Thinking Outside the Box Hop - It's been a while

For the Thinking Outside the Box blog hop today we are sharing different versions of a folded box in that I mean a box with a fold over top.  I've made a simple box of Smarties look much more than just a simple box of Smarties.

To make this box you'll need two pieces of card stock, I used thick whisper white.  The first piece makes an open box for the Smarties to stand in and the second creates the fold over lid/flap.

Part 1 the box   - cut a piece of card 3 1/4" x 9" .  On the  long side score at 1 1/4", 4 1/4", 5 1/2" and 81/2".  On the short side score @ 1 1/4"

Part two the lid - cute a piece of card 3" x 8 1/4". On the long side score @ 4" and 5 1/4"

If you wish to stamp on either of these pieces now is the time to do it. I used the soon to be launched Sailing Home Stampin' Up! set using Sahara Sand ink and the anchor stamp.  I stamped all over the outside of both pieces of card.

Make an open ended box with the first piece as shown.  You'll see I couldn't decide on colours so this box is Sahara Sand card with Night of Navy stamping.

The flap is then added to the back of the box sticking the longer end of the flap leaving it to go up the back of the sweet/candy container once they are put in the box and then the flap folds over the top at the score lines.

Before putting the sweets into the box I used some coordinating Come Sail Away designer series paper to disguise the sweet container.  I also stamped the anchor on both pieces before sticking to the sweet container.

Once you have your gift inside the box you can bring over the flap and secure it with bakers twine or ribbon.  I've also used the topper that I created to stop the flap from flipping out, but be sure not to stick it over the twine so that the twine can be slid up the box to open easily without damaging the packaging.

For the topper I used a diecut from the Smooth Sailing Dies in Night of Navy card stock, added a stamped compass to which I had added a copper foil needle from the same dies and a copper brad.  I also stamped and heat embossed in copper the simple thanks message.  These would make nice thank you treats for teachers, co-workers or neighbours.  You could adjust the measurements to suit whatever treats you buy.

The new catalogue will be going live on 4 June so if you don't have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like to browse a paper copy of the catalogue please do email me at zoetant@live.co.uk to arrange for a copy to be sent to you.  In the meantime don't forget to visit the Stampin' Up! Shop to check out the retiring items before they are gone.

Now it's time to visit the other talented demonstrators around the globe and see what lovely box designs they have to share with you.  Next stop is Annette in The Netherlands.

Blog List

1. Shannean Moncrieff
2. Tanja Kolar
3. Zoë Tant - You're here
4. Annette Elias
5. Dena Rekow
6. Beate Wacker
7. Aude Barbara
8. Barb Stewart
9. Fiona Carson

Stampin' Up! Regional Training Day Leamington Spa

Yesterday I went to the Stampin' Up! UK Leamington Spa Regional training event with some of my team.  We had a truly fab day, learning lots of new tips, received a stamp set and met up and had fun with lots of old and new friends.  Thank you to everyone who swapped with me.  The swaps were super and I'm looking forward to sharing them with all my lovely customers.  Thanks too, to everyone in my team who has travelled to, or is about to, one of the regional events.  It's just great to share a day with so many like minded folk.

I was honoured to be asked to put together a stand about make and take projects and sharing products that I love for the Share Fair which was part of the days programme.  Four demonstrators each put together a stand based on a given topic to offer tips and advice to the others attending.  This leads me to my first picture above which was my swap card for the day using Stampin' Up! set Bright Blossoms, which is so easy to use and so much versatile.  To make the card above, especially if you are new to stamping, would cost approx £47 (excluding the sentiment) to buy the products and you could make lots of cards with that pack.  You can, if you're not a beginner, upgrade your purchases to make this version below which includes some brights designer paper series, new Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Jelly Bean brads, taffeta ribbon, pearls and the ever popular scallop trim border punch. 

