how you look at it). To accomplish this, I chose a scalloped circle from my Nestabilities set. The size doesn't matter that much, but you want to leave plenty of room around the edges of the cutout to adhere layers, acetate, etc. to the inside of the box. Cut the scalloped circle out, centering it in the 4"x 4" side of your project. If you do not have Nestabilities, you can use any circle cutter you have. Even squares would work, ovals, hearts, paisley, depending on your project theme. I had to fold one of the flaps over (on the right) in order to get the box through my Cuttlebug.

Next, I chose a solid circle that was smaller than the scalloped circle I cut. To decide which you want to use, pretend that you are going to put the smaller white circle above on top of the scalloped circle you just cut out. Then, choose another solid circle a few sizes bigger than the small circle. Place both circles on top of a piece of white cardstock and run them through the cuttlebug together.

You will end up with a circle as shown in the photo. Now, adhere the circle to the inside of your project. I used Mono Multi for this portion of the project. Make sure you turn the project over and look at it from the front to ensure proper placement of your white circle. Do this before the glue dries.


Cut a piece of acetate 3.75" x 3.75". I used my ATG to stick this down. When putting adhesive down on the project, make sure you get it far enough from the fold so that no extra adhesive will overlap the edge of the acetate. If you look closely at the photo, you can see my line of adhesive around the edge of the acetate.

Your project should look like this from the front.

Now, fold on all scoring lines, with all folds going in the direction shown in the photo. They will essentially fold in on themselves.

Put a line of sticky strip or other strong adhesive on the two edges of one of your flaps. I used Scor Tape, from Scor-Pal, coming soon to Pink Hedgehog Paper Crafts.

Fold the flap up and adhere as shown. I am using a Velcro closure to keep my box shut and to allow for repeated opening and closing. To avoid damage to the box, I used only 1/4 of a velcro dot. I have found that even 1/2 dots are too strongly "hooked" on smaller boxes. To get an awesome price on hook and loop dots, click here to go to our Packaging section on our website. The Velcro clones will be loaded there soon. They sell for $1.50 for 15 full circle dots.

I stamped one of the snowflakes on white cardstock and cut it out with my Nesties, I did a scalloped circle in turquoise and another in white. After layering them I applied adhesive on only 1/2 of the medallion. Next, I added a 5mm Crystal Rhinestone to the center of the snowflake. My crystal rhinestones come on a sheet for only $1.75!! This view shows the "back" of the box. It's still a great presentation, so you can either display your wares with this side showing or the window side showing...both equally attractive.


This is the windowed size of the finished project. The finished box measures 4" x 4" x 3/4". It is large enough to hold quite a few gift tags, some small cards, candies, or even a cookie! Mmmm!! After I took the photo of the back of the box, I realized that it needed a little touch, so I opened the box and tied some Polka Dot Organdy around the top flap and closed the box again. Our Polka Dot Organdy is a great value, comes in 17 colors and what's not to love about polka dots??

Hope you enjoy the tutorial. Watch in the next day or so for a tutorial on turning our Oregon Raindrops into stunning embellishments!

Today's Limited Supply Challenge

I made this card today for the Limited Supply challenge at Splitcoast Stampers. The challenge was to make a card using some kind of technique that used only paper, stamps, and ink. Yikes!! What, no embossing powder or specialty supplies?

So, I started thinking back to cards I have done using various techniques. I was reminded of some Christmas cards I did using the Versamark Resist technique. In a nutshell, you stamp your desired images on glossy cardstock, then sponge or brayer ink over the top of the stamped images. The Versamark will resist the ink, leaving you with a series of negative images. You can use this as a background or even as a main focal image.

I started with Papertrey's Guidelines set. I stamped the lines in Mellow Moss on the glossy paper. I overstamped the lines with the decorative tiles in Versamark. I sponged over the top with Mellow Moss, So Saffron, and Always Artichoke inks. I love the way it turned, out, although next time, I would leave out the Always Artichoke, because it's a lot stronger than the other two shades.

I stamped the girl from My Favorite Things "Can Ya Dig It?" set. I stamped her in Palette Noir ink on Very Vanilla Cardstock. I used my ink pads to watercolor the image and background. The colors I used are: Bashful Blue, Creamy Caramel, So Saffron, Regal Rose, Mellow Moss, and Sahara Sand. I cut around her front hand with my hobby knife and also cut out the watering can so it would look like she is holding the can. I slid the can handle between her hands and stuck it down. The tip of the can is popped up on a tiny foam dot. I also popped up the main image and the sentiment.

The burlap string and brads are from Pink Hedgehog Paper Crafts. The designer paper is from Basic Grey's Sugared pack.

My hubby came home from a business trip tonight and told me that one of his coworkers just had twin baby boys. Actually, the wife had the babies, but you get the drift. He was...*gasp* going to go out and BUY a card...*gasp*. I think I would die if I had to walk into a Hallmark and purchase a greeting card. I might have a seizure or something.

Anyway, I assured him that I could work up a quick card tonight, and this is the result. I'm pretty proud of myself for coming up with a sentiment for the inside that fit the occasion. In Stampin' Up!'s Bundled in Love, there is a saying that begins, "A new little someone sent from above." I used a marker on the stamp and omitted the "A" at the beginning, to make it say "new little someone, then I added an "s" by hand, so it now says "new little someones sent from above." I almost broke my arm patting myself on the back. LOL

Here's the details:

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Bundled in Love, Bundle of Joy, and Fancy Flexible Phrases, Papertrey Corners & Borders Circles
  
• Ink: Palette Noir, Stampin' Up! Ballet Blue
• Paper: Stampin' Up! Ballet Blue, Whisper White, and Bashful Blue
  
• Accessories: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder, Nestabilities, Paper Piercer, Ribbons from Pink Hedgehog Paper Crafts
• I used my Ballet Blue ink pad and watercolor brush to watercolor the giraffes. The ribbons are 3/8" polka dot grosgrain and 3/16" gingham, both in light blue.