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Wednesday, May 26, 2021

 Pop Up Card & Box Envelope

What a fun fun project this was!! I was on Facebook when I had a pop up hit me and it was a link to a video on making 'pop up cards & envelope boxes'. I loved that idea and the look and checked it out. Fun, fun, fun! I believe in ALWAYS giving credit to those that deserve it and would like to thank Sam Calcott for her tutorial on making both of these (the card and the envelope). I also again used up what I had left of the Mad Tea Party pad by Marion Smith to complete the project. I love how it turned out and hope you do as well. 

This is a 5 x 7 pop up card and the envelope box accommodates it perfectly. I used black cardstock as I like how it goes with the papers and I fussy cut the rabbit and hat to pop it up on the front.


What a pretty cool card to say then least. I put in 3 additional pages to the main card/book cover. I again used the Mad Tea Party papers along with some older Graphic 45 papers (Curtain Call). The two went together extremely well I thought.


The back of the pop up card.


The card in the box envelope. I used some older Graphic 45 paper (Curtain Call) to decorate the envelope and fussy cut a piece from the Mad Tea Party and matted it to add to the front of the envelope. I inked all the papers using Prima Color Philosophy Chat Noir.

The back of the envelope box I fussy cut from the Mad Tea Party pad and matted for some embellishment.


The side of the envelope box is 1" wide, with plenty of room to house the Pop Up Card without any damage to it.



A fun and quick project to do and what a cool gift to make for a special person. A Pop Up Card in any theme of your choice, works for me!!


I will be posting more projects, so please stop back by soon to check them out. There are a gazillion projects in the archives here, so take a moment to check them. 




Altered Cigar Box


What a fun project this one was. I picked up this sweet little cigar box a few weekends ago when we were out of town at a huge antique and collectible flea market. It's so perfect only measuring 3 3/4 X 5 1/2. I just couldn't resist it and it was super cheap (score!). I was looking through my stash of paper collections and came across a 6x6 pad called: Mad Tea Party by Marion Smith and knew I wanted to do something with it and since my cigar box was small, I thought this is just perfect! So, I altered the box using that collection and love how it turned out. I also inked all my papers using Prima's Color Philosophy in Chat Noir. I will be sending this one out to a swap partner this summer in an 'Altered Cigar Box Swap' and hope she likes it. I gessoed the box first then added the black coloring. Next I papered the outside and inside of the box using the Mad Tea Party papers. I did use some black 'hockey stick tape' on the hinged area to insure strength and to keep it from cracking after being used, works great. I added the heavy metal clock face and of course added the moveable hands to the clock along with a matching metal handle. On the handle I added some jump rings and had a clock charm that was perfect to go along with the theme of the paper.


I added 4 wooden ball feet that I colored black via a wide Sharpie, and attached them with my trusty Glossy Accents (which I use to attach metal embellishments, wooden embellishments or beads and laces and I find it holds super tight). 


Inside the box is papered of course with yet another one of the sweet pattern papers in the collection. Again, all the papers were inked, I just think it gives a finished appearance. 
Inside the box, I made 4 photo pouches/boxes, They will each hold about a dozen pics easily. I tied them together with a ribbon just to add a little something to them. They each have a magnet closure to keep your pics all safely in place.

I just love the papers in the collection!! These little photo pouches/boxes are constructed using an accordion method to expand and hold the maximum amount of pics. Such an easy project that I loved creating. I will include a cutting guide below for the photo pouches/boxes.

Accordion Photo Pouches/Boxes Cutting Guide

 Using cardstock, cut at 4 5/8" x 7 3/4"
Score on the 7 3/4 along the top at: 1 1/4. 1 1/2. 4 3/4 & 4 7/8


Hinges: cut 2 from cardstock at: 3" x 2 3/4"
Score with 3" along the top at: 1/2 . 1 . 1 1/2 . 2 . 2 1/2


Accordion fold as shown. Burnish all score lines on all pieces.


Add score tape to both sides of each hinge. Burnish.


Remove tape backing and stick down to each side of the main piece as shown. Be sure to place the accordion folded hinges with the fold facing the outside and aligned on the outer edge. Remove the top tape backing pieces and carefully line up the folded piece folded over and stick it down.


Round the corners on the top of the piece and add a small magnet. I also apply a piece of scoretape across the magnet for extra hold. It  will be covered with pattern paper and won't be seen anyway.


Allow the other magnet piece to stick to the first one and lining up the top folded piece, fold over and stick down the other magnet section. I also add a piece of score tape for extra strength. 
Of course when you are ready to add your pattern papers, remove the tape backing from the magnets and cover with pattern paper. 
I always ink my papers before applying as I like the appearance and feel it gives a finished look, but if you prefer no ink, so be it.

