Barrettes Tutorial

Hello everyone!  My blog has been quiet, I know.  I had trouble breathing last week during a hot spell, and thought it was just the weather.  Turns out it's bronchitis, and I've been lying down most of the time.  I hate feeling like I can't breathe!  I'm anxious to get back to crafting and feeling better and visiting all of you.  (at least I'm getting in time with a good book, John Steinbeck's East of Eden - it's hard to put down)

Today, it's my turn to feature a project at Creative Inspirations Paints.  I made a set of barrettes for my 10 YO for practically no cost.  I used barrette bases, some Creative Inspirations Paints and silk flower bits, found on the floor of our local craft store (I looooove freebies!).  My daughter chose the paint colors she wanted and this girl loves her neon colors! (her mother, not so much ;)

The flower parts before painting and assembling:

A happy girl, modeling them for me --

These are the paints I used today:

What a gorgeous, shimmery rainbow line-up!  I do love these paints.  They're so easy to work with (and clean up), provide incredible color and shimmer, and come in SO many colors.  Already at affordable prices, there is going to be a SALE at their web store -- 10% off the whole month of August!  Time to stock up.  :-)

Thanks so much for joining me today!

Candy Boxes

Every year, my girls love to make Candy Boxes for their friends as little Christmas gifts.  My Stampin' Up demo, Gail Murray, taught me how to do these several years ago.  I created a tutorial for you, in case you want to make them too.  Warning:  lots of pictures in this post!

Finished boxes:

You will need for each box:

• 3 assorted patterned papers 
• 3 coordinating scraps of cardstock
• Stamps of your choice:  small image for Belly Band, greeting for inside
• Ink
• Circle punches:  1 1/4", 1 3/8", 1 3/4"
• Adhesive
• Paper trimmer & scoring tool

For this tutorial, I have used plain computer paper.  I have also drawn lines for demonstration purposes only.  Blue lines are for scoring, red dashed lines are for cutting. 

For box bottom:

Cut a piece of cardstock or patterned paper into a 6 7/8" square.
Score each side 1 7/8" from edges.

Trim off each corner, shown by the red dashes.

I use my paper trimmer to cut off the corners by lining up edges of scored lines in the trimmer's 'gutter' or channel.

This is what your box bottom should look like. 

Stamp sentiment or image inside square.

Pinch corners of box bottom as shown above and below.

Choose to leave corners as they are, or secure with adhesive (even Scotch tape).

For box top:

Cut a piece of patterned paper into a 5 1/8" square.
Score each side 15/16" from edges.

Cut each corner as shown, making sure that
cuts all run in the same direction.

Flip paper over to the side you want as the inside of the lid.
Place double-sided adhesive on corners marked with an "x".

Assemble corners as shown and place lid on box bottom.

For Belly Band:

Punches needed for label.

Stamp image, then punch circles in coordinating cardstocks; assemble with double-sided adhesive.

Cut 11" x 1" strip of patterned paper.
Adhere label to center of paper strip.

Lay strip and label over box lid,
centering label.  Do not secure.

Flip box and belly band over.
Place adhesive on one end of band, as shown.
Secure ends to each other.

Completed box. 

The belly band slips off box easily, and helps hold lid and box together in a pretty way.

Our projects, mid-way through assembly.
We need quite a few more!

I am entering this project at Tuesday Throwdown, where the challenge is to use our favorite color combo.  I LOVE red and green together for Christmas, especially this olive shade of green.

I do hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and want to give these a try.  They are easy to make, otherwise, my kids wouldn't want to do them!  LOL

Colleen