Inspiration Post -Gift Cards

Happy New Year All ..this is our third year that we have been running for Just Add Ink and we appreciate all the support and comments from you all! 

We are currently having some time off our challenges but will be have some tutorials and inspirational blog posts to fill in while we have some time off. We will be back on the 19th for our first challenge for 2013.

This week Kim and I have a few gift cards to show you. Gift cards can be right through the year from weddings, birthdays to Christmas or just as a thank you gift. Gift cards are often the most asked for item when I do markets and shows ..a quick and easy item to make ..just check out Kims Christmas one below..isn't it just the cutest? Ill be doing one of these for sure next year for Christmas..(my mantra is start now?..um maybe not as still getting over Christmas lol)

Kim has a tutorial for this on her blog here.

For my Gift cards, I did my first one originally for a show but did some extras for my team and  for the Just Add Ink girls (but put some post it notes inside  for them..shhh they may not have got them yet)  ..it ended up being a rounded Santa with the post it notes inside..perfect! The inspiration for this gift card holder was from here. I used the tasteful trim die, silver glimmer paper, small square punch, scallop circle punch and Bring on the cake Stamp set.

 

Ive also being having a play with some 2013 Saleabration items and came up with this easy to do gift card holder. This is where I got the tutorial for this cute gift card holder here. All you need is the word window punch and a small circle, a few scores and voila done..took me no more that 10 minutes to do.

 

Check back on Sunday for our January Scrapbook challenge and our winner for December. 

Vellum Luminaries Tutorial

Well we hope you all had a lovely Christmas and are looking forward to New Year festivities. Ill be in bed sleeping well before midnight.. I'm sure! Well when you have to be up milking the cows at 4am the next morning New Years Eve is not important..sleep is!
Most of the DT are away so Im waiting for some more votes for our last challenge and will post the winner soon.
In the meantime, we have an awesome tutorial from Chantell Randall with her Luminaries.

Vellum Luminaries

Way back in July I made a Card and some Luminaries for the Just Add Winter Challenge (JAI # 125). I had several people ask me about how I made them so I have put together this tutorial for you.
They are quick and easy to make, are great for decorating tables, mantles and also make cute little personalized gifts.

 
 
The steps I used to make these luminaries and my dimensions are as follows……

Step 1
I started with 1 piece of Night of Navy card stock that makes the base of the luminary and a piece of Vellum that makes the sides.
My dimensions are as follows:
1 – 3“ x 3” . I scored this at ½” on each side.
1 – 4” x 8.5” – score this at 2”, 4”, 6” and 8”’s
















Step 2
Cut slits into each side of the Night of Navy card stock and crease to make your box shape. Using sticky strip put the box together.

 


Step 3
Stamp your Vellum. I have used the Lovely as a Tree stamp set with Night of Navy Ink.
But they can be stamped to suite the occasion you are making them for.

Step 4
Fold and crease your vellum along the score lines – so it makes the outside box shape.

Run some sticky strip down the ½” section – this goes on what will be the outside of the luminary (but don’t stick it together yet).


Step 5

Run a strip of sticky strip around the outside edge of the luminary base.

 

Starting with the ½” section of the vellum, stick the vellum around the base.


Step 6

Remove the sticky strip from the side of the vellum and stick the vellum wall together.

Your luminary is now complete and you can decorate it with ribbon (which also hides your sticky strip at the bottom and add a small embellishment if you wish.
I use the battery operated tea lights in mine – which are very safe.


Here are some others that I and my Card Class ladies have made.

Chantell and Delys.

Technique Tutorial - Colouring With Crystal Effects

Supplies:

Very Vanilla or Whisper White cardstock

Stamp Set - I used It's A Loop Thing

Versamark

Black embossing powder

Heat tool

Reinkers - I've used Taken With Teal, Rose Red, Elegant Eggplant, Pumpkin Pie, Creamy Caramel

Crystal Effects

Fine artist's brush

Baby wipes - to clean your brush between colours.

Small containers or an artist's palette - if you use airtight containers, the coloured mixture will keep for use again another time.

