Back to basics

Can you remember when we used to make boxes without dies, I surely can. In fact for quite a few years when I was a Stampin' Up! demonstrator I named myself the Queen of Boxes. But when dies came along I embraced them fully and their perfectly cut and scored lines.

Well it was back to basics for this box card, one of the projects at last years SCT Crop and Create event which we received from Crafters Companion big numbers as stamps and dies plus stamped bunches of balloons, presents, cake and candles. The set was called Happy Birthday (Gemini Pop Up Box stamp and die). Sara Davies was our instructor at the event and she shared lots of tips. We also received a set of Spectrum Noir Tricolour Aqua Floral Meadow set and a stamp set called To Someone Special. So a lot of goodies for a mini one hour class. I haven't used the latter 2 items for this project but still have 2 cards to make. I'm just more comfortable colouring with my Copics and matching them to the colours of the DSP and mat cardstock (Bermuda Bay from SU!)

 There is no sign of the co-ordinating box card die to buy now but I didn't look last year when I received my card kit but it is possible it wasn't available then as we were provided with a template to either print out directly on card stock or trace onto our cardstock. The former would have been great but I felt we were going to see the dotted score lines and tracing sounded really cumbersome. Lots of the ladies that were doing the event converted the template so they could use on their Cricut but I don't own one so I decided to get out my ruler and work it old the old way.

So if you want to have a go this is what you need;

• TWO pieces of heavy weight cardstock measuring 6-1/2” x 8-15/16”
• Score at 3-1/2” and at 6-1/8”
• Flip the cardstock so the smallest score line is at the base, score at 2-5/8"
• Cut and score (dotted lines are scored) as per the diagram below. 

• From the offcuts from above cut out THREE pieces of 4-1/4” x 7/8” card and score at each end 3/8” as below:

These form insert tabs to attach the coloured images on strips of acetate (I used my Copics to colour up). I used Hammermill 1001b weight cardstock to make my base box card. 

The card actually lies flat so you can put in a very big envelope; you can obviously make it shorter.

Well that was a fun project for a "special occasion" and I certainly would make this box again for special birthdays.

✿ Karen ✿