Still Stamping

A Thoughtful Gift Idea

 

If you haven't yet heard about the Swine Flu/H1N1 virus, you must be really out of touch.  Everyone is bracing for a pandemic.  We can all take steps to avoid getting sick, and one of the best is to frequently wash our hands.  So what to do when we can't do a soap-and-water wash?  Use hand sanitizer, like Purell. 

And why, you may ask, is Carol the stamper talking about Purell today?  Well, it's because the tiny box above is a gift packaging for a .5 fl. oz. bottle of Purell!  Isn't it cute?   Although I made this one, the design comes from Kivonne Tucker.  I think I'll be making a lot of these to give away.

The details:   Cardstock: Shimmery White, Certainly Celery

Markers: Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, So Saffron

Stamp set: Hello Again

Other: Sizzix oval die, 1/4" punch, grosgrain ribbon, adhesive 

Basket or Bin? The Choice is Yours with Sizzix and Stampin' Up!

One of the first dies I bought for my Sizzix Big Shot was the exclusive Baskets & Blooms Bigz XL die, available only through Stampin' Up!  While meant to create adorable little baskets, I have struggled with putting it together as quickly and easily as I'd like to.  So when I saw this crative variation, I fell in love!  Now instead of using the two basket pieces to make a tiny, curved basket about the size of a Dixie Cup (and with the same kind of bottom), the two pieces form the ends of a box or "bin", the length of which is entirely up to you! 

 

My version has a definite "Spring" or "feminine" feel to it, but I can see this done in Earth Elements colors and decorated with autumn leaves cut out with the Leaves #2 die (113459), or in Christmas colors decorated with snowflakes (Sizzlits set 113449 or Originals die 113461) or ornaments (stamped with the new Delightful Decorations and punched out with the new Ornament Punch).  And of course we can't forget Halloween.  Hmmmm, what would you use to decorate a Halloween box for your table?

 

Colors used: Regal Rose, Certainly  Celery, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink

Punches: Scallop Circle, 1" Circle,  Eyelet Border, Five Petal Flower (for the leaves!)

Other dies: Spring Flowers Sizzlits set (113447)

Order any (or all) of the tools and materials to make this basket by clicking on my Shop Now button in the right-hand column, and I'll send you the tutorial for FREE!

Carol Taggart

A Classy Matchbox

I've always been intrigued by matchboxes.  Even as a kid, I saved the big boxes from my grandmother's Ohio Blue Tip matches (she used them to light the gas oven in the kitchen) and stored my special treasures in them.  I'd decorate the outer part of the box with cutouts from magazines, and sometimes line the "drawer" with cloth from my Mom's sewing room.

Later, as an adult, I'd buy the little wooden matches that came in tiny wooden matchboxes, dump out the matches, and use the matches for crafting.  I have a cool necklace I made using a polymer clay covered matchbox.  Really!  (That project is actually a stamping project, too!  I stamped into the clay before baking it.)

Now with the advent of the Sizzix Big Shot and the Matchbox Die (Bigz XL), I can have an unlimited supply of matchboxes in an unending variety of colors and designer papers.  Fun!

The one you see above is from a recent class I taught.  The "drawer" is More Mustard card stock, and the "wrapper" is Autumn Traditions DSP.  The mat for the punched oval sentiment is also part of the Matchbox Die - there are three great label shapes, all sized perfectly to fit onto the matchbox.

And what treasure, pray tell, does this little beauty hold inside?

Chocolate!  The little box is the perfect size to hold four Hershey's Nuggets.  To make your treat coordinate with the box, wrap the nuggets in stamped (in this case, wheeled) address labels.  They're self-adhesive and the exact size to wrap around the candy.

Carol Taggart

http://stillstamping.com        carol@stillstamping.com

Big Shot Out-Of-The-Box-# 2

Okay, so my title today is a little stretch.  For the project I'm showing you, we used the Sizzix #2 Box Die to create a little gift tote rather than a box.  The guests at my recent Boxes and Baskets and Bags, Oh My! class got to create five different projects that were just perfect for gift-giving.  We'll soon be into the Holiday season and thinking of the gifts and party favors we want to make for our friends, so my stampers got a little head start.  With a bit of tweaking, these Autumn or All-Seasonal projects can easily be converted to Halloween or Thanksgiving or Christmas projects.

Here's the first I want to share with you.

The details are as follows: 

Cut out two die-cuts from Rich Razzleberry Card Stock (lucious!) using the Box # 2 Bigz XL die.  Be sure to use the extended crease pad with this one, because the die cut has fold lines pre-scored for you, and you don't want to cut through on those lines.

Trim off the top narrow flap, the one that normally tucks into the "box" to close it.

Assemble the two boxes using sticky strip or tacky glue, but open the "lid" of each box, and use the Ticket Corner Punch to trim the corners.

Adhere the two boxes back to back.  I prefer tacky glue for this step, because a secure bond is needed.

Then punch an opening for the handle, using the new Fancy Label Punch. 

Cut a strip of Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper to wrap around your box.

Embellish as desired.  I used the Rich Razzleberry dotted grosgrain ribbon (love it), a greeting stamped with Oval Alls and layered onto a punch-out with the Scalloped Circle Punch, and die cuts from the Birds & Blooms Sizzlets sets.!

All of the supplies I used (except the tacky glue) are available from Stampin' Up!  You can order them now by clicking on my link on the sidebar and going to my website.  Or email me, and I'd be happy to help you with your order.

Carol Taggart, and yes, I'm Still Stamping!

carol@stillstamping.com