Next stop for all demonstrators is the annual European Convention, which will be held in Mainz, Germany this year.  If you think you'd like to join us for the party then consider buying the Stampin' Up! starter kit which has recently been revamped so that it is 100% customisable and is now only £99.  The kit offers you the choice of upto £130 worth of product and also comes with a business pack worth an additional £45.  If you've already got some Stampin' Up! products this is a perfect way to add complimentary items to broaden your crafting repetoire and during May you will also have the opportunity to accept free registration for Convention in November where you can join us in the celebration of Stampin' Up! 5th Anniversary in Europe.  To find out more about this visit my Stampin' Up! UK Demonstrator Join for £99 page or contact me on 07717855179 to find out more. 

You have nothing to lose, not even the investment of £99 as you'll have a wonderful new kit full of your choice of products to keep forever!

More soon.

Zx

Supplies

Cardstock - Stampin' Up!  real red, basic black, whisper white

Designer Series Paper - Stampin' Up! Brights Stack

Stamps - Stampin' Up! Bright Blossoms, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Tools - Stampin' Up! Marvellous Markers in real red and old olive, scallop trim border punch, Ink - Basic black

Accessories - bakers twine, taffeta ribbon, pearls and rhinestones, Summer Mini UK Jelly Bean Brads

Stampin' Up! Pines & Poinsettias for Christmas Card Club

Gosh another fortnight has passed already and  therefore another Christmas Card Club Challenge.  This week the challenge has been set by Carol and she has set the challenge of ribbons and lace (punched or real).  I've combined punched lace and real red taffeta and satin ribbons, along with the scallop trim corner punch to lace the corners of the real red matting layer and I've also used the stripes embossing folder to create my own checked layer. 

Creeping in now and probably on a regular basis are labels made with the Stampin' Up! UK Summer Mini's new framelits dies which you can use to frame an image and matt them in different or the same colour.  By using two sizes at the same time you can create your own frames or apertures.  You can look at these in more detail by checking out the Stampin' Up! UK Summer Mini Catalogue via the link in my sidebar. 

Don't forget to visit all the other ladies in the club for more Christmas ideas and check back in two weeks for my challenge.  I can't tell you anymore about it just now, so make a date to visit the Christmas Card Club ladies again soon.

Have a great day!
Zx

Challenges
Creative Craft Challenges2  (CCC2) - Anything goes
Jingle Belles - Embossing     You'll need to look closely as mine isn't obvious, but it's all in the gingham!!
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes
Stampin' Up! Supplies
Cardstock - early espresso, real red, old olive, whisper white
inks - real red, old olive, early espresso
stamps - pines and poinsettias
tools - lace ribbon border punch, framelits labels dies, scallop trim corner punch, big shot, stripes embossing folder, brayer
accessories - red glitter, satin ribbon, taffeta ribbon, stampin dimensionals, glue dots

Stampin' Up! Mixed Bunch and Bright Blossoms

Well here I have a couple of cards intended to brighten your day in the midst of all this dreary and cold weather.

 Yellow is the colour theme if you want to take part in this week's Less is more challenge and so here you can see white embossing on daffodil delight cardstock and daffodil delight sentiment from Curly Cute.  You can also add texture to your cards using the Stampin' Up! Simply Scored Scoring Tool  which if you remember from my earlier post is a versatile tool that suits those of you who measure in inches and those who measure in centimetres. 

This card can be achieved if you use the oval of the two designer frames embossing folders on whisper white cardstock.  Use basic black and daffodil delight to ink up a pretty flower and vase from Bright Blossoms and stamp them on whisper white card.  Punch out with the extra large oval punch from Stampin' Up! and adhere the punched shape to your frame centre, having torn around the frame first.  Then you can use a new toy..... Yes Stampin' Up! UK has launched it's own exclusive set of Framelits Dies called the labels collection to add a daffodil  delight frame.  Simples....!  To get these dies or other Stampin' Up! products used just contact me or your own demonstrator.

A bright moment in a grey day! Enjoy your bank holiday whatever the weather!

