This adorable ‘pillow box’ makes not only a nice Halloween treat box, but you can punch a hole in the bottom and make it a a lollipop cover!

The ‘box’ is the Sizzix ‘pillowbox’ die and it is entirely Sahara Sand paper and torn Sahara Sand with sponged White Crafters ink.  Of course the ‘gravestone’ is the large tag punch… and I inked the greeting from the new ‘Delightful Dozen‘ stamp set (carefully making sure not to ink the image that was on the stamp).

MATERIALS & SUPPLIES -
Set: Delightful Dozen
Accessories:
5 ½  x 4 ¾ Sahara Sand cardstock
5 ½ x 3 Sahara Sand (for ripping–or I used the left over from above)
White Crafters Ink, Sponge Daubers, Basic Black Marker
Large Tag Punch, Dimensionals, 4 inches Sticky Strip
Other:  Google eyes
——-Sizzix ———————–
Pillow Box Die #113466, Sizzix Die Cutting Machine, Two clear cutting pads (comes with the Sizzix)

This is an anniversary invitation and favor ensemble that I designed and made for my good friends Louise & Ray Phillips on their 40th anniversary. Congratulations!!!  I was so excited to be asked to design the invitation for their special day and I’m sharing it here.

The invitation is inside a half sheet of Pacific Point cardstock folded into the middle and embossed ( ‘Flower Garden’ textured embossing folder).  The ‘belly band’ is made with the Fabulous Florets set.

The invitation inside is printed vellum overlay (created in MS Word and printed onto our vellum paper) over the ‘then’ and ‘now’ photos I pulled into Photoshop and then printed on glossy photo paper.

The pattern for the favor box is one that I’ve done numerous times, you can download the PDF from an older project here,  Below are the project accessories that I used for the outside of the invitation:

Fabulous Florets (#123025 W, #123027 C)
Pacific Point cardstock
Daffodil Delight cardstock
Pear Pizzaz cardstock
Daffodil Delight 1/8th inch taffeta ribbon
Inks: Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzaz,
Scallop Trim Border #118402
‘Flower Garden’ textured embossing folder #120175
Dimensionals™, sponge daubers, glue dots

I’ve always loved the double pocket card and have found that designer series paper folds up awesomely!

I have shared a photo step-by-step tutorial of how I made it and also some photos of other double pocket cards that I have made with the ‘Deck the Halls’ designer series paper.  Click on the icon above to download.

The first time I saw the milk carton box as a birdhouse, I was given one by Amanda Coughlin at Leadership in January.  And until I got home, I didn’t realize that it *was* the milk carton Sizzix die (I’m not a good listener, because I’m sure she told me).

So, no less than a month later, I had a good customer insist that she wanted her (20 person workshop, yikes) to do a 3D birdhouse she saw on the internet.  But I thought–I *had* seen that somewhere… hmm… closer to home, LOL!  (…quickly check the bottom of my luggage for crushed birdhouse, ooops!)

Well, the Amanda’s house was WAY more detailed and I can’t find it on her blog but she even had used the scalloped punch to make a red-shingled roof.  I, on the other hand, was a bit daunted by the number of people I would have to coach through this project in the span of a workshop time, so I made it as easy as possible.

So, if you notice there is absolutely no stamping (oooh nooo!), but dies and punches.  The color combination and design of this was inspired by Sahara Sand box and Bordering Blue roof that I saw on the web (I looked this morning and found hundreds but not the site I saw it on). I am sorry about that because mine is almost identical to hers and would like to give her credit (and I know 25 people are going to leave feedback with links to their site, but if it isn’t the same colors, it isn’t the one).

This was totally easy with the box being pre-cut and scored and I included the measurements of the supplies I used.  Enjoy!

Materials:
5 ½ x 8 ½ Sahara Sand Cardstock
2 ½ x 5 ½ Bordering Blue Cardstock (roof)
3×3 Brocade Blue c/s (to punch bird)
2 ¼ x 2 ¼ So Saffron c/s (for butterflies)
Two 2 ¼ x 2 ¼ Certainly Celery c/s (for leaves)
2×2 Black cardstock (for the bird hole)
Scallop Trim Border Punch #118402
Bordering Blue ink & sponge dauber for the bird
Stampin’ Up! ‘Beautiful Wings’ exclusive Embosslit Die (#118138)
1 3/8 inch circle punch (#104401)
½ inch Small Library Clip (from ‘Clips Asstm’t #112580)
Natural hemp, Sticky Strip®, Dimentionals, Glue Dots
Sizzix Big Shot Die Cut machine & Bigz L Die ‘Milk Carton’ (#117310)
Stampin’ Up! ‘Sizzlit’ die ‘Little Leaves’ (#114511)
Sizzix Multipurpose Platform *
Two standard cutting dies*
*comes bundled in the Sizzix Big Shot purchase

I LOVE this set!  And I want to call to your attention that the Beautiful Wings die (die cut/embossed butterflies) and the set ‘Vintage Vogue’ are retiring with the end of Stampin’ Up!’s Occasions Mini Catalog on April 30th.

I think that this would make an awesome Mother’s Day card, for that special person–whether your mother, or a special ‘mom’ that you know.

You can download the step-by-step PDF now and for a short time more, the full PDF with all four projects I’ve made is available for your $50+ online order.

Ah, those three beautiful words every woman wants to hear… ‘chocolate Easter bunny’!

