NEW PRINTABLE, EDITABLE BOXES FOR SPRING - WHOOPEE!

Well, Spring has actually arrived in the UK.  Not very warm at the moment but sunny and the daffs are in full bloom so things are looking up!
Easter is also fast approaching and I wanted a spring themed box for my Easter gifts and eggs, a box that could be re-used.

I've had so many comments saying that if a generic sentiment were added to the box they could be used again if they could be folded flat for storage. However, because the base has to be secured with tape to keep it from falling open this wasn't possible.

So back to the drawing board and voila! self locking base boxes that fold flat.

The box is so easy to make and takes two sheets of A4 card.  It measures 3.5 x 3.5 x 5.5 inches so is just right for small gifts or sweets (candy).

Once again I have made the labels on the side editable for your own sentiments, so you can print off as many as you like each with a different greeting.

The file is available as an instant download pdf file from my Etsy shop for £2 by clicking on the button below.

COMING SOON - I'm also working on a matching bottle cover/box for my not so sweet toothed friends who appreciate a glass of wine more and will add that to my shop when it's ready.

Please be kind - particularly if you download a freebie - and 'like' me on Facebook, Pinterest or Google+ or 'Stumble' upon me. 
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THOUGHTS ON PRESENTING YOUR BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED HANDMADE CARDS

After some research I noticed that there are a few things I must bear in mind when I make a greetings card.

1.  PUT THE CLEVER STUFF ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CARD

Generally speaking the recipient will stand the card on the mantlepiece with just the front showing, so if you have laboured long and hard over a spectacular inner to your card it will stay hidden from view and all your efforts will be in vain.
I have made some beautiful cards in my time with pop up and pop out inserts being the main attraction of the card, only to find them on the shelf with just the not so clever outside of the card showing.


2. MAKE THEM THE RIGHT SIZE TO FIT ON THE SHELF

 

Cards can only take up a certain amount of space.
The area available to most people for the display of cards is usually limited so if you have a card that pulls out a long way to the back or side the chances are, because it won't fit onto the shelf or takes up more than it's fair share of space the card will be viewed, admired and put back into the envelope.


3. MAKE IT VERY CLEAR HOW THE CARD SHOULD BE DISPLAYED

If you make any card that isn't purely a book or tent shape, ie an easel, shelf or any card that needs arranging on receipt, the chances are even when you provide instructions the recipient will not understand how to present the card and again the card will be popped back in the envelope.
I have been amazed at how some of my cards have been displayed.  The problem is that you have made the card, and  you know the way it should be arranged, but if you're not in the know ........... well.......??

I have tried printing instructions on the card itself.  But if you watch, the person will take the card out of the envelope and straight away try standing it up in either a book or tent like manner, overlooking the printed instructions.  
People don't look at the back of cards.

I have found that the best way is to make a wrapper for the card with instructions printed on it, so they have to be read before the card can be viewed.

SO.... bearing all this in mind, I try to make my cards 
a) clever on the outside
b) small enough to fit on any shelf and 
c) as easy to display as possible.

My research is still in progress, but since I've taken these ideas on board I've noticed that my cards have been much more appreciated as all my hard work is being shown of to best advantage. :0)

Please be kind - particularly if you download a freebie - and 'like' me on Facebook, Pinterest or Google+ or 'Stumble' upon me. 
 « The buttons are floating over there on the left - no excuses ;0)

DRESSING UP THOSE WINE BOTTLE GIFTS WITH AN EDITABLE FREEBIE

Where has the time gone!!

I've just realised how long it's been since I added anything to my blog *wince* The summer has just shot past and now party season is heading our way again at speed.
So in view of this I thought I would post a freebie of a wine bottle collar I made a while ago to hold a couple of Greene and Black chocolates - which I am reliably informed by my friend Audrey Frelx at  Cute and Some, who very kindly did some sleuthing for me, are available in the U.S.

The collars are really easy to print and put together and as the text is editable you can add your own greeting to add a little pazzazz to your gift.

If you would like to try them out for yourself,  first down load the file below.  It's a pdf file which can be opened using an Adobe reader found on most machines, but if you haven't go it, it's a free download from the internet.

 

BEFORE YOU DOWNLOAD THIS FREEBIE, PLEASE BE KIND ENOUGH TO 'LIKE' ME ON FACEBOOK, PINTEREST OR G+ OR STUMBLE OVER ME, USING THE BUTTONS ON THE LEFT

THANK YOU - HUG!

