Christmas cracker from A4 card tutorial

Need a quick Christmas Cracker template to make crackers with your own 'larger' gifts?

Well this is what I came up with, it fitted all my oversized cracker gifts, but there was a risk of things falling out :(.

Anyway, these are quick to make and as long as you wrap your gifts in tissue paper they should stay inside...

Score an A4 sheet of card (landscape) 7.5 cm, 8.5cm and 9.5 cm from each of the left and right edges.

Fold in the card at the second (8.5cm) score mark, then mark (with a pencil) and cut at 1cm intervals up to the next fold.

Then cut at 0.5cm, diagonally across to the same point. Pull out and remove the off-cuts.

Fold down the card along the 7.5cm and 9.5cm score lines so that they create a valley fold.

Repeat on the other/side and lay flat.

Cut and stick red tape between the 3rd and 4th cm point along the edge of the card.

Peel off the backing of the tape, along the centre section and roll the card lining up the fold at the 4cm section along the fold at the top of the centre section. Stick down once you are happy it is in place and repeat at the bottom before doing the ends.

You can now decorate your completed cracker.

I created some simple stamped tags:

And here are some of my completed crackers...

... I'd love to hear your feedback if you make any crackers using this tutorial :).

Favours at Christmas

I really miss the retired Pillow Box die.   Even though I am not supposed to share projects with you using retired items, I know that many people have this die and it's ideal at this time of year for creating little favours for the dinner table, so I couldn't resist sharing this with you...

The tag is from the Beautiful Season stamp set, which I have inked with Early Espresso and coloured with Stampin' Write markers.  You can make these boxes so quickly so they are great for favours and for gifts such as jewellery too :).

Pizza box for scented gifts

I'm at the coast today... hopefully getting some walking done.  I hope you are up to something nice too over the bank holiday, perhaps some crafting :)!?

 

If you are a regular follower of my blog you will hopefully remember the little quilted lavendar bags that my mum made earlier this month from the Flirtatious fabrics?

 

Well, I thought they would make great gifts, to put in a sock drawer perhaps... so needed a little box to put them in.  I decided that a pizza box would work well...

 



 

A perfect fit it seems :).

 

 

I've used Wisteria Wonder for the box itself and then added Melon Mambo card stock and papers to decorate.

 

The papers are from the lovely Cheerful Treat DSP pack (hostess only) and the label is from the Apothecary Art stamp set (coloured in avoiding the flowers in the centre) with a Wisteria Wonder Stampin' Write Marker and then I've inserted the 'perfume' image stamp from the Every Little Bit stamp set inside and coloured with markers using a blender pen.

 

Finally the sentiment is from the Tiny Tags stamp set, and I've punched it out with one of the 'eyes' from the Owl Punch :).

 

I love these little boxes and they are so easy to make, for mini cards too.

Medicinal box

If you don't know already the Apothecary Art stamp set is named in conjunction with a Pharmacy...?  I'm assuming it is something to do with the 'labels' which would work on herbal fusions or the like, perhpas someone will read this and enlighten me?

I've used this odd named stamp set to create the label for another long box that I have made using the pillow box, similar to the one I showed you earlier this week.  Apologies another poor photo, but you can just make out the label inked in Rich Razzleberry and the DSP from the Paisley Petals paper pack.

 

The box is created with 2 pillow box die cuts taped together... One in Old Olive and one in Rich Razzleberry, I've then attached a strip of DSP round the centre to hide the join and added the label... yes, it is as simple as that!

Scalloped envelope box idea

Well, I got back safely from Sweden yesterday and then had a frantic rush to get myself to Cambridge... and this is the first chance I have had to have a moment to myself.

What a lovely weekend... I can highly recommend Gothenburg for something laid back and full of things to do and see, but be warned it is very expensive to eat/drink there.  We managed to keep within a reasonable budget so I can still afford to go away again sometime :).

Anyway, with so much to do and so little time I didn't even manage to bring much craft stash with me here, so please forgive my fleeting post.

I've created a box using the scalloped envelope die, with some little gift tags, which would make a quick gift.

The box was created with Pool Party card stock, very easy to make with just 2 shapes cut with the die using my Big Shot machine.  I've then added a designer button with some of the bakers twine (current summer mini catalogue) tied through it.

Inside the box I've made some little gift tags/cards with the Packed for Birthday stamp set (also from the current summer mini catalogue), coloured with Stampin' Write markers.

Apologies in advance for any period of radio silence that follows... I haven't had a chance to make anything for a few weeks and this weekend looks like another working one, but I will do my best and get some new ideas posted as soon as I can :).