The fabulous ‘single’ stamp ‘Chocolate Bunny’ (#116980, $7.95) is available for a limited time while the Occasions Mini Catalog is available… don’t miss it!

I made a simple ‘treat sleeve’ with a 2 1/2 x 10 inch piece of Mellow Moss cardstock and folded it back up on itself to form a pocket.

The best part is the ‘chocolate’ on the bunny! I stamped the bunny in Chocolate Chip (how appropriate!) Crafter’s Ink (#101816) and heat set with Crystal Clear embossing powder (#109130, $4.75) on Creamy Caramel cardstock.

The floral stamp in Blush Blossom on Blush Blossom paper is from ‘Razzle Dazzle’ (#116714, $18.95) set.  The pocket is held together with Moss brads from the Soft Subtles brads assortment.

One important thing to remember about the ‘handle’, punch out the jumbo circle and THEN punch out the flower… it is close to impossible the other way around, LOL!

Materials & Dimensions:

2 ½ x 10 inch Mellow Moss cardstock
(scored at 6 ½  inches)
2 ¼ x 3 Blush Blossom cardstock (for front panel)
2 ¼ x 3 Creamy Caramel (for the bunny)
2 ½ x 2 ¾ Close to Cocoa (for the flower punch)
2 ½ x 2 ¾ Blush Blossom (for the scallop circle punch)
Blush Blossom dye ink
Chocolate Chip Crafters Ink
Crystal Clear embossing powder & Heat Tool
1 ¼ inch jumbo circle punch
Scallop Circle Punch
Extra Large Fancy Flower punch (118073)
Earth Elements brads (Olive)
1 1/16th inch circle punch
Dimensionals™, Chocolate Chip narrow grosgrain ribbon

This easy (and small) gift bag is actually two quarter sheets of Real Red cardstock cut with the Sizzix die ‘Top Note’ attached to both sides of a tiny brown paper bag (that was cut down to 3 inches high).

The oval ‘handle’s is the large Oval punch and a simple knot of wide grosgrain ribbon (red) holds it shut.  The designer paper front is from the Merry Moments pack (one of my holiday favorites this year).  The vanilla stripe across the middle is a narrow strip of vanilla cardstock.  The greeting is a new stamp set called “Sweet Season” on page 29 of Stampin’ Up!’s 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog.

These are perfect for holding a gift card or small item–no wrapping required!

116471 Sweet Season (set of 4), $18.95
113463 Sizzix ‘Stampin’ Up! exclusive’ Top Note die, $21.95
115672 Merry Moments Designer Series Paper, $9.95 (12 two-sided sheets)
102482 Real Red cardstock (each sheet makes two bags), $7.95 (24 sheets)

‘Sweet Season’ stamp set below (click photo for actual size):

This is a very simple ‘pocketbook’ style stationery holder that looks more involved because of how it is decorated.

You can click to download the step-by-step instructions as well as diagrams and recipe on how to make this easy but very functional card holder.

If you are in the Philadelphia area this weekend, I will be at the Sheridan, King of Prussia, PA as a vendor at the ScrappingGetaways.com and this will be one of my ‘classes on demand’ (basically you can walk up and do a class with me).  For more information about the ScrappingGetaway.com event, click here or email me personally.

This adorable treat holder is actually ‘no more’ as I type.  I left it on my stamping table and looks like some kids got into it.  My own kids know better, so I’m thinking neighbor kids…

Anyway, good thing I have a photo and it was super easy to make anyway!

The body of the box is the ‘Bag With Scallops’ (#114519) Sizzix XL Die without the sides attached and decorated with the Halloween designer paper ‘Cast a Spell’ (#115677).  It takes very little designer paper to dress this up and our Scalloped circle punch (#109043) fits nicely on top of the fold over scalloped flap.

The ghosts are from the Holiday Mini Catalog set ‘Twick or Tweet’ (#116497) and just outlined in Sahara Sand marker.

The Scalloped Oval punch (#114889)  fits nicely into the Wide Oval punch (#112082), don’t you think?  So well that three of my six projects last week for my Stamp a Stack used those two punches requiring me to order another pair of them.  Although everyone shared nicely I am happy to report!

My Stamp Festival on Saturday was awesome!  It has taken me until today of course to recover… and blog about it.

I am making the festival project step-by-step directions available as my online buying gift this month.  If you were one of my customers at the festival (or you spend $100) I have a different (or I mean an additional)  fall projects PDF for you!

Materials & Supply List for these projects:

• Stamps:  Autumn Days (#115452).  Other sets used: Grateful Greetings (#116511 – Holiday Mini), Autumn Splendor (#116503 – Holiday Mini), Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Extreme Elements (#115181) used for splatter effects
• Ink:  Basic Brown, Really Rust, More Mustard, Not Quite Navy, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip (you can also use Basic Brown instead), Pumpkin Pie (you can use Really Rust as well)
• Paper: Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper, Really Rust 12×12, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla
• Accessories: Sticky Strip (#104294), 3/4 inch punch, Snail adhesive, (lots of) Stampin’ Dimensionals, Sponge Daubers, mini glue dots, paper snips, Stampin’ Mist, Bone Folder, Paper Cutter with scoring blade, Sizzix ‘Big Shot’ & Multi-purpose platform used the following Sizzix Dies: Scallop Circle #2, Clear Circle, Circles #2, Ovals, Leaves #2, Sizzix Texturz Plates ‘Kit #4? (which requires the ‘Impressions Pad’ and ‘Silicone Rubber’