Super easy and super useful! These can be made to fit any size you'd like and by making the accordion hinges with more folds, you can make them more expandable to hold even more!! So, enjoy and create what you like!

Note:
I will be posting another project, so be sure to check back shortly.
Please take a moment to check out my youtube channels:  Brenda Crouch     &    bren crou       














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Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Altered Cigar Box / Recipe Box

I love altering cigar boxes and I am always on the lookout for boxes. I had no idea at first how many different sizes and shapes were available.....but trust me when I say there are M A N Y! I like how this quick one turned out. When I saw these 2: 



I knew I had to grab them because I would do something with them. So, they sat on my Cigar Box shelves for a while....and just the other day, I thought, hmmmmm that would sure make a cool recipe box! So, that is exactly what I did with one of them. I will come up with something else for the other one I'm sure. I loved how the lid opened and the front was open....made for an interesting box. 




On one side I added some matted cut a parts from the collection: BoBunny Kiss The Cook & Family Recipes. There was several to choose from, but I liked how these seemed to go easily with what I had already put together. I pop dotted the Carnation Milk one to add some dimension (I love dimension). 

The other side. I have had the spoon and fork for ages and don't even recall where I got them, but as I was searching through my stash for things to use for this project, I ran across them and thought PERFECT! I thought the size and style were a perfect fit and it brings another touch of raised embellishments to the project.


The bottom of course can't be left out. I had some bare wooden pieces in my stash and these I thought were the perfect fit for 'feet' for this recipe box. I used a black permanent Sharpie to color them (be sure to wear gloves) and voila! Feet! I try to remember to add my stamp to the underside of my creations.
Lifting the lid, I put a pocket on the lid underside and it holds some more of those cool cut a parts I matted. Notes are more recipe cards could be stored there as well. Inside the box, there are 8 recipe card holders. Each holder would accommodate approximately 40-50 recipe cards, so that's like 400 recipes contained in this snazzy little recipe box. I am going to make my own recipe cards and add tabs on the tops but haven't decided just yet on what I want them to look like. I will share that once I create them.


Just a little sample of a prototype recipe card with a tab. Had to make sure the size what appropriate and the tab wouldn't interfere with the top closing. I want something a bit different, so that's why I will be making my own.


Once I had finished the box..... I knew I wanted something for the top. Had to be something that would stand out..... That's when the easel idea came to mind and so I created one to stand the recipe cards on and added a little clip on the side to hold the card firmly in place. I think it set the recipe box off and I was pleased with the finished look. 

Expanding Pocket Recipe Files Cutting Guide

Finished size: 5 X 4

(8) Cut cardstock at 8x5

Score with short side across the top: 1/2 & 1

Score with the long side across the top: 1/2, 1, 1 1/2, 6 1/2, 7, 7 1/2

Cut away the 3 scored areas on each side along the bottom as shown above. Angle cut for a smoother fit.

Accordion fold the score lines and burnish. 

Add scoretape to the tops of the accordion folded pieces. On the bottom edge fold it in on it's self and add scoretape.

(8) Cut cardstock 5X4 this will be the face of the file pocket.

Remove the tape backing from the bottom flap first and carefully line up the sides and stick them down to the bottom flap. Remove the side tape backing next

Lining up the bottom and sides with the 5 x 4 piece stick it down. Your pocket file is complete and ready to paper. 

NOTE: Before adding papers, ink the edges. Papers for the pocket files are cut at: 4 3/4 x 3 3/4 this will give you a nice 1/8 border around the face of the pocket file. 


I hope you enjoy this altered project. It would be silly of me to list all the sizes for the papers on this box, as it would differ of course unless you are using the exact same box. I wanted to share the way to make the pocket files however...as they can be resized to meet whatever specs you have for your box. I paint all the edges both inside and out of my cigar box first and  let it dry fully. I also use 'Hockey Stick Tape' to reinforce my lid so there is no cracking or breaking when it is opened and closed. I put it on both the inside and outside of the lid seam. 

I have a youtube walk-through of this project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dQA5gv-86U

Please take a moment to subscribe to my channel as I will be posting many more projects. 




