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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