Step One
Stamp your images on your cardstock with Versamark, then apply black embossing powder and heat to set. 

Note - Using embossed images helps to keep the Crystal Effects where it's supposed to be.

Step Two 

You need to do this for each colour you're going to use.
Pour some Crystal Effects in a small container or on an artist's palette.
Enough to cover a 5 cent piece is enough to start with.






Add a single drop of reinker and gently mix. 
You can use your paintbrush to mix with, or a toothpick will also do.

Add more ink if the colour is too light, or more Crystal Effects if the colour is too dark.

This how it looks when it's all mixed.

Step Three
Use your fine artist's brush to gently paint your Crystal Effects mixture on to your image.

Paint gently and evenly to avoid air bubbles in your work. 

Note - Use one colour at a time on any image. 

Even though the image is raised because of the embossing,

you'll have more success if you wait for the first

colour to dry before beginning the next.

Complete the first colour on each image. 
If you only need one image for your project, consider making multiples to save yourself time later.

Step Four

Apply your second colour mixture once the first layer is dry (about 15 minutes).

 Your images are complete! 

Wait for them to dry before using on your project.

For my project, I cut out the cupcakes and added them to my base card. 

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial, and I hope you have a play with your Crystal Effects!

Guest Designer Tutorial - Impossible Box with Paula Dobson

We're extremely lucky to have the very talented Paula Dobson join us to share a Guest Designer Tutorial.  We've added a link feature at the bottom of this tutorial if you'd like to share your work!  This is not a challenge, just a way to share some great recreations of this gorgeous box.  Enjoy!

IMPOSSIBLE BOX
Guest Designer Tutorial
Paula Dobson  

http://www.stampinantics.blogspot.com/

SUPPLIES:
1 piece of A4 cardstock
Paper cutter with scoring tool
Sticky Strip
Embellishments

STEP BY STEP:

Using the template at the end of this tutorial, score and cut your A4 sheet of cardstock as directed. I have made the squares 6 x 6cm, width of the lid 2cm, and the width of the side tabs are 1.5cm. You can make your box any size the cardstock you are working with will allow.

Once you have scored the cardstock, following the broken lines on the template, cut your card following the solid lines on the template. Your card stock should now look like this:


If you are going to stamp a design, do it now before folding your box together. I folded the box base underneath the area I was stamping so I had a plain white base. You could also mask the base.









If you want to colour the top of the box, you need to turn your cardstock over, as this is the surface that will appear on the top of your box. I have chosen to sponge in the same colour as my stamped flowers, darkening what will be the centre of the lid.









Turn your card back to the front again and fold the lid edge toward you. Make sure you score your lines well, to make them nice and crisp!

Using sticky strip, adhere to the tabs as illustrated. Make sure you have turned your lid edge before sticking down the side tab of your card to the opposite end. This will create the body of your box.





Fold up the bottom flaps of your card and adhere
together to form the base. Don’t stick the tab down
for the lid just yet. Your box will now look like this:

















Because the box and lid are the same size, I find the
best way to make sure the lid will slide down over the box is to close the box before adhering the tab.

Close the box by gently pushing down on the lid. Take the backing off your sticky strip and gently squeeze the sides of the lid together before sticking down. It will be a little off (as shown) but that’s okay. We can hide this with embellishments!!











Now you can see the sponging I did earlier! The
Inside of the box is now on the top!



















Gently pull the edges up to open the box again.
fill with your favourite chocolates, or soaps, or
anything small you would like to put in your gift!

















I have also added a ribbon just to finish the sides
off nicely. Now your box should look like this!

Happy crafting to you all!!

Big Shot Tutorial - Top Note Box

I shared this box on my blog, and today I'm sharing a step by step tutorial on how to make it.  I want to be really clear - I didn't design this!  There are lots of variations of this box on the internet, I've just re-done this in centimetres rather than inches.

