Today's the last day to win some Shimmerz!

Wanna win some Shimmerz? Today's the last day to win em.
How could I resist the chance to link theze up? (I hear very good things about 'em. My friend Kim picked the clear one up for me yesterday (& swarovski crystals & DP); must hook up with her so I can try them!)

Here's the post.

P.S. Apologies about the partial post. I am butterfingers. Is there some new function on blogger that publishes when you hit certain keys? It makes me feel horrible to send out partial posts. SO sorry.

Easiest 4 1/2 inch box (with Scor-Pal) Happy OWLoween! :O)

Making a box... 4 minutes
Embellishing it... 1 hour, 10 minutes
Photographing it.... 3 hours, 20 minutes
Sharing a new box with you for OWLoween.... priceless!

heehee This is a box was so easy-peasy to make with a Scor-Pal. It's a simple box with a belly band that has a note card tied to it. When finished, the box measures 4 1/2 inches square on the front & 1 inch deep. It fits 4 and 2/8 inch cards & envelopes or a gift/treat. (It uses just over half of a sheet of 12 x 12 paper)

Stampin The Owl:

This cute little guy is from the LPS set {Flyin' By} To make him...

1) Stamp or emboss him in black on a circle of designer paper (orange paper from SU's Bali Breeze DSP) Sponge the orange with ink for dimension. Add orange marker to wings. Put Crystal Lacquer on his beak. Add googlie eyes.

2) Mat him (I used retired SU Halloween paper.)

3) Make a black textured mat by sticking black Magic Mesh onto black cardstock & die-cutting it with Nestabilities scallop circles. Stick the black scallop on with black foam tape & add it to a note card.

The Leaves:

The branch on this owl stamp is so fun to add leaves to. :O)

1) Stick the green Halloween paper onto the So Saffron cardstock (oh so sticky tape)
2) Cut leaf shapes from it & stick 'em at the end of the branches (tombow monomulti)
3) Shade the leaves with a marker & add gloss (with crystal lacquer)

Makin' the Box:
(These photos show a fake box in white paper with marker to show you where the lines are. :O) Click photos if you'd like to enlarge them & use the back button to return to this tutorial)



Step 1) Cut a piece of 12 x 12 cardstock to measure 12 by 6.5 inches

Before cutting my So Saffron cardstock piece to size, i cut it to 8.5 inches wide & printed on it using a word document that says "Happy Owloween tooooo Yooou!" over & over. (If you'd like me to send it to you just let me know.) :O)




After trimming to 6.5 inches wide...



Step 2) Score it 4 times at the 4.5, 5.5, 10 & 11 inch marks.
(Indicated in the picture above by the orange lines)



Step 3) Turn it and Score 2 times at the 4.5 & 5.5 inch marks.
(Indicated in the picture above by the blue lines)

Here is what it looks like all scored:




Step 4) Make the cuts: Cut away the two pairs of small square at the top 2 inch portion (to the right & left of where it says Top Closure flap) And cut 4 slits in the sides at the middle (cut along the score marks indicated by the orange lines & stop cutting at the score marks indicated by the blue lines) to make flaps.

The Belly Band with Note card:

This is kinda neato, because the note card can be opened different ways. The person you give this to can open it by untying the bow & slipping it off the belly band, or they can slide off the whole band. Here's how to make one:


(The one i made was obviously orange & green, but i've done a fakey in white with markered measurements in hopes that it is easy to follow. I'd love to know anywhere that it's confusing so I can fix it for ya.) :O)

Step 1) Cut two pieces of cartdstock 12 inches by 1 3/4 " and 12" by 2 inches



Step 2) Score at the 4.5, the 5.5, the 10, & the 11 inch mark. This gives you the bare bones of the scoring.



Step 3) To get the belly band to fit the box, score 1/4 inch to the left of the 4.5 inch score (marked in orange here)



Step 4) Shift the strip & score 1/4 inch to the left of the 10" score too. (Marked in orange on the right)



Step 5) Add brads or eyelets or sumthin'



Step 6) Dry fit the band to see if it needs more scoring



Step 7) Add oh so sticky tape
(In hindsight, I would add the adhesive on the back of the small flap.) You can stick the band together a little while it's on the box & then slide it off and press firmly to get a good stick.



Now you can tie the note card on & slip the belly band back on! :O)

The Eyeball Box Liner:

This part makes me just squeeeeal with joy! heehee. The box liner has wee jiggly eyeballs that gyre & gimble in the wabe! (rattle & shake when you open it, teeheeheehee) :O) I was giggling like mad when I added these.They're just stuck on with Crystal Lacquer. They remind me of the moving eyeball moss in Labyrinth one of my flick all-time-faves. (LOVE that worm!)