Valentines gift boxes

Only 4 days left until Valentines.  So don't forget to make something to put those little gifts in for Valentines too...

The trusty pillow box die comes to the rescue all the time for gift boxes.  And created in a nano second!

Here I have used Very Vanilla card teamed this with Real Red DSP and ink.

Stamp sets - Every Little Bit and Tagtastic (hostess only);

Sentiments - Teeny Tiny Wishes, Just Believe;

DSP - Brights;

Ink - Real Red and a blender pen to colour/shade.

Don't forget that I am having a crafty day on 3rd March 10am-3pm and everyone is welcome - see more details here.

New Perfect Postage stampset

I have a quick gift box project to share with you today which features the Perfect Postage stamp set and co-ordinating punch.

- Box: Very Vanilla cardstock cut using the Pillow Box die and the Big Shot machine, stuck together with red tape (normal double sided isn't strong enough!).

- Ribbon: Pear Pizzazz sation ribbon.

- Image: From the Perfect Postage stamp set (mini catalogue) inked with Pear Pizzazz and Peach Parfait, using marker pens to stamp both colours at once.  Punched out with the co-ordinating punch and then fixed onto a Pear Pizzazz piece of card punched with the Curly Label punch.

Quick Christmas gift boxes

If you need some quick gift boxes for jewellery, sweets or anything small then the Pillow Box die is perfect for these.  Cut from Old Olive and Real Red card, and decorated with a piece of ribbon, and a gift tag, and these are totally ready for filling with goodies.

I've used Real Red grosgrain ribbon and Pear Pizzaz seam binding ribbon here.  The tag comes from the Beautiful Season stampset which I have stamped with Chocolate Chip ink and coloured with blender pens using markers.  This tag fits inside the Curly Label punch so it's quick to make up a whole batch... why not create a load of tags for your larger gifts this way too.

Like I say, it's easy to make a load :)

Another box

I expect you have bought some presents for Christmas that are just crying out for a little gift box?  Here is another box idea that I have adapted from a tissue box project that I shared with you sometime ago.

Someone said to me the other day when they picked one up and opened it that it was a little disappointing to find a packet of tissues inside such a lovely box!  There is a compliment in there somewhere I am sure - but it lead me to make some for other things instead :).

These boxes seem to be ideal for jewellery, sweets/chocolates and pretty much anything else that you want to put in them.  And they can be personalised too...

I've used the Just Believe stampset and inked the 'leafy' image in Marina Mist before stamping the sleeve (cut from Crumbcake cardstock).  The box inside is made with Marina Mist cardstock to match and I have kept this plain.  The label stamp works perfectly on the front, stamped on Whisper White in Marina Mist with the flowers inked in Rich Rassleberry, leaving just enough space to personalise.

Decorated tealights

A couple of days ago I shared with you a box idea that I had designed to fit 3 tealights into to give as gifts. 

Rather than just putting the tealights in there (albeit they are fragranced ones) I have decorated them to match the boxes.

Using the same ink combinations for each box: Old Olive/Perfect Plum; Rich Razzleberry/More Mustard; Old Olive/Marina Mist; with the 'flower' image from the Clearly for You Stamp set I stamped some white tissue paper and then punched out circles using the 1 3/8 inch circle punch.

To fit the tissue paper circles over the candle wick I used my Crop-a-dile to make holes in the centre and then placed these on top of the candles and then carefully heated each with my heat gun to set into the wax. 

If you look closely you can see the tissue paper on the surface but it almost merges into the was and looks like part of the candle.  This technique works really well on pillar candles so why not give it a try ... I would love to see what you come up with :).

Wine glass charms

I've totally neglected my other crafting stash since I signed up as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, but have started to use some of the items from there with Stampin' Up! products. 

One of my favourite gifts are wine glass charms - which are great for parties (see here).  With Christmas and New Year fast approaching now is the time to get these out again :).

And of course these are ideal to fit into those lovely little boxes that I showed you yesterday...

Here are the charms laid out so you can take a better look:

These are made from hoops that are usually made into 'earrings' and I have threaded on beads and charms. 

If you have never seen these before, the idea is that you give one to each guest at a dinner party and they open and attach the charm to the bottom of their wine glass.  They will then be able to locate their glass for the rest of the evening.  It's great as it saves on glasses (!) and it adds that little touch to your dinner party.  I've had lots of people ask me to make a set for them after they have been over to dinner at mine... I'm now working on a few Christmas themed ones, which I will share with you soon :).