Open the file and highlight the areas where it says 'your text here' and replace the text with your own greeting.  Then cut round the outline of the collar, remove the two circles either using scissors or a hole punch and score along the dotted lines.

Fold along score lines, using a bone folder to make the creases sharp.
Add glue to the areas indicated and fold bottom portion up to make a box as shown below.

Easy peasy so far eh?? :0)

Then adding glue or tape to the upper portion, fold it forward, matching up the two holes and stick together, ensuring the front flap goes inside the upper area of the box

And there you are. Bob's your uncle - posh candy holder.

They do make an attractive addition to the wine bottle and who can resist lovely dark chocolate - yum!

Please leave me a comment - especially if you download the freebie - so I can I decide what to post next. :0)

NOW, ALL WRAPPED UP FOR FATHER'S DAY!

Father's Day is fast approaching and as usual I have left things to the last minute. 

As my Dad, like so many other men, has everything he needs and is one of the world's worst to buy a prezzy for, I've decided to give him a couple of days of my hard labour in his garden, waging the ever present war on weeds.

To go with this I thought a nice sustaining bottle of wine for when the weeding is over, would be a good idea, so a bottle cover was required with a more masculine feel to it.

This cover, I thought, would be ideal for all those occasions when a gift of wine would go down well.  The gift for the host at a dinner party, a Birthday present and of course, Father's Day.
Once again it is in my Etsy shop as an instant download for £2-00.

I hope you will be able to make use of this file for the men in your life.
Think of me weeding won't you.  Hopefully next year I'll come up with a better plan ;0)

Please leave me a comment - especially if you download a freebie - so I can I decide what to post next. :0)

ALL WRAPPED UP WITH A LOVELY BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE

I have been super busy just lately as my two Tiddlers - not so tiddly any more - have both been getting ready for their birthday parties, one a Luau and the other Star Wars. There are so may great ideas out there and my Pinterest boards are beginning to groan.  Still, we have made progress and the Luau is happening as I type, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all the hard work will have paid off and it's an overwhelming success.

All these preparations sort of put a halt to the projects I had planned and when I received an e-mail asking if one of my wine bottle covers came in a champagne size, I thought I had better get back on track and finish the jobs in hand.

So here it is - the champagne bottle size cover.  Once again with editable text so you can customise it with your own wording.  It's an instant download from my Etsy shop and is so quick to put together - half the time of going to the shops and definitely less tiring.
 
It's available for £2 sterling by clicking on the button below.

So, now I'm out of party bag mode and back in the real world, I'd better crack on and get the rest of the half finished projects sorted out and ready to upload.

ONWARDS ...........!

Please leave me a comment - especially if you download a freebie - so I can I decide what to post next. :0)

EDITABLE, PRINTABLE PINK DIAMOND PETAL TOPPED BOX

As Mother's Day is looming, I wanted to make a special little gift for my Mum.  This box is really girly and has started my new 'Pink Diamond' range, which will in time also incorporate a bottle box, a triangular favor box, a tissue cover for tiny tissues, and a bottle collar.

I thought all of these would be useful for Weddings as well as gifts when needed.

The template for this is available from my Etsy shop  - Sheila's Crafty Corner - as an instant download and will cost £2.

The boxes dimensions are 3,5 x 3.5 x 5 inches  and I have found 16 Lind'or sweeties fit in very well (If they don't get snaffled first)

Once again all the text is editable by highlighting the 'Your text here' and replacing it with your own wording, so you can customise it to your own requirements.  They are very easy to put together with instructions included and take two pieces of A4 card, and fold flat for storage

So what are you waiting for - click on the link above, do a quick download and get those sweeties all wrapped up for that special occasion. :0)

AND NOW . . . THE 'SUNNY BUNNY' BOX FREEBIE

As I mentioned I didn't think the Hot Cross 'Bun'ny would be everyone's cup of tea, so here is the 'Sunny Bunny' box, all ready for you to print off, quickly assemble and fill with Easter goodies.  They are big enough to take a creme egg or some other small packets of sweeties.  Very nice as a little treat and the Tiddlers don't suffer from sugar overload. :0)

They would also be nice as a table decoration at Easter with a couple of Ferrero Rocher or Lind'or chocolates inside for the more mature guests, after all, who doesn't like bunnies (or sweeties)

You can get two of these boxes onto a piece of A4 card by printing one way and then turning the card and printing the other way.
I have made two separate files for the two colours, so you can have the combination that suits you.