Zx

Challenges
Less is more - Yellow

Supplies used from Stampin' Up! UK
stamp sets - Mixed Bunch, Bright Blossoms, Curly Cute, Sincere Salutations
Card stock - whisper white, daffodil delight
Tools - designer frames embossing folders, big shot, extra large oval punch, labels collection framelits dies, heat gun, simply scored scoring tool
inks - versamark, basic black, daffodil delight
accessories - ribbon, rhinestones, dimensionals

Stampin' Up! UK Summer Mini Catalogue 2012 is live from today

 

 The Stampin' Up! UK Summer Mini is live from today and is full of beautiful new stamp sets and accessories you just will not want to live without!  Included is one that will help you with those difficult male cards.  You can see an example using The Open Sea stamp set which I sneak peaked over the weekend. 

The Summer Mini also introduces you to some new tools and accessories one of which is the Simply Scored Scoring Tool which has been designed by and for Stampin' Up!.  It's etched grooves every 1/8", and the ability to score card stock up to 12" x 12" (30.5cm x 30.5cm) means that the Simply Scored Scoring Tool helps you create perfectly measured score marks.  It makes light work of projects with a variety of score marks or if you are making multiples of the same scored projects.

It's features include

• a high-quality stylus instead of a plastic bone folder.  The stylus is ergonomically shaped and has a comfort grip.  It's high quality metal tips at either end come in two sizes and glide smoothly over your paper.
• a unique set of place markers that let you mark your score lines when creating multiple projects with the same score lines. It includes 3, but more can be purchased.
• a hidden storage compartment in the back of the base to hold your scoring tools.
• a capacity for up to 30.5cm x 30.5cm (12" x 12") card stock
  

 You can add simple accents to cards and scrapbook pages or make impressive and yet simple projects like the rosette wreath above.  If I can do it so can you!

It's most important feature is that it accommodates both the metric and imperial crafter.  For those who prefer to work in inches there is the tool itself, but worry not if you prefer to work in metric there is a seperate add on - the metric plate - which allows for easy conversion of the basic simply scored scoring tool.  You can find out more below in this short video from Stampin' Up!

For a free demonstration or to buy please contact me on 01507 525885 or mail me martin.tant@homecall.co.uk

Come back soon for details of the diagonal plate that allows you to extend the use of your Simply Scored Scoring Tool even further and to make even more projects. 

There are new opportunities available if you've been thinking about joining the Stampin' Up! family. From today the new full customisable starter kit is just £99 and you can choose your own kit contents up to £130.  You'll also receive a business pack which even if you just want to be a hobby demo and buy for yourself and a few friends will give you catalogues to browse and access to lots of resources and ideas on the demonstrator website.  You can visit my join Stampin' Up! page to find out more including details of a free registration for the 2012 Stampin' Up! European Convention in Mainz, Germany if you join us this month.

Stampin' Up! Sneak Peak for the Summer Mini Catalogue meets Less is more

Here's a sneaky peak at things to come next week!  Make sure you check back 1 May for some exciting news from Stampin' Up! via me! 

My sneak peak also fits in with the challenge at Less is More this week where the lovely Mandy and Chrissie have set us a sketch to follow.   To achieve this effect you need to stamp onto patterned paper in this case Stampin' Up! First Edition Specialty paper using shades of blue and black Staz On ink.  The stamps are all new in one set.  The sea beneath the ship was gently coloured with a Stampin' Watercolour Pencils and blended with a blender pen.  You can then cover the whole piece of printed paper with versamark and heat set with clear embossing powder.  Finally stamp the anchor over the top with black Staz On.  You can matt onto not quite navy cardstock and then onto distressed vanilla cardstock.  Stamp your sentiment underneath your image and job done! 

Check back for more sneak peaks soon!

Challenges
Crafty Catz Weekly - Anything goes
Less is More - Sketch
Joyful Stamper - Anything goes
Zx
Supplies
Cardstock - Stampin' Up! not quite navy and very vanilla
Inks - Stampin' Up! not quite navy, night of navy and Staz On black
Stamps  -  You'll have to check back soon! sentiment is a retired US set.
Accessories - heat gun, clear embossing powder, sponge dauber, snail adhesive

Christmas Card Club

Oh my I'm late, I'm late but only a day!  This fortnight's challenge is from Clare and she's asked us to make anything, but a card.  By that she means anything, even cards, but cards plural rather than just one.  I've made this cute gift bag/box shared with me by my lovely team mate Emma just before last Christmas.  I made several for my son's teachers and filled them with stamps and ink spots from Stampin' Up! 's From your Teacher stamp set.  They were popular and very well received so I decided to share them with you my lovely readers. 