To make a liner for the 4 1/2" box:

1) Cut a piece of paper to measure 4 1/2 inches x 2 inches
2) Score it down the middle at the 1 inch mark
3) Use a corner rounder on both the box & the liner
4) Stick the liner in the lid of the box

Hope you had even half as much fun checkin' this out as I did makin' it to share with you.

Happy OWLoween! & Stampire hugs to You!
:O)=

Nifty Homemade Nestabilities Templates (for using Nesties or other dies or punches)

click photos to see the details up close (return with back button)

I made some nifty Nestabilities templates (or guides) out of overheads, and I thought I'd share how-to, in case you might find them as handy-dandy as I have.

All you need is:
Cardboard or Cardstock to die cut
Cheap overhead sheet (or flat clear plastic from packaging)
Your Nestabilities (or other dies) & machine, (or punches or paper templates.)
A permanent marker

Step 1) Cut shapes with your dies--one of all in each set of Nestabilities (or whatever dies you have)

You can use low quality cardstock for this. The cardboard that comes in Stampin' Up! designer series papers is perfect for this (especially since it's not acid free so it shouldn't be stored in with your papers anyhow.)



Step 2) Lay die cut shapes on transparency

Any transparency will do (or even plastic from packaging if you have some.)
White printer paper under your transparency helps you see your tracing.



Step 3) trace die cut shapes with permanent marker

Some Ideas:

Make doubles: I made two transparencies of each shape so I could layer them with each other, and see what they would look like die cut and layered (but without ever having to cut into paper.) :O) You could also layer templates of all your different shaped Nestabilities. Then, you can see how different shapes would look with each other: for instance, a square with a circle cut out of it or vice versa.

Scan & print multiples: If you want to make sets as gifts for stamping friends, you can scan them and print them on overhead/acetate sheets that are made for your printer. (Though these are more expensive.) Saves you tracing, and you could get all geeky and type labels & the measurements on in photo-editing software if you like.



If you save the die cut shapes you can punch holes in them, label them, & stick 'em on a ring. They are handy too...

Labeling the Template:

If you like, you can write on your template and...

...label with the name of the Nestabilities style
...number the sizes (on the template & then on the Nesties themselves.)
...label with the diameter/measurements of the shape
...include the minimum size of paper piece that you need to use each die
...write which punches work well with them
...or even your favourite sets to use with them

Uses:



Image Framing: Lay over a stamped image, to see how the stamped shape will fit in Nestabilities



Image Selecting: Use to see how cropping portions of the stamp image would look if you were to select them with the die cut.



Framing, Omitting & Layer: Lay a couple of clear templates over each other atop a stamped image (and combine the die-cut cardstock shape too if you like) to see how how portions of the stamp would look if you...

...created a frame with the die cut (Where the black scallop lines on the acetate indicate)
...covered them (the white scallop made of cardstock)
...layered them (did all of the above)
...cut 'em out as a window (which would create a wreath like image cutting out where the white cardboard scallop is & framing where the black scallop line on the overhead shows)




Pattern Selecting: Lay the template over patterned paper (or stamped backgrounds) to see which portion you'd like to die cut



Embossed image selection: Lay the template on Cuttlebug/Big Shot embossed paper to see which area you'd like to die cut, OR better yet, lay it on the embossing folder itself then you can die cut your cardstock first & emboss it second (and no squishy the embossing) :O)

Other uses:

Paper planning:
Use these templates to see how many (of the die size you need) will fit on a sheet of cardstock. This can help you estimate the amount of paper to buy or use for projects.

Scrapbookers,
You can use them to lay over photos and see exactly what you'd capture with each die & then to see which die you'd like to use to make the mat(s).

Template designers,
You can use them to see what die cut shape might work on templates you're creating, as a part of it, or as a cut out in it.

Variations of Clear Templates:

Templates of templates (lol)

Make clear templates of your favourite paper templates or patterns (or just sections of them.) Then, you can place the clear template over patterned or stamped papers to see how you'd like to cut. I would've never realized how cute that scallop in this Basic Grey Ambroisia paper is around the handle of this new bucket handbag template I'm workin' on, without this template thinger.

Templates of punches

Templates of punches are handy 'cause you can layer 'em with your clear nestabilities templates to see...

...how they work together or with other punches,
...where you'd like to punch out of patterned paper
... or where you'd like to punch out of stamped paper or images.

To make clear punch templates, you may want to punch thinner cardstock to make this template (I tried the cardboard from the DSP and it was too thick)

Storing them. I'm keeping 'em in a binder. When I get more, I think I'll use a 3-ring binder, tab them, & separate them with white sheets between each pair.

