Triangle Box instructions and demo

I was absolutely thrilled to have my Triangle Box (because I don't know what else to call it) chosen for the Papertrey Ink Guest Star Stamper contest on Nichole Heady's blog in December for the "Best Teacher Gift" category. Someone asked if I would share the instructions in her comments section so here they are!

The idea for the box came from a free sample I received in the mail a while back for a Kashi granola bar (it was delicious, by the way). The box that the granola bar arrived in had a flap that folded over and was held down with a sticker. I decided to cut off the flap and create a sleeve instead. I thought it would give the box more substance and also make it easier to decorate! Let's get started!

Supplies you'll need:


Two sheets of cardstock (preferably in two different colors)


Paper scoring system (a score-it is not in the budget for me, so I use my paper trimmer and an embossing tool. You can use whatever scoring system you have on hand and are comfortable with)


1. Cut a piece of cardstock to 10 1/2" x 6 5/8". Score the SHORT sides of the paper 2" in on each side.

2. Turn your paper 90 degrees and create score lines 2 1/4" in from each side. But only score in between the first two score lines you created (refer to the photo, as I am horrible at explaining this!)

3. On the short sides of the paper, make small marks 1" in from each side and also in the center of the paper, at 3 5/16". (Do this on both sides)


4. More scoring! Make score lines from the pencil marks at the top of the page to the ends of the vertical score marks, as shown in the photo. (I marked the lines with a pencil so they would be easier to see, but you don't need to mark them with a pencil)


5. Do these zig-zag score lines on each side of your paper and they should look like the photo above, minus the pencil lines.

6. Fold all the score lines - it's shaping up into a box! :)

7. Fold the box up...

8. like so! Now, let's create the sleeve!



9. Start with a sheet of 6x8" cardstock. Start on one side and score it every 2 1/2 inches.

10. I like to snip off the corners of the short section to give it a more polished look when it's all adhered together.

11. Decorate the sleeve any way you like. I started with the basic branch from the "Out on a Limb" set from Papertrey Ink.

12. Then I added some flowers from the same set in Sweet Blush.

13. Finishing touches - Sweet Blush ribbon, and a bird and sentiment from the "Birds of a Feather" stamp set, also from Papertrey Ink.

14. I folded it up and used adhesive on the tab. Then simply slid my box inside.

This is a fairly quick and easy project that anyone would appreciate receiving. It can be filled with store-bought candy or homemade treats. I also think it would make a lovely box for some handmade jewelry or even a gift card.

I hope these directions were easy enough to follow! Please feel free to create your own box and link me to it in the comments section! I'd love to see some different takes on the same "template".

Thanks!

Looking forward to 2009

Wow. So... obviously I have kind of been ignoring my blog for a while now. I just realized it's not been since March that I posted - and now it's two days before New Year's Eve. Pathetic.

Anyway - there's never been a better time to start updating again! With 2009 just around the corner, I'll take this opportunity to make a fresh start on my blogging! And I'll start with a few goals for the new year!

Now, I'm not a big fan of "New Year's Resolutions". Resolutions are for breaking - and I hate setting myself up for failure! But this is a good time of year to set a few goals, break a few bad habits, and start some good ones. Here's a short list of goals I would like to work toward in the new year:

1. Creat one scrapbook page or card per day.
I made this goal for myself last year and completely fell off the wagon sometime around April. But this year, I'm gonna go really easy on myself. If I miss a day - no big deal. But I'd like to be more creative and also practice being a more simple crafter - *attempting* to create one piece a day will definitely help me with that habit!

2. Make sure the house is neat and clean before going to bed each night.
This is one pretty self-explanatory. I have been a little bit lazy lately about making sure Jack's toys are picked up and things are put away.

And the big one.
3. Give 10% of my time to God each day.
I've been giving to our church (financially) ever since I became an adult and had money of my own. Then the other day I was having a conversation with someone about the gifts I had made for my family and friends for Christmas. I was talking about how I was giving handmade gifts and how much I appreciate receiving handmade gifts - because in this day and age, our time is so much more valuable than our money. And suddently something like a lightbulb went off in my head. I have been contributing financially to our church for years and years and thinking that I was covered. But God wants more than just my money. He wants a piece of what is most precious to me. And for me, that is my time.

So my most difficult and, I would imagine, most rewarding challenge this year is to "tithe" my most precious possession - my time - to the Lord. It can be spent in prayer, bible study, serving others, etc. I will devote a minimum of 2.4 hours each day to God.

And finally...
4. Update my blog every day!
Well, at least every few days! Hopefully I will get lots of cards and scrapbook pages done that I can share. ;)

Alright - I'm hitting PUBLISH. There's no turning back now!