Micro-Beaded Winter Wonderland (3x3 Box template with a lid)

I don't know about you, but I can't get enough of templates for 3x3 boxes! This one is 1 and 3/4 inches deep & it has a lid. The original template is from last years Stampin' Up! Saleabration catalogue. I just re-sized it to fit 3x3 cards, scanned it & now it's a PDF. If you need jpeg, just let me know (melstampz@gmail.com)

There are instructions added on the bottom of the template for how to make an inkless version (none of those pesky dotted lines!) :O) & The tutorial & the measurements for that method are both below.

...And it's a good thing we still have lil' bits of snow around here, because I can't get enough of these Eat Cake Kidlets playing in the snow either! It's nice that they're all winter long stamps, not just for the holidays. :O)

Here's the side view of the box & the inside view too:

I love the shine of wee microbeads (these ones are from S.U.
& they're stuck on with Crystal Lacquer)

Details:

The Stamps:

Like these cutie patootie images?

You can find these stamps in the
Winter Wonderland Stamp set here.
See more schtuff made with 'em here.

The Cardstock:
Me likey the shimmer of this Paper Temptress Cardstock. It's like twinkling H2Os but in a cardstock. Loverly shiny Stardreams metallic cardstock! It Cuttlebugs or dry embosses like a dream. The top is made with Aquamarine & the bottom is made with Opal. :O)

The Templates:
This 3x3 was an S.U. SAB template that used the 'Sweet One' set. The Top & Bottom of it are made into PDFs (at 214%) so that it can be used as a box for a 3x3 notecards & envelopes. Click the Templates if you'd like to go download the PDFS on SplitCoastStampers:

The Construction:



Step 1) Print templates on regular ol' paper & trim around them



Step 2) Cut cardstock pieces for the box & 3x3 cards:

• Box BOTTOM=7 inches square
• Box TOP=7 2/8 inches square
• 3x3 cards=6x3 inches
  

Step 3) Adhere the template to your cardstock with repositionable adhesive (i used Dotto)



Step 4) Cut 4 slits in the bottom & top box parts (where the lines on the template indicate)



Step 5) Emboss the lid with a Cuttlebug if you like. (fold part of the 7 inch+ box over the outside of the embossing folder so it fits on the 6 inch Cuttlebug plate.



Step 6) Tear Snow strips & cut strips of decorative paper (12 or 8 inches long & then a section that is approximately 3 3/8" wide to finish the last side. (It may be a good idea to measure your box since the size will depend on how you scored it) :O) I embossed some of the strips with a Snow Dots Cuttlebug folder.



Step 7) Stamp the Winter Wonderland peoples, colour & cut them out. I used an exacto blade to give this detail & dimension. The technique I used for these guys is a good one if you want the depth of Copics but are newbie and or only have a couple colours:

1) Colour with whatever medium you're comfortable with. (I used watercolour pencil crayons for these)

2) Deepen the shadows with Copic marker colours that match (or whatever intense markers you have.)

Step 8) To bead it, apply Crystal Lacquer. (If you click the photo above you can see the icicles of Lacquer at the top. So fun. Makes ya feel like a kid with a big bottle of paste!)

Step 9) Sprinkle microbeads (or glitter or fun flock...) over the Crystal Lacquer. It's so nifty how those teensy beads catch the light and look like frost on the snow. :O)

The cards are a 3x3 gatefold turned on it's side so that they make a little horizon. The patterned paper makes the perfect little scenes scaled just right to go with these stamps. ("Be Merry" line by My Mind's Eye: "Oh Christmas Tree" & "Jolly Little Snowmen") Here's what the fold looks like:

Hope you're all still enjoyin' Winter!

P.S. Loads more 3x3 templates here. :O)