 












            


 

Friday, May 7, 2021

 All Tucked Away

Such a welcomed time of the year! I am so excited to post pictures of my newest project I completed:  All Tucked Away

This project I noticed online and honestly fell in love with....so, I of course purchased the tutorial and recreated it in my style. I will post info below on where to obtain the tutorial. I also saw the Stamperia ALICE collection and fell madly in love with it and have to have it. I knew this was the collection I wanted to use for this project. Just a heads up, Joanns.com has it on sale folks, I've already ordered more as I want to do something else with it.....just so dang cool!!                 How cool would this be to also make this a 'Family Recipe Box'? I mean recipes from all family members could be categorized in the individual pouches by person, type of recipe or whatever you desire. Hmmmmm I may just have to do another one for that, but will have to decide just what collection would be best for it because you know that does make all the difference in the world. ;-)

This is the top of the photo box. I did a lot of fussy cutting so I could make sure to have lots of dimension. Next to waterfalls, dimension is my favorite thing to do in a project. Hey, I could've put a waterfall in the inside of the lid......hmmmmm got me thinking now. At any rate, I used some sweet little black lace I had in my stash and thought it went well with the theme and colors. I liked black as a background cardstock for this collection, it just seemed to be the logical choice for me. Alice is fussy cut and popped up on to 'herself' with some added Glossy Accents on her dress and shoes. I fussy cut the one sign and glossy accented it as well then pop dotted it on to itself. The green clock with the very cool glass face I had in my stash and was just waiting for the right project to use it on.....and I do believe this was exactly the right one! I also had the chipboard 'memories' and popped it up as well. Everything is inked in Primas Philosophy Ink 'Chat Noir'. I love this ink, as it does not smear and is just perfect to work with.


The box front. I used a Tim Holtz pull for the handle and added a jump ring with a key that reads 'memories'. On the bottom front I have a cut a part from the collection and sliced the areas so I could put the tiny cards (also cut a parts from the collection) in to it. I stamped 'Memories' on the front using a stamp I had in my stash. This could also hold a booklet with an index to the photo boxes inside. The feet are of course Tim Holtz and worked out perfectly. I had actually wanted to use some large beads perhaps 'red' for the feet, but was out of them (need to add to my replace list). 


Oh my goodness! This is one side of the box....and I just love the white rabbit. I fussy cut him also and added Glossy Accents to his watch face, umbrella, flower and all the polka dots. All the polka dots are Glossy Accented all over the box. He is pop dotted on to himself and even though his ears stand taller it does not interfere with the lid opening and closing and heck, I had to make sure his ears were in place!


The other side shows the 'Tea Party' in progress. I didn't fussy cut anyone for this scene, rather I did fussy cut the sign in the upper left and popped it up and added the other cool clock I had in the lower right bottom. Had to have a cool clock in this scene. The clock has a glass face as well and worked in perfectly.


Opening the awesome storage box shows the very cool photo boxes/pouches inside. Also note on the inside of the top lid, it's the Chesire Cat scene. OMG, I had to incorporate that for sure. I didn't add anything on top of that scene as I didn't want to chance interfering with the photo boxes when the lid is closed. There is a total of 12 photo boxes/pouches and each one can hold 50 photos!! Wowza! That's a total of 600 pictures!! Now that's a lot of pics folks all nicely stored away in a cool box. Each photo box/pouch has a book plate on top so a title can be added to categorize the photos. Each box will hold either 3 1/2 X 5 pics or 4 x 6 pics easily.


The book plate is easily attached using brads which I cut the bendy legs back considerably. Then I added Glossy Accents glue to the backs where the brads are attached and stuck them down. Glossy Accents is a dream to use to hold metal pieces on because it is so sturdy.

The photo box/pouch is kept closed by using one of the many cut a parts from the collection that is slid down into the bottom pocket. You could of course also use magnets to keep the flap closed if you like.


Removing the cut a part allows for a smooth opening so many many photos can be added easily. I added an inside pocket to this pouch on the bottom inside flap. My thought was this could house a small booklet or tag with an index as to the pics in this pouch. 


I love how all the papers are themed and flow so easily in this collection. It was a true pleasure to work with!


The cut a parts in this collection are amazing and plentiful. I haven't even used them all, but not to worry, I have plans for them!

I am just amazed at the space in this pouches. Truly, 50 photos is not a stretch, they are so roomy!!!!


Of course we can't forget the bottom. I decorate everything in my projects. It just completes it to me. Again, the pattern papers are easily working together and flow nicely. My stamp can normally be found on the bottom of my projects.



I hope you all enjoyed this project. Check out the walk-through on my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnF_fNaFtvM&t=237s   Please take a moment to subscribe as I will be adding many more projects very soon. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. You can find the tutorial for this project at Paper Phenomenon by Janice Freeman. Let's see your rendition of this awesome project!!

Check back soon, and thanks again for checking my blog and youtube, much appreciated.


Tuesday, April 6, 2021

 April 6, 2021

The flowers are blooming and the trees are leafing out of course the grass has greened up and already needed to be mowed. The birds are all back and hitting the feeders daily. My goodness the weather is crazy....but it always is in Missouri. 

I am going to be posting the give a way very very soon, so I hope you stop by and don't miss out. I have several new projects I've got in the works and think you will enjoy them and I am anxious to share them. So so many things to share. 

I won't bore you folks with idle chatter, but will be on again very soon with a cool creation!