SAVE THOSE BISCUIT OR CONCENTRATED JUICE TIN LIDS!!!

Hello, everyone!!!  Well, I finally got my schedule solved for my DT project over  Pam's.  My project is aired today, albeit it's a bit late being posted.  So, I hope you've joined me either there, if not here.

Before I begin I'll tell you the idea for this project came some ago.  During visits to Michael's I'd seen these little scroll boxes but never purchased one because they looked so simple to make.  As I really had forgotten my DT project was due and needed something that could be done quickly, I decided this was a perfect time to take up the challenge to do this box, and I'm taking you right along with me.  This box was completed on my first attempt for my project today, so I was completing the actual project as I was doing the step-by-step tutorial.  This means it's a really easy box to do, but please take time and don't rush yours like I did mine -- just give yourself about 15-20 minutes of patience; that's about how long it should take to put this box together.

Now for my scroll box project:

This is a view of the back:

And this is a side view:

Here's what you'll need:

2 - biscuit or juice can lids

1- sheet of 6"x11" sheet kraft cardstock for base (and stability)

1- sheet 12"x12" decorative paper: 

• cut 12'x 12" paper down the middle and cut off 1" from the 12" end on one of the halves.  This will give you an 8.50" x 11" to cover your kraft cardstock base. 
• With the remaining 6"x6" of decorative paper, using one of the tin lids, trace and cut out four (4) circles.
• Beads or trim (your preference)
• A small doorknop (or you can glue a button to a pony bead to serve the same purpose)
• A length of ribbon long enough to wrap around the container twice -- about 2 feet (if the ribbon is too long you can alter/cut off any additional remainder after the box is complete)
• Any other embellishments you prefer
• Hot glue

Let's begin the tutorial!!!  First we're going to glue the decorative cardstock to the kraft cardstock.  As you'll see in the picture below I cut out a decorative edge for the top lid of my box -- this is optional; the preference is up to you.  Also, I wanted my kraft paper to slow slightly beneath the decorative paper, so I push the decorative paper back slightly before gluing the papers together.  The decorative side will be the top of the box:

Next, take the 4 circle cut-outs and the 2 lids; attach 1 circle to the top and bottom of each of the tin lids:

Now you're going to turn over the 8.50" x 11" papers which you've glued together to the opposite side; add about an inch of hot glue to each bottom side of the panel and immediately place your tin lids into the glue along the edges of the panel (hold until hot glue cools to hold the lids in place).  Make certain to align the lids evenly along the edges:

Continue adding hot glue along the edges (about 1/2 way along the edges) and carefully rolling the lids along the edges into place -- holding them until the glue cools as you go -- until you have an open box that looks like this:

To get the box to conform more to the circular shape, at this point I fold the top open lid down and roll the box back and forth several times:

Okay, time to start finishing it off.  Add beads or trim along the edges of your box.  This will hide any imperfections or hot glue build-up that may have occurred.  (This is also why I said to be patient and take your time).  Here's what my box looked like after I added the beads:

(as you can see I didn't take my time and rushed when gluing the tins along the edges -- TAKE YOUR TIME HERE!)

Finally, it's time to add your doorknob and ribbon closure!  I made my doorknob with polymer clay  to match the Graphics 45 paper, however, you may already have a small one -- or you can use my recipe noted in my "What you'll need for this project" list above.  Before attaching the doorknob to the lid of the box, you'll need to glue one end of the ribbon to the bottom of the doorknob like this:

Next, glue the knob to the bottom center lid of the box with the ribbon coming down the front:

To close the box, wrap ribbon around the box and then wrap around the knob to secure:

Hooray, your box is done!!!  However, I'm sure you'll want to add more to further embellish yours just as I did!!!  I added loads of stickles, flowers, a ribbon, more beads and even added a handmade polymer clay lock!

I hope you like my quick project!  You can fill it with cookies, candy, a bottle of lotion or cologne, socks, soaps -- use your imagination!

If you have any questions/comments, please post them and I'll get back to you.

Thanks for stopping by, and...

I'll be seeing you!

JUST THE CUTEST LITTLE "BALLET SHOES" TREAT BOXES!!!

Hello, everyone!!!  I hope all's well, and that every one is happy!

