Sizzix Box Tutorial

Thought I'd share with you how I construct my Sizzix Boxes. This tutorial might answer some of your questions regarding dimensions etc. It will also come in useful in the future and will all make sense very soon.

The completed box measures : 3 and a half by 4 and 3 quarters and 2 inches deep.

Firstly cut two pieces of card stock to 12" by 5 and a half" (you can actually get away with 11 and 3 quarters" by 5" if you are careful). Run them both through the machine.

Fold along the score lines (I tend to have the creases facing up and fold towards me along those lines) and attach tape as shown below (I have actually made a mistake in my haste and added tape to the top of both larger pieces - you only need to do this to 1). I recommend strong DST for this.


Next, attach them to make a T shape keeping the tabs on the inside of the completed box.

Finally attach the box together as shown below:

The box is now ready to be decorated. I attach panels to each side as this dnot only decorates the box but also strengthens it. Below is pic of all the parts:

2 Large Sizzix Die Cuts (brown in the pic)

2 Small Sizzix Die Cuts (brown in the pic)

1 Large Panel for the front (Plain Green Piece)

~ '3 and a quarter' inches by '4 and a half'

2 Long Side Panels (green with stamped paw prints)

~ '4 and a half' inches by '1 and 3 quarter' inches

2 Short Side Panels (green with stamped paw prints)

~ '3 and a quarter inches' by '1 and 3 quarter' inches

1 Image Layer (Stamped with Dog image)

~ 3 and seven eighths' by '4 and an eighth' inches

I have worked out how to get enough panels for 2 boxes out of one A4 piece of cardstock. Here's a cutting sheet to show you how (this is not to scale and shows an A4 piece of card as being the thick black on the outside):


And here's a close up of the finished article:

As you can see, I've added a ribbon under the first green layer on the cover to act as a 'lever' or 'handle' to lift the lid. If you look at my other boxes, you can see I've used punches to create a gap to use to lift the lid.


Hope this helps and answers any queries you have and that it is useful to some of you in the future!

5 Challenges in 1 and another look at the boxes

The theme at Secret Crafter this week is '4 Seasons'. You can use all 4 or choose 1. I've made these WINTERY boxes using my latest purchase of the XL Box die. I told you to expect more of these didn't I!!! They are designed with my little cousins in mind and what they'd like too and so they also match Allsort's 'For a Child' challenge this week. They will obviously be filled with sweeties for the children before they are handed to them.

The Snowman one is made using a black textured base and navy SU card. The all the stamps and white ink are from Elzybells. The snowflakes and Snowman means that the box fits in with Cupcake Craft Challenge's theme of 'Snow Much Fun'.

Here's a close up of the Snowman. Being a Snowman (and a Robin in the next one), I think these boxes qualify for Charisma Cardz's 'Merry and Bright' theme.

Here's another variation using red and brown. The sentiment that come with this Elzybells set are great and match the images perfectly. It's been really well thought out. I bought a similar stamp from Elzybells before they were an online store which had the robin with messages around the outside but now that the clear set has been released, it can be mixed and matched with other saying and images - how cool is that!

Rather than using ribbon as an opener as I have done in the past, I've used my SU Tab Punch to cut a curve out of the side piece to make it easier to open.

Being as these are little gifts, they also fit into One Stop Crafts theme.

Why not join in with the challenges and hop on over to the Secret Crafter Blog, Allsorts, One Stop Craft, Charisma Cardz and Cupcake Craft for more details.

An Award

Jane kindly left me an award a while back but I haven't had time to do anything about it.

The award comes with a few with rules, which are:

Pass this award on to five people, post on their blog to let them know you left this award, and then answer a list of questions in ONE word (I may have cheated with this rule a bit!).

1. Where is your cell phone? On my desk

2. Your hair? Short

3. Your mother? About

4. Your father? Around too

5. Your favorite food? Chocolate

6. Your dream last night? None I can remember

7. Your favorite drink? Pepsi

8. Your dream/goal? Be a rock climbing instructor

9. What room are you in? Study

10. Your hobby? Craft

11. Your fear? Jumping from heights

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Instructing climbing

13. Where were you last night? Bed

14. Something that you aren't? Lazy

15. Muffins? White Chocolate and Strawberry

16. Wish list item? Cricut

17. Where did you grow up? West Wales

18. Last thing you did? Ate

19. What are you wearing? Jeans

20. Your TV? Comedy and Sci Fi

21. Your Pets? None

22. Friends? Important

23. Your life? Hectic

24. Your mood? Cheery

25. Missing Someone? Yes

26. Vehicle? Swift

27. Something you’re not wearing? Socks

28. Your favorite store? Elzybells

29. Your favorite color? Green

30. When was the last time you laughed? Yesterday

31. Last time you cried? A while

32. Your best friend? Numerous

33. One place that I go to over and over? Clydach (at the Climbing Wall)

34. Facebook? Yes

35. Favorite place to eat? Wasabi

And the 5 I pass it onto are (I seem to have chosen Elzybells fans on the whole!):

Jane, Steph, Claire, Sarah, Elaine

A load of ATCs

I have finished off ATCs for a couple of swaps. As this is my second post of the day, make sure you check below to see more boxes made with Sarah's die cuts she sent me.

First ones are for the ATC Swappers Blog with the theme of 12 Days of Christmas. This is a BUMPER swap and a great way to start building a collection as the idea is to make 12 identical Christmas themed ATCs. I showed a sneak peek of these the other day and here they are in all their glory.

I used burgundy and kraft with Elzybells reindeers (again!!!). They were coloured with koh-i-noors and promarkers and actually took quite a while to colour all 12 as I had to wait between processes. Maybe I should have made a simpler style but I enjoyed making them so much and am really pleased with the results. I might add a little gold peel off star to the top right if I can find some. Here's a pic of all 12:

If you fancy joining in, hop on over to the blog for more info and there'll also be a suprise gift to all participants too this month as a thank you to all that have made the swap a success over the past year.

http://atcswappers.blogspot.com/

The second lot of ATCs are for the Addicted to ATCs blog with the theme 'SPOOKY'. I wanted to make a set that was different to my last spooky set but used the elzybells clear set again. I used the bats to create the backing card and then created a topper to go on top. I like the fact that they are all a different colour with different images but yet again, recognisable as being from the same set.

Christmas Box

Here's another box I made with the die cuts Sarah sent me last week. She included some pale green ones which matched my favourite combo of kraft and burgundy. I chalked the edges with some brown chalk and layered using the burgundy.

Then I stamped some Elzybells reindeer again and coloured with koh-i-noors, OMS and Promarkers.
What you can't see in the pick is that it is full of toffees right now - MMMMMMMM! Lovely quick, inexpensive Christmas presents and now that I have my own die (yes, it arrived), expect to see more of these!!!

Kraft Projects

Been playing with my recent purchase from Elzybells - Kraft card. I've matched it up with burgundy card and love the colour combo. In fact, the burgundy card and promarkers are the only things I've used here that weren't from Elzybells - the stamps, kraft, white ink and koh-i-noor pencils are all from their site - well worth a look. I really like the look of the reindeer on the kraft too.

In fact, I loved the combo so much that I've decided to use them for the 12 Days of Christmas swap over on ATC Swappers. During November, the swap is to make 12 ATCs so as to have a bumber swap. Check out the site for more details. Here's a sneak peek of the design I've used:

I've also made a box in this style too which I need to take pictures of to show. Keep your eyes peeled.