Cute and oh so simple to make with just a couple of boxes some belt, braces and fur trim and you're away!  I've also now used some glimmer brads for the buttons attaching his braces which I didn't have at Christmas.  Now I'm one down several more to go for this Christmas.  Of course you could make these for just about anyone, grandchilren, teachers, brownie/cub leaders whoever loves Christmas and Santa Claus. 

Now the challenge a fortnight ago for the Christmas Card Club was set by Margaret and she wanted black and white cards.  I was away doing Disney, but couldn't resist the challenge so I've made black and white cards, but a set of three to just about fit with Clare's challenge. 

You can find other examples of Contempo Christmas by looking here and here

 One of my favourite Christmas sets from Stampin' Up! is Contempo Christmas.  It's so easy to use whether you're a beginner or expert card maker.  The 3D effect that you can create with the ornament stamp and matching punch is just gorgeous and it looks fab in any colour and whether you  enhance it with bling or leave it  naked it is perfect for all your Christmas projects.  Check out the other ladies in the Christmas Card Club via the links in my sidebar!

I'll be back soon with some sneak peaks projects for the new mini launching next month so check back or you'll miss out!

Happy Stampin' Zx

Supplies

Gift box

cardstock - real red, basic black, whisper white (silver from stash)

ink - basic black and real red markers

Stamps - Perfect Punches

Accessories - scallop circle punch, 1/16th circle punch, basic glimmer brads, tombow, snail adhesive, large oval punch

Card

cardstock - whisper white, basic black

ink - craft whisper white, basic black

stamps - Contempo Christmas

Accesories - big shot, top note die stampin up exclusive, satin ribbon in black and white, rhinestones, white embossing powder, heat gun

CHALLENGES

Moving along with the times - Christmas

Stampin' Up! Saleabration Ends Today

It's ended today so here is a card to inspire you with your new free stamps.  Check back in April to see the new Stampin' Up! offer. 

This card features the very popular Fresh Vintage stamp set mixed with a sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set for the Happy Birthday and 'Hello' is from the hostess set Swirls and Curls Verses which is available as a hostess gift until the end of the Spring Mini from Stampin Up ending on 30 April.  Email me your choice of dates for a party if you can't live without this cute sentiment set.

Of course the Spice Cake Suite which includes the yummy designer series papers spice cake also go at the end of April.  You can see how even scraps of paper can add some 'spice' to your cards above, along with ends of rolls of lace and seam binding fastened with a glimmer brad.  The choice is endless and your biggest problem is choosing what and which colour to buy first. 

The final touch is a little bit of spritzing with the Stampin' Up! Colour Spritzer and a couple of marker pens.  Suddenly Sahara Sand cardstock is much more attractive than you ever thought it could be. 

More soon. Zx

Stampin Up Swirls and Pearls for Christmas Club Challenge

It's been a while since I posted as it took some time to come to terms with the loss of our lovely dog Meg.  I am so grateful to you all for the kind thoughtful comments, cards, emails and calls received during our time of sadness. 

Life has got easier in many ways, but last week I developed a neck problem which after several days of trying different painkillers resulted in my attendance at 4am Sunday morning at the out of hours doctors which was a 50 mile round trip to receive even stronger painkillers.  I am now able to sleep, hold a conversation and today have had a visit from my friend Julie who kindly waxes my legs, but is commonly known as the 'fuff' lady in our house thanks to sweet Charlie after he saw her do the wax once!!!! I have to say I don't recommend pain killers, but it was the most pain free de-fuzz I think I have ever experienced!

I am also now able to do a bit at the computer so can share with you my Christmas Card Club post which I had been organised with before I made the card.  Please do visit the other club members who I'm sure will have some gorgeous cards to share with you.  Posting will be limited as I've been told not to compute too much so this is it for now.  Enjoy. Zx

It's Hazel's turn to set the Christmas Card Challenge and she's given us a theme to follow of Swirls and Pearls.  Here's my entry using Stampin' Up! 's Baroque Motives swirly stamp, bauble type drops from the Stampin Up Spring Mini set My Friend which I've added pearls to and what better way to add a sentiment for this theme than Curly Cute!