Well, I'm presenting this also as my monthly DT project over at Pam's today.  And I am so thankful I fianlly did figure out something to do to have to share!!!  LOL!!!  My mind was at an absolute blank all day yesterday, and it wasn't looking very good!!!

Well there it was 5:11 p.m. last evening (Thursday), and I was just sitting with my elbows on my knees, my face in my hands, looking down at the floor while thinking of a project to do for today.  I don't  know how long I sat there, but...all of sudden there it was!!!  My project was staring me right in the face!!!  So, do I have your attention as to what I saw?!!!  LOL!  Well, first let me show you my project:

Aren't these just the cutest little ballet shoe treat boxes?  Here they are without the footies:

And here's what I saw that was my inspiration for these adorable "ballet shoe" treat boxes:

That's right!  Right there on my own feet!!!  I have about 4 pair of ballet shoes in different colors because they're comfortable and I practically live in them for leisure wear during the summer!  I won't pull them all out but, see, here's another pair:

Excited over the idea, off I ran to put together these little sweeties that I'm sharing with you today and, of course, showing you how I made them.  For each shoe, I used a 12"x12" sheet of cardstock.  First, I figured out a pattern and drew a really quick cut.file:

I cut out my 2 pattern pieces; the upper shoe and the sole.  The pattern pieces looked like this:

The widest round end of the shoe's sole is the "TOE" of the shoe; the narrowest round end is the "HEEL" of the shoe:

Aren't those the funniest looking tabs on the sole of the shoe pattern that you've ever seen?!  LOL!  I made them round for fun... but mainly because it was fast; however funny, you have to admit they did turn out the cutest little box!!! 

Anyway, I began by first turning up all the little round tabs on the sole, then after locating the middle tab at the "TOE" of the sole I grabbed the upper shoe, found the middle on the top shoe side of it  (the closed end), and glued the 2 middle pieces together:

Then it then looked like this:

Next, starting on one side and, very carefully aligning the edge of the sole to the edge of the upper shoe, I counted out 7 tabs and glued the sole and upper shoe pieces together.  I DO NOT GLUE FURTHER THAN 7 TABS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE SHOE AT THIS TIME.  Next, I counted out 7 tabs on the other side and aligned, then glued the sole and upper shoe pieces together on that side.  This is what my shoe looked like after I'd glued both side pieces together:

Now, from either side (doesn't matter which),  I glued down the back end of the upper shoe to the remaining tabs on the sole but only up to the  middle back tab on the sole, and then I cut off the excess paper; like this:

I then glued the other side of the upper shoe to the last remaining tabs on the sole, then attached the remaining upper shoe end to the upper shoe end on the opposite side making certain to aligned them evenly down the middle (to assure the glued seam down the middle back of the shoe is even and straight); then I cut off the excess paper down the middle of the seam:

Lastly, to cover the unsightly tabs on the inside of the shoe, I cut off  a 9" strip of ribbon, (or you can use a strip of decorative paper); I doubled it, held it together by holding the open ends together between my thumb and forefinger then inserted the closed end of the ribbon into the back of the shoe.  Once in place I glued it to secure it in place: 

And here's the ballet shoe treat box!  

For a pair of shoes, just repeat the procedure to do another shoe!  It's really easy-peasy -- you're really just wrapping and gluing!!!  Now all that's left is decorating and embelling it!!!

A helpful suggestion is to use your glue gun for this project -- you'll get instant gratification! You won't have to hold the pieces together or clamp them until they dry enough to adhere before moving on!  Any hot glue "strings" can be easily removed by just pulling them away once the glue is dy and your shoe is together.

In my project picture at the beginning of this post, I added a pair of ladies footies; however, this little box can be used for soooo many things!!! Let your imagination soar!!!  Try pretty little packaged foot baths, tea bag samplers, babies booties, etc.  Here are examples using toiletries and candy:

I have made available the cut.file (made using the George cartridge) at the bottom of this post.