Boxes for little gifts

I've been away all week, house/cat sitting again, so have been trying to catch up on a bit of crafting in the evenings!

Rather than cards I've been working on some little gift boxes and a variety of gifts to go inside them... 

These boxes are so easy to make.  I designed them to fit 3 tea lights initially, but have been using them for other things too.  Each of the boxes in the photo has been decorated using the Clearly for You stampset 'flower' image in 2 different colours, simply stamped all over the sleeve before assembling it round the drawer.

The drawer dimensions are 3 x 6 1/16 inches for the insert.  Scored at 3/4 inch on all 4 sides.  You then need to snip to create the tabs on 2 opposite sides and fix with red tape.  I find that normal double sided tape or glue just isn't strong enough so make sure you use the red tape.

For the sleeve the dimensions are 5 1/2 x 4 1/2 scored at 3/4, 2 3/8, 3 1/8 and 4 3/4.  Make sure you stamp the sleeve before assembling this and place it around the drawer to ensure it fits before sticking with red tape.

Here is one with a gift inside, although the stamping on the sleeve hasn't come out very well in the photo... but you can see how it works :).

Check back over the next few days as I will be sharing with you some of the ideas for gifts to make to go inside.

Easy events box set with scraps

Happy Sunday!

I'll be on my way back home today... I have been in the Lake District making use of my Aunt/Uncle's holiday let, with friends for the weekend.

Here is the set of cards that I made for my Aunt as a thank you gift.

The box is based on the pizza box idea that I got from my Upline (Cate) and adapted slightly for a class sometime ago (see past class details here).  The cards are 10 x 10 cm in size and fit into the mini envelopes, all of which can be concealed inside the cute box.

 

I've decorated the box with a square of Very Vanilla cardstock stamped with the Christmas image (but without the sentiment) in Chocolate Chip ink, then mounted the panel onto a square of brights DSP (Old Olive spots).  The image is coloured with subtles markers using a blender pen.  The sentiment is from the Just Believe stampset and the flowers are made with the Boho Blossoms punch.

The cards were made from a variety of scraps of DSP and cardstock from the brights and subtles packs...

I still have space at my Cards for all Occasions class that uses the Easy Events stampset, next Saturday (5th November) at 10.30am. Check out my classes page for more if you are interested in booking to attend. 

More Christmas crafting... this time with Pip

Saturday was a busy day with crafting events ... after helping out Amy, I went along to help out another fellow demonstrator, Pip with her craft event. 

I sense that Christmas is getting near, as Pip too (aswell as Amy - see yesterday's post) went for Christmas themed projects. 

We made another card using the Beautiful Season stampset and a couple of tree decorations, made using the pillow box die.  I adapted Pip's idea and just went with plain pillow box as a 'gift' box. 

One box cut from Always Artichoke cardstock features the tag stamp from the Beautiful Season stampset, punched with the Curly Tag punch.  The other box is cut from Real Red cardstock and features one of the stamps from the Tags Til Christmas stamp set. 

I love this die, as you can make boxes to your hearts content, oh and put 2 together to make a bigger box - see previous post for more.

Owly box

I've got a bit of a mad week lined up so have been scratching around to check out what samples I have to share with you... with my Christmas card club starting on Wednesday and my new catalogue party on Thursday this week there will be lots to post afterwards but I don't want to spoil the surprise and share anything with you before those attending get to have a go first :).

So instead, something I have been saving up... because it is absolutely adorable and deserves a special post.  My Upline Cate made this cute owl from the big shot pillow box die back in August. Unfortunately it uses designer papers that have retired but there are plenty of papers in the new catalogue that would work just as well.

After running the cardstock through the big shot pillow box die, Cate has punched 3/4" circles for the stomach 'feathers', hearts for feet and beaks, ovals for wings and 1.25" circles plus 3/4" circles for eyes. 

This is one of my favourite swaps of all time...  I just need to invest in the punches in order to make some of my own :).

Gift box

I will have left for Eastern Europe by the time you read this.  Check out my travel blog here for more.

However, I couldn't resist having a little play with my new toys before my holiday.  And here is the finished item - a long gift box made from the 2 pillow box die cuts, decorated with the daisy die. 

I've kept the box neutral by using Crumbcake and Chocolate Chip cardstock and have embossed the Crumbcake half with a flower embossing folder (not Stampin' Up!, but you can't see it in the pic anyway!). The daisy has been cut from Pumpkin Pie cardstock and the middle petals from Melon Mambo. I'm really starting to like these colours... but who wouldn't :).

I will have scheduled posts for you whilst I am gone, so do check back for more tomorrow.