The free download links are below.
 

Blue Sunny Bunny Box

Pink Sunny Bunny Box

I hope you enjoy making the boxes and please leave me a comment if you download the file telling me how you're going to use it - Just being nosy ;0)

EDITABLE TEXT WINE BOTTLE BOX FROM MY 'SPRING' COLLECTION

So now I'm on the 'Spring' collection of boxes.

I thought this bottle box/wrapper would be ideal for Easter and Spring wedding gifts and is so user friendly as the text can be easily changed on the bottle and on the tag to anything you want to say.
Again it is easy to make and full instructions are included.

The file is available from my Etsy shop for £2 by clicking the button below
 

Ooooooh!  I do love spring - summer's on it's way folks!

FREE PRINTABLE HOT CROSS 'BUN'NY EASTER EGG BOX

Whoopee!  The sun is shining and it seems we'll be having a warm and sunny weekend.  Perhaps the Ark will be able to find dry land and we will be able to disembark.  :0)  Poor old Britain, we really seem to have had a hammering this year as far as the weather is concerned.
 

So.... as it looks as though Spring might be heading our way, and Easter is fast approaching, I thought I would share this fun Easter box - ideal for creme eggs and other goodies.

Now before we go any further I think I ought to explain why I have a box with a scowling bunny.

Are we the only country to have hot cross buns at Easter?  (They are a fruit bun with a cross marked on the top which we toast and are traditionally eaten on Good Friday to commemorate the crucifixion)  When they come into the shops you know that Easter is on the way bringing with it Summer and some warm weather - can't wait!

I digress - As to how I came up with this stunning Easter bunny box idea -
  

The other day we were reading a story about a bunny who got stuck in a hole in a tree trunk, and he was a ......  hot cross bunny .... and my little butterfly brain suddenly had a lightbulb moment and I thought - how about a Hot Cross 'Bun'ny Box for the Tiddlers Easter eggs.  It's cute and you don't get too much sugar overload, always a problem on Easter Sunday.  Tiddlers tearing round like mad things on a sugar high is never a good thing when you have a house full of people!

So off I went to the trusty computer and came up with this.

The file is downloadable, printable and very easy to put together.  You get two on a sheet of A4 card (preferably photo paper) and the only other thing you need is some glue.

If you want to have a go the link to the file is below, then right click and 'save as'
If you download it please leave a comment or send me a photo of your creation. I'd love to hear from you.

I must admit my little Hot Cross Bunny might not be everyone's cup of tea, so I'll be adding a happier, sunnier bunny box in the near future.  Stay tuned!

BRING ON SOME BLING FOR VALENTINE'S DAY WITH THESE "ROMANCE" BOXES

This set of three boxes is available now for immediate download in pdf format for you to customise with your own text, print off and assemble at the discounted price of £5 by clicking the 'add to cart' button below

Instructions are included and they are all super easy to make.  You can make as many as you like all with different text, and they are ideal not only for Valentine's day but any other 'romantic' occasion.

If you wish to buy the files individually, they are available for £2 each in the posts below

JUST LOVE MAKING BOXES!

 Christmas was here again, and it was time to sort out some Christmas table goodies.  The theme this year was snowmen and after a lot of thought I came up with these.

They really did look spectacular and as you can see held a nice quantity of goodies, which went down very well.

The smaller crown topped boxes were made using a freebie template kindly supplied by Waltzingmousestamp which I customised to fit my Christmas/New Year theme.  They are super easy to make and take two Ferrero Rocher sweeties. Yum!

Now I have a template for the petal box, I am looking to make a downloadable file for the Christmas version and also for a generic box with an editable name tag, so like mine, the boxes can be personalised.

SO WATCH THIS SPACE . . . .!

FREEBIE FLAT OBLONG BOX WITH EDITABLE TEXT

In between sorting out advent calendars to send to Father Christmas for delivery to the Tiddlers on the 1st of December, I have been trying to design a flat box, with editable text, for my friend Michelle.

She has been beavering away making the most beautiful beaded necklaces, earrings and bracelet, and needed a stylish box selling them.