PLEASE NOTE: Because I did the cut.file on a rush basis to get my project/tutorial completed, this cut.file will only be available for several days.  I will be removing it to make an adjustment/correction to it.  Fortunately, the available file will make the shoe treat boxes; however, as you've seen in the tutorial, you will have to cut them to size in the back of the box, and I want to adjust/correct the file for a more perfect fit.  Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to figure that out in time to complete this project and tutorial -- I went with what I had.  As I may not do this immediately, I am making my file available to you now with the understanding that you will have to cut to adjust the back of the box as shown.  But, I will also let you know when the correction to the file has been made.  Normally I make my cut.files for my own use, and I'm not a professional, so even though I have no problem sharing them, they may not be very pretty to look at at any time!  LOL!!!

This file can be converted to a gypsy cut.file and, if you need assistance doing that, please post me a comment.
 
I hope everyone enjoyed my project today, and thank you so very much for stopping by!  I appreciate you taking the time to join me!

I'll be seeing you!

my ballet treat box shoes.cut

A "DESIGNER PURSE" CANDY/GIFT BOX

Hello my friends, and thanks for joining me  for my DT project today!  I love sharing with you, and many thanks to Pam for letting me be one of the designers on her fabulous blog!!!  You can visit Pam by clicking on her name (highlighted in blue) which is a direct link to her blog.  You'll love your visit!!!

As you know, I returned home from a family reunion/vacation recently, so I had just enough time yesterday to put this little designer purse candy/gift box together for you as my DT project:

Isn't it cute?!!!  The leather-look paper I believe I purchased some time ago from Michael's but I'm not absolutely sure as I've have had it for a while. 

I'll show you how I made the box using the sample template pictures below.  I wasn't sure how this box was going to turn out, so I did mine from the first dry run (which I think came out great) but didn't do a step-by-step while I was doing it, so I've prepared this demonstration on how to complete the box.  First, I began by designing my cut.file in Design Studio and cutting out the template on my Expression:

Once the file had cut, I removed the cut template/pattern and it looked like this:

Next I flipped the template over and folded it into the box shape along the score lines.  I made broken lines on the picture below to represent the fold lines (where the folds are made) and is the inside of the box:

After folding along the fold lines, I added adhesive to the outside top side tab, aligned it evenly with the inside of the opposite side edge of the box, and adhered it in place:

I then folded up the bottom panels and glued them together in place.  To finish the box, I aligned the top flap over the rounded sides of the box:

To keep the flap of my box shut I added self-sticking magnetic snaps for the box closure (you can use velcro or whatever you like), and here's the completed box sample:

Here's a picture of the magnetic snaps, just in case you're interested in them:

You can decorate your box as a purse candy/gift box and add handles as I have, or decorate and embellish it as a pirate's box, or even as man's toolbox -- it has quite a few use-options with using just a little imagination!

The cut.file was done using the George cartridge and is available along with the Gypsy converted file at the end of this post; however, please let me know if you don't have that cart and I'll do whatever I can to make this available for you to use, if you'd like -- just leave me a comment and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. 

Oh..., if you make this box, I'd love to see what you did with it!!!

I hope you like my candy/gift box!!!  Thanks for stopping by, and ...

I'll be seeing you!

my pirate box.cut

my pirate box.gypsy

IMAGINE IT! CREATE IT! - A POLYMER CLAY HOME DECOR PROJECT

Hello everyone!  Hope all's well!  Wow, just see what I've prepared for you today that's my DT project also over at Pam's!  It's really a very long tutorial but that's because I'm taking you step-by-step what I did, but it's really easy.

This project is just as the name implies as I actually imagined and created it as I was doing it.  I've never really worked with clay before so I wanted to play around with it to see what I could come up with.  I didn't have time to put together a cut-file project and couldn't think of any paper craft, so I decided you'd have to bear with me on this trial project; however, I love the results and I think you will too.  Now don't worry, it really is very easy.  And trust me, if I can do this, you can too.  Here is my completed home decor project:

I have no clay tools at all, so I used common items to complete this project entirely from scratch -- NO CLAY TOOLS!!!  This really is a picture heavy tutorial so let's get started.

Materials I used:

• Sculpey Oven Bake Clay
• Pearl Ex Powdered Pigments
• Large Background Stamp
• Cherub ornament shown below used for mold and molded item ( I found this on sale for $1 at Walmart)
• Item used for frame/cutting (I used one of Buster's empty dog food plastic containers shown below to outline my frame because I liked the octagon shape and the scallop cookie cutter for my molded cherub shape; however, cookie cutters, die cuts or actual shape cutters can be used)
• Plastic bottle or rolling pin ( I used my Crafters Pick Ultimate Glue bottle)
• Mister (containing water)
• Plastic knife
• Small paint brush
• Drinking Straw
• Spatula

NOTE:  Before I began I had ready a sheet of freezer paper covering a small baking sheet to hold my clay mold and clay items which were going into the oven to be baked.

