Sassy & Sweet Notes

Fancy Fold Template

This is for those of you who were interested in the measurements I used for the Flyin' High Santa fancy fold card I recently shared.

This template will show you in Purple where to make score lines on your card base, and Red lines where you need to make cuts. Click on the photo for a larger view.

Once you have the folds and cuts made, use this photo to see how to press the card base into shape. I applied a bit of adhesive to the small middle section that's at the top of the card in this photo.

Hope this helps!

Meow, Meow, Meow!

Surprise! One by one, another litter made their way to my Etsy shop! I've been working on these wee ones all week, and must say that they smell so good, and turned out cute as can be!

I also put together an e-Pattern, if you are so inclined to want to make your own litter, which is also available in the shop. It is a 3-page document that includes full instructions, a supply list, pattern, and my tea dying technique for the kitty, seam binding ribbon, and paper tags tags.

Purrrr!

Pencil "Treat" Box Template

Here you go! Click on the image for a larger view. My pencil treat box template is slightly different than others I've seen. I wanted to maximize my cardstock, so I chose to only make my box 5.25 inches tall (which requires a 5.5 inch piece of cardstock). Not only does this allow me to get more boxes out of one sheet of cardstock, but it also allows more of the cute pencil designs to show! You can make four boxes out of a single sheet of 8.5x11 cardstock using these dimensions.

The designer paper layer I adhere to the front is cut 5.125 x 1.125 to allow a nice frame around the edges.

I added an optional step to the template. Before you fold the box together, you can use a 1" circle punch to cut a half-circle out of the front of the box top. This is a cute way to accent the pencils inside. Also, if you plan to stamp on your cardstock, best to do that before you do your scoring and folding.

For future reference here are links to my projects using this template:

Halloween Pencil Treat Boxes

Holiday Pencil Treat Boxes

Graduation Pencil Treat Boxes

Have fun!

Apron Cards and Template: Published!

 

A few months ago, the folks at The Stamper's Sampler asked to publish my apron template for their monthly challenge. The template was featured in the October/November 2009 issue.

 
When I sent them the template, I also included a few samples using the template. Submissions to the magazine using the template are featured in the recently released April/May 2010 issue. I was quite pleased to see the samples I sent to them included in this month's issue!

 
Thanks to the folks at The Stamper's Sampler for this opportunity to be published! What FUN!! You can pick up a copy of this publication at places like Borders, Barnes & Noble, Joann's, etc...

If you would like to make your own apron cards, you are welcome to use my template. Have fun with it! Be sure to come back here and provide a link to your finished card! I'd love to see your creations!

Download Apron Card Template

Have FUN!

PS: You can see another card using the template on this blog post.

Crafty Secrets Design Team Challenge: Tutorial

This month the Crafty Secrets design team has been challenged to put together a short tutorial or step by step how-to. Lucky for you, today's the day we all share our projects!

I was inspired by all of the different aprons worn in the images of the ladies on the Domestic Goddess Creative Cuts sheet. And since aprons are quite "in", I thought I'd make a wee little apron card for a friend!

I started by creating a template out of scrap paper. Once I had the shape the way I liked, I traced the template on the backside of a piece of folded cardstock. I traced the template on what would be the backside of the card in case I missed cutting off the pencil line, it would be on the backside and would probably go unnoticed.

I used a nice sharp pair of scissors to cut out the traced design. I like these Cutter Bee scissors. They have a really sharp blade, and the point really allows nice, clean snips in tight spaces. The paper I chose is from K&Company. It's double-sided, so it was easy to choose coordinating papers for this project. The green dots is the backside of the apples!

Once my pieces were cut out, I used a sponge applicator to ink the edges of the shapes. Then I used my vintage Singer tracing wheel to add some faux stitches to the edges of my apron and pocket piece.

I used small glue dots to adhere the pocket to the front of the apron. By putting a little curve in the pocket before adhering it to the apron, I was able to get a bit of dimension between the two pieces. This would be a good spot for a note, or some small utensils, or a to-do list!

I found some GREAT buttons in my stash that have slits, rather than holes. I chose to use them on this project, and threaded them with some beautiful green silk ribbon. The buttons are then adhered to the apron with glue dots.

For the inside of the apron card, I chose to use this sassy image of a gal holding a hot out of the oven roast, also from the Domestic Goddess Creative Scraps sheet.

I made sure to ink the edges of the layers inside the apron, and also added faux stitches to the layers as well.

I think the finished card turned out charming and fun, and I can't WAIT to pop it in the mail!

Now, if you would like to make your own version of this card, I've created a template for you! Have fun with it! Be sure to come back here and provide a link to your finished card! I'd love to see your creations! Have FUN!

Download Apron Card Template

You will want to check out the other projects being shared today by my fellow design team members.

Heartwarming Vintage Blog
Crafty Secrets Site

Vicki Chrisman
Lisa Zappa
Pam Hooten
Heidi Blankenship
Marisa Grosson
Vivian Peters
Michele Kovack
Linda Duke
Melissa Phillips
Michelle Van Etten

4x4 Lidless Box

I spent some time putting together this little tutorial on how to make the 4x4 lidless box I used for my be warm drink gift set. I wasn't able to find just the right sized container, so I decided to make my own! Have fun with it!


What you need:
2 - 4"x9" rectangles
2 - Just-shy of 4" squares
4 - 1.5"xJust-shy of 4" rectangles, complimentary color
2 - 1.5"x12" rectangles (some will be trimmed as excess) OPTIONAL
Embellishments, scissors, adhesive, etc.

Score the 4"x9" rectangles at 4" and 8", and at .5" across the bottom.
With your scissors, snip all corners and creases as shown. Exact angles are not important ... but don't get too carried away!

Overlap one of the 1" sections with one of the 4" sections with good adhesive so you have four 4" squares in a row, and a 1" rectangle at one end. I like to use a liquid glue for the gluing process so I have a bit of time for wiggling things into place.

Overlap the last 4" square and the 1" end and adhere with good adhesive.

Shape the box so it's nice and square. Nicely done so far!

Alternate each of the corners over/under so it holds its form (no need to glue at this point, but you can if you'd like).

Adhere one of the just-shy of 4" squares to the bottom, taking care to line up the edges nicely. Again, using a good liquid glue here allows you a bit of wiggle time.

For added stability, adhere the second just-shy of 4" squares to the inside bottom.

Nice and finished looking! Good job!

Shape one edge of all four of your just-shy of 1.5"x4" complimenting rectangles.

Adhere the complimenting rectangle to the inside of your box, on all four sides. It helps to line each side up with the one next to it by looking at the inside of the box while you stick things down.

Embellish as you'd like! I used the 1.5"x12" strips of patterned paper around my box. I did end up trimming off about 7" or 8", but it was just easier to start with two full length 12" strips and trim them down as needed.

ENJOY!