Guneaux Designs by Beverly Polen: Stampin Up Blossom Box

Thursday, August 25, 2011

More Tips on the Stampin' Up! Blossom Box

As a result of my post yesterday regarding the Stampin' Up! Blossom Box, I received a lot of questions regarding how to get the box top to stay down and how to add embellishments to the box top so the box will open freely. I made another box to demonstrate what I think will answer these questions; or maybe I should say, at least it works for me!

TIP 1. After assembling your box, push the top down, and with your fingers pinch tightly each fold along the top to ensure it is crisply folded. As a result, the top stays down without any adhesive. (My final box was made with a different cardstock than that in this picture.)

TIP 2. If you choose to add an embellishment around the circumference of the box, it cannot be glued to the box or the box won't open. I chose to add ribbon around the box. To add ribbon, measure the circumference of the box. Use this measurement to cut a piece of ribbon (or another type of embellishment). Glue the ribbon ends together and add an embellishment to the ribbon if desired.

TIP 3. Create another embellishment for the box top (I created a butterfly). You want to strategically add the embellishment to the box top in a manner that allows the box to open. To accomplish this, I added crystal effects to the center of ONE fold, ensuring that I did not get it anywhere but on the one fold. I then placed the bottom left wing of the butterfly to the adhesive. You will determine where on one fold to add your embellishment, depending on what it is.

TIP 4. After adding your embellishment, catch one fold with your finger and pull. Volia! The box opens with the embellishment attached and not in the way. The box is ready for you to insert a piece of jewelry, candy, or any small gift.

TIP 5. Fold the box back together and push the top back down.

TIP 6. Add your embellishment around the circumference of the box. I pushed my ribbon onto the box from the bottom up to the center. The ribbon fits snugly.

TIP 7: The assembled box is 1 1/16" deep and 2 1/2" wide. I can easily place two bite-size candy bars inside and it is perfect for a bracelet or necklace that is flexible and just falls into a "pile" when placed in the box. This picture shows the box with two necklaces and matching earrings inside.

Now, how perfect is that? And what a beautiful gift box to give to a special someone.

The following picture is a top view of the box.

God's Blessings!

Guneaux Designs by Beverly Polen

Stampin' Up! Demonstrator in FL

guneauxdesignsbybeverlypolen.blogspot.com

guneauxdesignsbybeverlypolen.stampinup.net

beverlypolen@guneauxdesigns.com

FIRM RELIANCE ON DIVINE PROVIDENCE!

ENJOY MAKING STAMPIN' UP! GREETING CARDS!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Stampin' Up! Blossom Box and Tips for Cutting

Wow! Have you tried to assemble the Stampin' Up! Blossom Box yet? My first one went together quite well, but then the next ones were somewhat of a struggle for me. However, I managed, as I'm sure you will, to assemble them, and here they are:

FRONT VIEW

TOP VIEW

I think they turned out beautifully. What do you think? Can you image receiving one of these from your husband or boyfriend with a ring inside? Or maybe a necklace and/or bracelet from a friend or family member? I think they would be so cute for that.

I glued the tops down so I could embellish the boxes with pieces cut with the Stampin' Up! Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Flower, Daisies #2 Bigz Die, Island Floral Bigz Die, and Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die. I love the Stampin' Up! Big Shot Dies! I hope you have them all to create beautiful art! If not, click on these links and they will take you directly to the product on-line for you to buy.

Would you like some Tips for Using the Stampin' Up! Blossom Bigz Die? Let me provide some.

TIP 1. The most important thing about the TWO pieces that you cut with the Die is to ensure you have well-defined creases/folds. If you don't, you'll find it difficult to fold and assemble.

TIP 2. Because Designer Series Papers (DSP) are thinner than the Stampin' Up! Cardstock, they will crease better, making it easier to fold. However, handling the DSP while making the many folds seems to cause the folds to fray somewhat, leaving the white part of the paper showing (or at least this happened for me). I found the cardstock to work better, although it takes more effort to fold.

TIP 3. If your creases don't show up well on cardstock after cutting, you can cut the pieces one of two ways (there may be others):

1) place a thin piece of paper on top of your Big Shot sandwich to provide a bit more pressure when cutting the pieces, or

2) run the sandwich through the Big Shot about three times (that worked well for me).

If you follow 2), don't remove the sandwich from the Big Shot; roll it though to the end and then roll it back, etc. And don't put an extra piece of cardstock on top of the sandwich or your creases will be cuts instead of creases (or at least that happened to me).

Have great fun making yours!