This is what I came up with

The box opens up flat so a necklace can be placed on a wadding insert and then the box can be folded up round it and the tab slotted in under the seal.

The nice thing about it is it's easy to cut out, and only needs scoring and folding and the only glue you need is to stick on the seal, which you can cut out with a 1" round punch.
The text can be edited by highlighting the 'Your Text Here' and replacing it with your own text.  If you don't want the text just leave the space blank.

If you would like the editable pdf file of the box it's available for you to download below. It fits onto an A4 sheet of card - the heaviest you can get through your printer - and measures 7.5 x 2.5 inches when folded.

click here to download freebie file 

I hope you can find a use for it and perhaps you could send me a photo of how you've used it.

Enjoy!

THE CONTINUING TALE OF ROBIN'S ROUND TABLE (WITH FREEBIE CUTTING FILES)

So it was over to me..

First there was the problem of what to use to cover the table.
Seven foot of table takes a lot of covering!  Inspiration struck and a red kingsize flat sheet was purchased.

Then table mats.
I didn't want to be cluttered up with fourteen sets of anything Christmassy for the rest of the year.  So out with the trusty Craft Robo and fourteen snowflake table mats were cut out of photo paper together with matching wine glass decorations. So pretty, just the right size and perfect.

If you would like the files for the tablemats and wine glass decorations they are here for you to download.  They come in .GSD, .studio and .SVG formats, so hopefully there will be something that you can make use of. - enjoy!

Download Snowflake Table Mat Cutting Files 

Download Wine Glass Decorations Cutting Files

Next Christmas table gift boxes.  I had seen a file on the internet here at Extreme Cards, of a snowflake top box which would fit in so well with the theme (There are so many wonderful ideas on this site) So once again it was Craft Robo time and with some red mirror board that problem was quickly solved.

Some time before I had downloaded a file from here at Computer Crafted by Gigi,(another site for great cutting files) for wine glass coasters for a party we had had and I thought I could use the idea to make coasters with our names on, firstly as place cards and then to stop the inevitable problem of whose glass is whose later in the meal, and with cold season upon us it seemed a good idea.  So back to the Craft Robo and these were made.

As you can see the whole table looked SPLENDID!

Only one problem (there's always one isn't there?) Just a small one.  The only people who could actually reach things in the center of the table, were the six footers amongst us.  Thankfully we have a lot of those in the family, but they were busy during lunch ;0)

LANTERN'S GLOW CARD AND GIFT LABEL - DOWNLOADABLE AND PRINTABLE WITH EDITABLE GREETINGS

I made these cards a couple of years ago and by golly weren't they a success!
They are so different from most Christmas cards and because they are 3d will stand very happily on their own and, I found, take pride of place on mantlepieces!

 

I have made the file so you can edit all the text, personalising it for each recipient by just highlighting the 'your text here' and replacing it with your own greeting.

They really are so simple to make, and only require scissors, a craft knife (not essential, but useful) and a bit of double sided tape or glue.

They fit into a C6 envelope and in the UK can be sent by standard 2nd class mail

I've also added an editable gift tag to go with the card to make it an all round package.

I hope you'll have a go at these.  They really are worth the effort and believe me yours will be the Christmas cards that will be noticed and remembered.
Mine were :0)

This file is available from my Etsy store for £1-50p  Instant download .pdf

WHAT WAS I MAKING WITH THIS???

I'm a bit of a butterfly when it comes to making things.  I start them and then get sidetracked and the project gets popped into a carrier bag and forgotten, until sometime in the future I remember it and fish it out only to find that I haven't a clue what it was eventually meant to be.

My other problem is that I tend to get very inventive and use bits of maybe two or three patterns when making say, a sweater or cardigan.  Now at the time this seems a really good idea, but when I pick it up again - doh! - I haven't a clue what I had in mind when I stashed it away a couple of months ago.

So.....
I designed these labels to stick on or in the bag with the (for the moment boring) project giving all the details of what it was all about and all the bright ideas I had for it - and it works!

 Phew... sanity saved.

So if your sanity also could do with a bit of saving the file is here for you to download and print off.  There are eight labels on an A4 piece of card, so they are quite economical as well. ;0)

                                     Click here to download Project Labels

Please, as usual, be kind.  It's for personal use only so don't sell them or pass it off as your own work in any way.