Tutorial stepper compartment gift box

This is another 'thing' that I have had on my to do list (also known as a round-to-it). I first saw this on Splitcoaststampers.  This is great for using scraps.

Ingredients:
1 - sheet of 5 x 11.25" cardstock (I trimmed down a piece of A4)
10 - pieces of patterned paper trimmed to 4.75 x 2"
1 - piece of cardstock trimmed to 7" square
6 - 2" square piece of patterned paper
4 - pieces of 6" square cardstock for the boxes inside

Scoring board and the diagonal plate if you have one (note that the diagonal plate has since retired).  Very sticky tape (the red sticky strip is good for this), other glue and something to crease if you haven't got a bone folder.

Step 1:
Score the 5 x 11.25 piece of cardstock at the following intervals:
2.25" - 4.5" - 6.75" - 9"

Crease the folds and adhere the 4.75 x 2" papers between your score marks on the front and back.

Step 2: compartments

You are going to do this for each of the four compartment boxes using the 6" square pieces of cardstock:

1. Diagonal score - on each side score at 1.5", 3" and 4.5"

2. Using the score board without the diagonal plate, score down to the middle square at 3" on each side of your pieces of cardstock.

Step 3: Folding the boxes

1. Fold opposite corners into the middle, then fold the outside edge again into the middle.

You then have to fold like below, tucking in the corners under the flap (hope that makes sense!).

 

Once the compartment boxes are made, I pop a piece of the 2" square patterned paper inside to finish it off.

Step 4: the lid

The process for the lid is the same as that of the boxes, but the diagonal score marks that you do on each side are:

1.75" - 3.5" - 5.25"

Then fold to make the lid.

So you now have, one lid, 4 compartments and the 'wrap'.

Step 5: the putting together bit

Stick one of the compartments on the bottom of the wrap and then space the other three compartments (as shown).  I used the really sticky red strip tape for this as you need a good firm adhesive.

All being well, it should fold up, you pop the lid on (decorated as you so desire) and ta-dah.

 

Tutorial creating a baking tray advent calendar

I made this ages ago but it comes out each year on 1 December to countdown to Christmas day. All you need is a flat (if possible) baking tray, ruler, pen, paper, glue, embellishments, a piece of ribbon, something to make a hole and little magnets.

First, decorate the back of the baking tray with some patterned paper.

On another sheet of paper, mark out your advent squares.  I have done my squares approx 1" in size and they are 5 x 5  - depending on the size of your baking tray you might need to adjust your sizes.  I used a dashed line rather than a solid one to mark this out and then trimmed this sheet of paper down to fit where I wanted it on the tray and stuck it down.

Cut some squares out of cardstock and then decorate.  I have edged my squares with some ink and used what I could find lurking in my embellishment box. Pop a magnet on the back of your squares when you are done.

I punched some circles out of another patterned paper and stuck some stickers on for the month of December and added these to the top part of the tray.  To hang your tray, punch a hole in the top (I used my crop-o-dile) and then thread some ribbon through. There you go.  I keep each day on the 'back' of the baking tray and each morning find the day to stick on the front.  This is also a great craft for kids, I did this with my Guides one year and they had great fun.

 

Tutorial making magazine trees

My friend Izzy posted a link for some wonderful trees on the Martha Stewart site.  They are quick - mine didn't take too long - and for what they are I think they are quite amazing, all you need is an old magazine, or even an old book that wasn't a very good read (!) a bone folder if you have one and I have used some glitter spray.

It is a simple case of stage 1, folding the right hand page over into the spine....

Stage 2, fold the page again into the spine, so you end up with a 'tie' shape.  I did this for each page rather than doing stage 1 for all the pages and then going back for stage 2.



Stage 3, tuck the ends under so you get a flat bottom to make the base (or you can just fold it up and not tuck it in, it's your choice).



Then if you have some glitter spray, give it some glitter (in a well ventilated room if you are using spray).



And there you have it, your tree.  Shame you can't see the sparkle so much.  I'm not quite finished, the glitter itself is coming out to play :)



For the complete Martha Stewart video, please click here.

 

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Tutorial decorative home decor snowflakes

Welcome to my tutorial to how you how to make a decorative snowflake for your home decor.  I have made this on a small size, with a view to making them as tree decorations. You can make them as big or as small as you like using the same process just bigger squares of paper.

Ingredients:

6 sheets of square double sided patterned paper, trimmed down to 4" x 4".

Adhesive.

Stapler.  Ribbon.  Hole punch.

Steps:

Trim down your patterned paper to your desired size.

Fold each square in half and half again and then carefully cut three times but don't cut right to the centre. Do this to each piece.

When you open your paper, it should look something like this:

Next comes the folding and sticking to create your snowflake, do this to each one.

Open your piece of paper and take the middle and bring to the front and stick them together like so:

Turn the paper over and repeat with the next strips.

Do it again.

 

And then once more.

Repeat with the remainder pieces and then you should end up with six of these, ready to assemble to create your snowflake.

Now comes the sticking.

I use the snail adhesive to stick the middle and then stick the point (which will become the middle) gradually adding them, I do three at a time and then join them together, popping a staple in the centre point.  Finally, add some ribbon to hang your snowflake.  You could even create these for all times of the year, perhaps weddings, halloween, or if you decorate your home for the seasons.  Check out the selection of papers in my shop.

If you are like me and love home made decorations, take at look at these fun fall decorating DIY ideas.  There are ideas for all rooms and I love the toilet decoration!

 

Tutorial corner catcher bookmark

The Impressions magazine that we get as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator has a rather cute corner catcher (or bookmark!) and I thought I'd have a go myself at making one.  I've done instructions so you can have a play as well...

I have used a 4" piece of square cardstock as the base for mine.  Mark it up at 2" on the top and then the left and right sides.  Score and fold.

 

Next, trim a piece of DSP measuring 2" x 4" and trim it down as this gets stuck onto the back.

 

Turn over and then decorate the front.  I drew around a piece of DSP and then trimmed it down that way.

 

And there you go, one corner catcher.  Have fun!  {You might want it a bit smaller so you might find making it a 3" square is better but I wanted mine big!}

 

Tutorial Origami kusudama flowers

Time to make some great origami flowers. I've just made a couple of flowers and each one is made up of 5 pieces of paper trimmed down to 10cm x 10cm square.  The bigger your square of paper the bigger your flower will end up. You need a good glue for this and some paperclips come in handy.

I'm doing some step by step photos for you and rather than using the patterned paper have used a plain piece of cardstock as I think that makes it easier to see the steps:

1 - fold your piece of paper in half - I'm using a bone folder so that the folds get a firm crease.



2 - fold one diagonal into the centre and repeat with the other side.

 

 3 - next, and I hope that isn't too hard to follow, you need to fold back the top layer outwards on both sides.

4 - open up the  triangles you have just made and now flatten them out and then the outside pointy bits, you need to tuck those into themselves.

 

5.  Nearly there, now fold the outside edges in half again, so you should have something that resembles the picture below.

6 - stick the outside flaps and then bring the edges together, and all being well, you end up with the same thing as in the second picture, one 'petal'.

 

I have used five petals to make a flower, you can make them tighter and use six (and if you like folding!).  As the glue 'sets' I use some paperclips to hold the folds and petals together.  A glue gun comes in handy for this.

And here you have it, the final result of 5 petals all glued together.  You can turn them into a flower bauble and to do this you will need around 12 flowers and some ribbon.

Enjoy!