Big Shot Tutorial

Top Note Box

Supplies:
Big Shot
Top Note Die
Horizontal Slot punch
Adhesives
Ribbon
2 pieces of card stock -

• 1 cut to 14cm x 20.5cm
• 1 A5 size/half an A4 sheet (15cm x 21cm) scored down the centre to make an ordinary sized card (15cm x 10.5cm)

Step One

Score your 14cm x 20.5cm piece of cardstock. 

On the long side, score at 2.5cm, 9cm, 11.5cm, and 18cm. 

On the short side, score at 2.5cm and 11.5cm.

Step Two

After scoring, cut the score lines along the long sides up to the 2.5cm score line (this will make the tabs that will hold the box together).

Step Three

On one side, glue four of the tabs (to the inside) to form a basic box. 

On the other side, glue the remaining two tabs (to the inside) to form the top of the box. 

As shown in photo.

Step Four

To make the Top Note top and base for your box, you need to run a folded card through the Big Shot.  

Lay your folded card on the Top Note Die so the score line sits just below the perforation marks on one side. 

Run through your Big Shot - this is how it will look when it comes out.

Step Five

Cut the card in half on the score line. 

You now have your top and bottom panels for your box. 

If you want to stamp or embellish your panels, now is the time to do it.

Step Six

Use the Hoizontal Slot punch to punch slots on the outer edge for the ribbon to go through. 

Attach the top and base panels to your box - I've used Tombow glue. 

The top panel should go on the part of the box that only has two tabs attached as the box will open and close more easily this way.

Step Seven

Use Sticky Strip or Snail Adhesive to attach your ribbon to the back edge of the box. 

Leave the rest of the ribbon unglued. 

Add any extra embellishments.


You're finished!

Finished Top Note Box

I hope you found this tutorial useful!  We'd love to see your Top Note Boxes, so feel free to leave a comment with a direct link to your creation.

To see other tutorials on Just Add Ink, click HERE.

Project Tutorial - Make a Ribbon Headband with Sarah Klass

For our Just Add Dimension challenge, Sarah made a gorgeous headband using Stampin' Up! ribbon and embellishments.  And now she's made a brilliant video tutorial to show you all how to make one of your own!  We have it here, but if you'd like to leave Sarah a comment about her project, please go to Sarah's site HERE. 

Enjoy!

Technique Tutorial - Easy Bow With Button

For the JAI #4 challenge, I made a card with a really easy bow with a button featured on it.  I've been asked how it's done, so I've made a little tutorial for you.

Technique Tutorial

Easy Bow with Button

Supplies:

Ribbon

(I've used 1" (2.5cm) Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon in Rose Red)

Scissors

Button

Sticky Strip
Kitchen string or twine

Step One

Cut two pieces of ribbon.  One will go around the card and the other will form the bow.  The piece you cut for the bow should be only slightly longer than the final size you want your bow to be.  The top piece in the photo is the ribbon doubled over, so it's slightly bigger than the end product will be.

Step Two

Put a small piece of Sticky Strip at one end of the smaller piece of ribbon.

Peel the backing off the Sticky Strip and stick the two ends of the ribbon together - it will form a circle.

Step Three

Sandwich your layers together - the base ribbon, the bow with the join on the bottom in the centre, and the button with string already threaded (encircling all the layers) - as shown in the photo.

Step Four

This is the tricky bit.  Pinch the layers of ribbon together with your thumb and index finger.   You want to gather the base ribbon and the bow so they sit together well - this is how the bow will look at the end, so make sure you're happy with the gather.

Step Five

With your free hand, slide the button down the string (so you're pulling the string through the button) until it is sitting firmly against the ribbon.  Double check how everything is sitting, then pull the string very firmly and tie a double knot.

Trim the ends of the string.  This is where using no extra adhesive is a real benefit - you can now fine tune your bow and you can even pull the bow through the string if it's not centred.

Complete!

The finished bow!  All you need to do now is to attach the bow to your card however you wish.  The ends of the ribbon can be concealed inside the card by placing a piece of cardstock over the top.

Interested in learning how to make your own button like the one I've made here with More Mustard card stock?  Click HERE.