Strawberry Box Tutorial

Hello Papercraftanistas!

Today I have a fun little strawberry shaped box tutorial for you.  

I, of course, found this idea on Pinterest a while back: 

Source: erinlincoln.blogspot.com via Michelle on Pinterest

and when I saw the red polk-a-dot paper in the May kit, I knew it would be perfect for this project.

So I started with a little search for a template (the box above is created with an MFT die) and came up with THIS ONE--just perfect!.

1. Enlarge the template a bit.  I did this by opening the PDF in Photoshop, creating a new canvas sized 8.5 x 11 300dpi, drag the PDF to the new canvas, and stretch the corners while constraining the proportions until the template portion fills most of the canvas.
2. Print onto card stock, cut out, trace onto the back of your patterned paper, and cut out.
3. Punch holes in the top center of each side and the center of the leaf cluster.
4. Apply adhesive to the tab and glue to the inside edge of next side to form a five-sided box.

Now you're ready to stitch it closed.  Thread a needle with floss, string, twine, ribbon, whatever you like and leaving a long tail, stitch through the top of the leaf and then through each top side from the inside out {see third photo above}.  After last side, go back through the leaf from bottom up. You should now have two ends sticking out of the leaf on top.

Pull gently to cinch the top closed--don't forget to add your goodies if you're using this as gift packaging.  Thread each end of the string through a large button and tie a bow.   Add a little sentiment pennant and you're done.  How cute is that?!


If you give this a try, we would love to see your creations.  Be sure to share yours in the comments!

Crazy for Bats

Did you notice the little bats on this layout?

Here is a closeup:

 These bats are actually made by altering a butterfly punch. This idea first came from the Pink Paislee blog but it is really simple. I used the small Martha Stewart butterfly punch, but really I think any butterfly punch would work. Trim off the bottom wing from the bottom of the body at an angle.

It isn't exactly bat shaped, but pretty darn close. Try this on your next Halloween project!

Envelope Mini Album Tutorial

I found this fabulous little mini-album at Follow the Paper Trail's channel on YouTube.  

Here is a photo tutorial on how to create this pocket mini album from business sized envies.  I hope you give this a try, and if you do, please link up in the comments so we can come see it!

 One:

 Just the standard business sized envelope will do.  

I like the self-adhesive ones, so I don't get a paper cut on my tongue :)

Two:

 Three:

 You want the envie open on both ends creating a tube (these will become the pockets).

DO NOT TRIM the third envie to 9" (see next step).

Four:

 This ends up being 4 3/4".  Save the other half for the next page you assemble.

 Five:

Six:

Seven:

Eight:

note: Hold 1/2 envie so that opening is on right.  Apply adhesive to right side and top, bottom, and left leaving a 5/8" margin on the left.  This is where your album's binding will go.

Nine:

Make top and right hand side of each piece flush.  The tab for the binding should stick out on the left.

Ten:

Flip unit created in step 9 over.  Again don't put adhesive on the binding tab.  Glue longer envie (one with 1- 1/2" folded pocket) to this piece making bottom edges flush.

This is what you should have when you are done:

And here are the measurements for cutting the papers to cover the pages:

I cut a little notch out of the top back pocket to access that pocket.

And before I covered the pockets with pretty papers, I did a quick swipe with the paint brush on the edges (or you could ink them).

Here's another look at my finished album created with product from the January Elite Kit:

If you have any questions at all, I am happy to answer them.