Hope you found this useful.
Happy Craftin'! :O)

Spilling "Boo 2 U" Crystal Ball card (& DIY text paper)

Email Readers: click the pic if you'd like to go blog-side

Photoshop brushes & respective artists are here: Flourish & Skull

This spooky card is a matchbook card with a ribbon sentiment that falls out and scares ya! It was inspired by my best friend Kim. She said "You have to use that kewl skull set to make a pink & black girl card!" So here it is. :O)

I had fun making some really easy text cardstock for it, so that the sentiment could be a part of the design with out taking up room. It says "i see spooky in your future":

Do It Yourself Text Patterned Paper:

1) Type your phrase in a word document
2)Remove the margins (set 'em at zero)
3) Copy and paste your phrase again & again
4) Change the font & colour of the text to whatever
5) Print it out on cardstock or vellum...

if you'd like this word doc i can email it to you; just lemme know

This card started out as a plain 4 2/8 inch card; then when I had it laid out, Charles said "What's with the goofy ribbon?" (Ugh men! lol) Sooooh then I thought well it is kind of unbalanced...ribbon and i are not good friends at the best of times.

I didn't have room to add any ribbon on the outside to balance it out, so i had to make it a match book card & add more ribbon on the inside instead. Now, when you open it up, the rest of the sentiment (BOO 2 U) falls out at you. It's in big letters stuck to the ribbon which slides out. Like a can of snakes!...

...but slithery instead of sproingy. The sentiment even
makes a scaryhissysnake noise when
it falls out. I actually scared myself with it
(more than once when measuring it for this tut!) rofl
now I'm afraid to open it and it's staring at me (really it is!) hahaha

The Fold:

I'm usually lazy with folds, but this matchbook is as easy as ABC to make:

A) Cut piece of cardstock cut to measure 4 2/8 inches by 10 inches.
B) Score it 2 times (at the 4 2/8 inch & 8 1/2 inch marks)
C) Stick something on it & Tuck the long piece behind the shorter flap

The Image:

Step 1) Place the skull from {Rock Star} in the center of the globe from {Global}



Step 2) Stamp it (I've used Black Craft ink embossed with clear embossing powder on Vellum cardstock 'cause ink smudges nicely on the vellum c.s.)



Step 3) Emboss the flourish from {Flourished Dove} in white craft ink & clear e.p.

Step 4) Rub a lil' black craft ink with your finger (or a sponge/dauber) over the crystal ball. Colour the base of the crystal ball with a black marker (I like the way Close to my Heart's black marker dries on the vellum.)



Step 5) Glue a white circle to the back of the globe



Step 6) Glue a scallop from Nestabilities on there too. Trim it at the bottom where it won't show

Step 7) Adhere a strip of ribbon 4.5 " long to the mat (2" x 4") & stick the mat to the match book card

Step 8) Stick the image on...

The Texture:

I love the image on the Skeleton Scroll Cuttlebug embossing folder so much that I wanted it to stand out from the text paper. So I did these things with it...

1) Emboss the cardstock in the folder
2) Apply Versamark to the raised areas
3) Add clear embossing powder & heat it
4) Brush on colour with the dark grey in Yasumtomo Pearlescent paints on a waterbrush.
5) Darken areas with a little black ink & water

The Sentiment:



Step 1) Stamp letters & dry emboss them
(this sentiment combines Headline Alphabet & Headline Numbers from Stampin' Up!) in black craft ink.



Step 2) Cut backs for them by holding the stamped letters onto a 2nd scrap of paper & cutting them out. (You can use removable adhesive to hold them, if you like.) Emboss the backs too.



Step 3) Measure how much ribbon you need by laying your letters out on it.

Step 4) Adhere the front & back to the ribbon with strong adhesive



Step 5) Distress with more grey Pearlescent paints on a waterbrush.



Step 6) Add the ribbon sentiment:

Cut a liner (or just use a punched shape) If using a liner, adhere the ribbon to the back of it.

This liner was the the same size & scoring as the card: 4 2/8 inches by 10 inches, scored at the 4 2/8 inch & 8 1/2 inch marks. (A liner has the advantage of hiding the backs of the decorative brads that you can see in the photo above.)

Here's the inside view...

And that's it! Happy BOO 2 U! :O)=

Goodies:

Stamps: 3 Little Paper Shop stamp sets {Global}, {Rock Star}, & {Flourished Dove}

Cardstock: Basic Black, Pink Pirouette, Vellum Cardstock, The Paper Company Black Paisley on Silver (P89204)
Colour: Black Craft ink embossed with clear embossing powder, White craft ink & clear e.p. Black marker. The dark grey in Yasumtomo Pearlescent paints on a waterbrush.
Accessories: Ribbon from Michael's, Tiny self-adhesive gems, Stickles Silver Ice. Dollar Store brads, Wire to embellish the bow.
Tools: Scalloped Nestability, Cuttlebug Skeleton Scroll embossing folder. Boho Blossoms Punch (SU)

Hope your day is stampalicious!

P.S. What's really spooky is how long my posts are getting.
I never know what details to leave out in case someone is a beginner.
Do you think my posts are getting too long?