The gorgeous specialty Christmas papers Holly Berry Bouquet are just perfect for adding a fun backdrop and matting layers to my my swirls and pearls and mixed with garden green and real red cardstock it gives a great effect.

Finally I've added a luxurious bow made from the velvet vanilla ribbon also from the Spring Mini, a red and green button and one final pearl. 

Incidentally if you like the My friend stamp set then don't forget that the Stampin' Up! Spring Mini ends on 30 April and items in it will no longer be available until October at the earliest if at all.  Also remember that you could choose this or any other stamp set as a bonus to your Starter Kit if you join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator by 30 March 2012.  If you'd like to know more please visit my page Stampin' Up! Demonstrator - you can do it too or contact me asap for more information.

Stampin' Up! Spring Mini - so lovely

What more could you want to adorn a card, gift box or cloth bag than one of these beautiful Blossom Party Die flowers.  Yes it's a Stampin' Up! exclusive die and can be used on over 50 different types of material including fabric hence the reference to decorating cloth bags or making fabric flower brooches.

The die is available from Stampin' Up! and in is the current Spring Mini Catalogue.  By it now before the end of March along with a couple of other trinkets and you'll get yourself a free stamp set or pack of very yummy everyday enchantment designer series paper.   The die is very reasonably priced at £16.50 and will bring you hours of die cutting fun.  I've teamed it up with the Stampin' Around standard wheel Musical Notes and a fitting sentiment from Thank You Kindly.   A little bit of smudging with a sponge dauder, curling with my paper piercer handle ,  pearls and you're there! What could be simpler. 

There's also this version of the same card which I intended for One Layer Wednesday Challenge, but I only realised today that the W in OLW stood for Wednesday so I'm to late to offer my cream base, black ink with a bit of bling card, but I'd still like to share it with you.  Ornate Flowers provides surprisingly the flower, the sentiment is the same and having stamped the image I masked it with paper and then used the Stampin' Around wheel.  This time rhinestones added dimension to the centre of my flower and covered the challenge requirement of 'bling'. 

You can see other cards using the Stampin Around Musical Notes Wheel.

Hope you are not having such a scatty day as me!

Zoë x

Supplies

Cardstock - poppy parade, naturals ivory

Ink - basic black, poppy parade

stamps - ornate flowers, stampin around wheel musical notes, thank you kindly

accessories - pearls, rhinestones

Stampin' Up! Sale-a-bration bonus time!

Did you know that if you order the following from me

Stampin' Up! Products

Getting Started Ink Spots

Getting Started Cardstock

Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive

Stampin' Dimensionals

1/4inch grosgrain ribbon

rhinestones

envelopes

You have all the ingregients for this card except for the stamp set which comes to you FREE of charge. 

How good is that.........!

You can add items to the shopping list for example 

•  a punch or two
• a paper trimmer or scissors to make a snip of cutting card to size
• dazzling diamonds glitter to add sparkle
• snail adhesive for mess free glueing
• pearls to accompany your rhinestones

When you reach £90 you can have another FREE gift and could then make the card below.   What more could you want!!

Well you might want more free items in which case you need to consider hosting a workshop.  To find out more about this click    Stampin' Up! party.

IF you NEED, WANT more than this and an additional bonus during Sale-a-bration you need to test drive the Starter Kit which contains a minimum of £182.40 worth of stampin kit, plus a business pack and currently you can choose an additional stamp set of any value as a thank you for joining.  The cost to you is only £119.  You might want a little more information about joining so click here on Stampin' Up! uk  demonstrator - you can do it too or at the top of the page.

Have a great day!

Zoë x

Supplies

Getting Started inkspots

Getting Started cardstock

Stamp Sets - sprinkled expressions, outlined occasions

accessories - satin ribbon, pearls, rhinestones, stampin dimensionals, tombow, boho blossoms punch, owl builder punch, sticky sheets, dazzling diamonds