I began by making the mold for the cherub by taking a thick chunk of clay as tall as the cherub and a bit wider around than the cherub:

Using the bottle of glue as a rolling pin I smoothed out the top of the clay and misted it with water before firmly pressing the cherub into the clay (some people use talc to keep the clay from sticking but I found water worked best for me):

After pressing the ornament into the clay, I carefully removed the cherub from the clay mold by gently lifting it along the edges of the clay lifting it out.  Here's what the mold looked like:

I placed the mold on the freezer wrap lined pan and baked it for 20 minutes at 275 degrees (always check time/temperature on clay package); I let clay cool about 30 minutes.

Once the mold was cool,  I took a chunk of clay and flattened it out large enough to fit over the depressed image in the mold  (this piece of clay should be just thick enough to not punch a hole into when pressing into it with your fingers):

Again I smoothed out the top of the clay chunk and mited the mold before placing the clay on top of the mold:

Very gently and carefully so as not to tear the clay -- but firmly -- I pressed the clay into the mold using my fingers and thumbs to get a good impression:

Lifting from around the edges (the same as with the cherub) I removed the clay and here's the impression I got from the mold:

NOTE:  Because I did this as I went along, as an afterthought I used the scallop shape cookie cutter (shown in the picture above of the materials I used) to cut away the excess clay around the edges of the cherub image so it didn't look so rough; because it was a last minute decision I didn't get a picture of it -- sorry.  However, you'd do the cutting around the edges using the cookie cutter just as you would on cookie dough.  You'll see on a following picture what it will look like with the edges scalloped.  Hey, I did say this was a trial project!!!  LOL!

Moving on, I took another chunk of clay enough for my frame (the plaster container); again smoothing, flattening (to about the thickness of a nickel), and wetting the top of the clay; I laid the container on top of this piece of clay and pressed down firmly:

Using the plastic knife I carefully sliced away the extra/excess clay from around the image of the frame:

Here's the impression I had once I'd sliced away the unnecessary additional clay:

I then took my background stamp (I've colored the stamp so you'll be able to see the impression), misted it and placed it on top of the clay frame pressing down gently but firmly to get a good impression on the clay:

Now the fun really began for me!  Using the spatula I carefully lifted the cherub image and centered it on the frame.  Using the end of the paint brush I punched holes into each scallop for decoration and used the straw to punch a hole where I was going to string a tassel:

Using several colors of pigment powders as paint, I started painting the clay until I achieved a color I liked:

Using the spatula I carefully lifted my image/frame and placed it on the freezer paper on the pan, then baked it at 275 degrees for 20 minutes.

Once the clay image had cooled, I decided rub black ink around the edges and to use my index finger to spread some gold Stickles all over the image completely covering it and allowing it to dry.  This is what it looked like:

This is actually the finished piece!!!  Now of course you've noticed I didn't put a tassel through the hole at the bottom as I'd planned; again, as an afterthought, I changed my mind and decided to glue a wire holder for the computer generated words "Imagine" and "Create" before placing the image into the wooden frame.  If you'd like to know how I did the wire, it was easy.  I cut off a piece of 20 guage wire about 4 inches long; using round nose pliers I held the pliers with my palm and fingers facing up before grabbing the very tip end of the wire with the pliers:

Slowly turning my wrist I curled the wire until the tip end and the length of the wire were touching:

At this point, afrer curling the other end with the pliers,  I could take the loops between my thumb and  index finger to continue curling, bending and/or manipulating the wire until I got the shape I desired.  That's it!!!

Now I really have no experience at all working with clay and this really is my first completed clay project, so like I said if I can do this on a first try, you can too.  Clay doesn't have to be hard or intimidating -- jusr play with it!  Anyway, I hope you like this and are inspired to try doing one yourself!  And don't forget to let me see how your's came out!

Thanks for stopping by and...

I'll be seeing you!