Super Gift Idea

Howdy stampers!  It looks like this week is going to fly by, just like the last few have done!  It is hard to believe that we're going back to Daylight Savings Time this coming Sunday!  It seems like it was not that long ago when we were in "fall back" mode and here we are doing the "spring forward" thing already.  Well, I guess we're all ready for spring about now.  As we all know by now, spring in Oregon has nothing to do with warm sunny days and flowers.  My sister, who lives about an hour north of San Francisco reports that the flowering trees in her area have all blossomed and there are tiny green leaves coming out on the trees.  Sigh!  Meanwhile, we're still wearing our flannel jammies and sleeping in flannel sheets. 

Well, enough of that!  Let's get to the purpose of this post, which wasn't to moan about spring in Oregon.  Today I have a cute little box for you that holds 3 x 3 gift cards. I saw this idea on Robin Merriman's blog and tweaked it a bit.  She used a box pattern that you'd have to trace and cut out, but I just used the Box #2 Die for the Big Shot and cut off the top flap.  That makes the process much easier!   Take a peek!

When you're giving someone a wrapped gift, you don't need a large card to go with it.  A small gift card indicating who the gift is from is all you really need.  I can remember going to the Hallmark store and buying this type of gift card.... I suppose they still sell them.  I used to pay $1.25 or $1.50 for these little cards, but now I can make tons of them myself in just a few minutes! 

Let me give you a list of what I used to make this little box and the cards to go in it.

For the cards:
Whisper White card stock 100730
Fresh Vintage stamp set (FREE Sale-a-bration item, 125117
Sincere Salutations stamp set 115068
Pool Party stamp pad 122938
Lucky Limeaid stamp pad 122935
Basic Black stamp pad 101179
Mini Sqaure envelopes 107309

For the box:
River Rock card stock 108640
Everday Enchantment Designer Paper ( FREE Sale-a-bration item, 126154
Lucky Limeaid Ruffled Ribbon 122977
Designer Printed Brads 122940
Sticky Strip adhesive 104294
Box #2 Die for the Big Shot 114518
Large Oval punch (to punch the handle) 119855

To create the box, just use the Box #2 Die, but cut off the flap that folds over the top of the box.
Cut the designer paper into a strip 1 5/8 " wide and glue it to the box while it is flat.  It is very difficult to glue paper to an already-assembled box!  Assemble the box using the Sticky Strip, which is a very strong adhesive. Then you'll cut a piece of matching card stock 3 5/8" wide by 5 " tall.  Cover it with the designer paper and then glue it inside the back of the box (after the box is assembled).  Punch out the handle hole using the oval punch and then add the ribbon and brad.
When using the box dies, it is best to use a Crease Pad, which you can see on page 215 of the big catalog.  These give enough pressure to cut the box, without cutting through on the score lines.  If you use a standard clear cutting pad, the score lines often end up being cut almost all the way through, which makes the box unusable.  For the larger dies like the Box #2, you'll need the Extended Premium Crease Pad 117630. 

Good news... we can make this box and matching cards at YOUR stamping party!  I'm booking now for April and May... the last 2 months of this Stampin'Up! year.  Email me and reserve a spot on my calendar and we can make this cute box and cards that I'm sure your friends will love. 
June starts the new year, with the release of the new catalog on June 1st, so there are only 2 months left to get the items you want from the 2011-2012 catalog. 

It looks like we may be having a sunny day today, so hopefully you can get out there and enjoy it! 
I'll be back tomorrow with more stamping inspiration, so please come back and visit. 

Happy Tuesday!
Susan