Flower Garden

I have one more card for the Gina K. Designs Monthly Mix December challenge.

For the top section, I used the Flower Garden stencil, inked up with Sweet Corn, Wild Dandelion, and  Sweet Mango ink. The bottom section uses the Thick Brush stencil and was inked up with Jelly Bean Green and Fresh Asparagus ink.

I used the So Many Sentiments stamp set for the sentiment, with Dark Chocolate ink. I added a bit of the ink around the edges of the strip of cardstock before attaching it to the panel. I added a brown layer before adhering it to a white card base.

To finish the card, I added a yellow flower that a friend gave me.

Heartfelt Snowflake

Here is my second card for the Gina K. Designs Monthly Mix December Challenge.

I used the Heartfelt Snowflake Layering stencil on the top, inked up with In the Navy ink, and one of the Bodacious Bloom stencils on the bottom, inked up with Wild Wisteria ink. 

The sentiment is from the Massive Messages stamp set, stamped with Obsidian Amalgam ink.

I added a strip of silver foiled cardstock to separate the two sections, added a blue layer and attached it to a white card base.

Sparkling Mandala Burst

 The Gina K Designs Monthly Mix challenge for December is to use two stencils on the card. Here is my first card:

First, I inked up the Art Deco stencil with In the Navy ink.

Once that dried completely, I used the Mandala Burst stencil with Silver Glitz glitter gel. I liked the sparkle, but the design didn't show up against the background. I put it aside and the next day I had the idea to outline each area with a black marker to make it show up better.

I added a blue layer before attaching it to a white card base.

I didn't want to cover any of the design, so I didn't add a sentiment on the outside of the card.

December Scor-Pal project

 

I saw this idea on YouTube, but a die was used to create the boxes. I wanted to show that you can make the boxes without a die.

Supplies needed:

Scor-Pal

Scor-Tape

The Stacker

Cardstock - Either 26 pieces of 6” x 8 1/2”, or 13 pieces of 8 1/2” x 11” (You can get two boxes out of                      one large piece of cardstock with a bit of work.) I used half red and half green.

                  - 5 circles, measuring 7”, 6”, 5”, 4” and 3 1/2”. These can be any colour, as they will be                            covered with the patterned paper circles.

                  - Enough to cut out the numbers 1 to 25

Patterned Paper - 26 pieces of 1 3/4” x 1 3/4”

                           - 5 circles, measuring 7”, 6”, 5”, 4” and 3 1/2”

                           - 9” x 9” to cover the base

A piece of cardboard 8 1/2” square

Number dies or an electronic cutting machine to make the numbers. Or, you could draw them on with a marker.

Step 1: Score and cut the box shapes.

If you are using 6” x 8 1/2” pieces of cardstock, with the 6” side at the top of your Scor-Pal, score at 2” and 4”. Turn the cardstock 90 degrees to the Left and score at 2”, 4”, 6” and 8”.

Referring to the diagram below, cut along the solid lines.

 1. Cut along the score lines from the bottom up to the 6” score line.
 2. From the right side, cut in along the 2” and 4” score lines to meet the 4” score line. Repeat on the left side, cutting to meet the 2” score line.
 3. Trim the sides in the top section to 3/4”, angling the top and bottom of each tab. Repeat with the sides in the 3^rd section from the top.

Use a circle punch (mine was 1”) to cut a notch in the middle of the top edge, and round the corners of the bottom tab using a corner rounder (I used the Kadomaru Pro, which has three different sizes in one punch).

Repeat for the rest of the small cardstock.

  

If you are using 8 1/2” x 11” pieces of cardstock, start with the 11” at the top of your Scor-Pal and score at 2” and 4”. Score at 6” down to the 4” mark. Turn the cardstock 180 degrees and repeat the above scores.

Turn the cardstock 90 degrees to the left and score at 1/2”, 2 1/2”, 4 1/2”, and 6 1/2” down to the 3^rd score line. This distance will vary, because of the shape. Turn the cardstock 180 degrees and repeat.

The diagram below shows the scoring lines and the red line shows the place to cut the two pieces apart. Then you will cut and trim as above for the 6” x 8 1/2” piece.

Repeat for the rest of the large cardstock.

Step 2: Add Scor-Tape to the boxes.

For each box, add Scor-Tape along the 4 side tabs. Fold along all the score lines.

Step 3: Make the boxes.

Turn the cardstock over so the tape is on the bottom. Fold up the panel with the round notch, fold in the flaps, remove the tape liner on one side, and attach it to the inside of the panel on that side. Repeat for the other side. It will look like the picture on the left.

Fold up the back panel, remove the tape liner and attach the flap to the inside of the box. Repeat for the other flap. You will have a box with an open top, pictured on the right.

Step 4: Decorate the boxes.

Attach a piece of patterned paper to the top flap of each box. When the tree is assembled, the tops of the boxes will be facing out so they can be opened.

Glue the numbers on, remembering that the opening flap is on top and pulls down toward you. I alternated between the red and green boxes when I was numbering them. There will be one box left over, which will go at the top. I decorated it with two pieces of patterned paper, one on each side, and added a star on each piece of patterned paper.

Step 5: Assemble the layers.

You will have 5 layers of boxes that will be attached to the circles of patterned paper. The bottom layer will have 7 boxes, the next layer will have 6 boxes, the next 5, the next 4, and the top layer 3. Decide if you want your numbers to start at 1 at the bottom and increase sequentially on each layer, or if you want the numbers in a random order. This will determine how you tape them together for each layer. Once you have decided, turn the boxes so the number is on the bottom and tape them together. Then tape the two end boxes together to make a circle shape.

Tape the circles of patterned paper to the cardstock circles. This makes them a bit sturdier.

Turn the box circles so the notched sides are on the bottom and the numbers are facing out. Arrange the boxes for each layer so they are as symmetrical as possible and attach the circle on top, with the patterned paper side down. I found it easier to attach them upside down so the boxes stayed in the shape I wanted, but you can certainly add the right side up boxes to the patterned paper circles. The right hand picture shows them once they have been turned right side up.

Step 6: Assemble the tree.

For the base, cover the piece of cardboard with the large piece of patterned paper.

Attach the largest layer to the base. Because of the square shape of the boxes, it won’t look completely centered. Add the rest of the layers, trying to stagger the boxes on each layer. You need to be able to open each box, so make sure you don’t completely cover the notch. Add the extra box to the top, and your tree is complete. All that’s left to do is fill the boxes with treats!