Craft Store Junkie: Edumicate Me

I am participating in a shoebox swap on Saturday and I thought I would try and do a little Father's Day gift box instead of a card as my project. This is basically a 2,5,7,10 box as you can find on Splitcoast, however, I wanted to try using some of the tools and tricks on my Cuttlebug to embellish it. I often have a hard time making "masculine" cards and gifts so I'm always looking for new ideas. Cuttlebug embossing folders are great for card fronts given their A2 size, but they can also be used to emboss larger areas.

Here's what you'll need for this project: Cardstock for box and embellishments, Cuttlebug, embossing folder - preferably one with a repeatable pattern, Nestabilities, sticky strip or redline tape, scissors and adhesive, ink, removable tape, eyelets, assorted stamps of your choice, ribbon, transparency sheet, paper cutter, scoring tool and hole puncher and eyelet setter (a Crop-a-dile works best for this project).

I always by 12x12 paper so if you are using that size you will need to cut your paper down to 8.5x11 (letter size). Score the paper at 2, 5, 7 and 10 inches.

Flip the paper 90 degrees and score at 2 inches and 7 inches.

For the next step you will need to cut out the sections indicated by my messy scribbles. Make sure that the right side is facing up.

Fold the cardstock along its long edges.

Line up your embossing folder with the edge of your box template and fold the bottom flaps underneath the folder. Its important to use a folder with a repeatable pattern in this project (such as Diamonds in the Rough or Swiss Dots).

Put your template and embossing folder in the Cuttlebug sandwich and roll through your machine (A plate, B plate, embossing folder and template, B plate).

Move your embossing folder up on your cardstock so that the pattern just touches the embossing you've already done. Then put back in your sandwich and roll through again. Repeat until you get to the end of your cardstock (3 turns through). The flap will have the reverse embossing on it but it works just fine.

This is what your box template should look like.

Fold along the remaining score lines.

To make the rounded, scalloped flap, insert your flap through an oval scalloped nestability so part of your paper is in front and some is behind. Tape with a piece of removeable adhesive so that the die doesn't move.

This is the view from the other side.

Put in your Cuttlebug sandwhich (C plate, A plate, cardstock and Nestability die, B plate). Make sure that the die is blade side up in your sandwhich and roll through.

This is what your flap will look like. You can do this with any appropriately sized die. You could make a rectangular or square flap if you so desire.

I wanted a window in my box so I used a square Nestability to create an opening in the front panel. Put your die where you would like the window to be and tape with removeable tape. Run through your Cuttlebug, die cutting side up. Make sure the only part of the box template on top of the die is the part you want cut. Everything else should be folded underneath. Once its cut out, adhere a piece of acetate (transparency) behind the window.

Take an ink pad and brush it over the top of your template. The raised diamonds should pick up more ink, giving the box a nice distressed quality.

Place sticky strip on the edges and assemble the box. (Note, the sticky tape on the smaller flaps is on the wrong side in this photo - it should be horizontal - not vertical. I learned the hard way that once you've got your sticky tape adhered - its very hard to unstick!)

Your assembled box. Pinch in the sides to close and flip the flap over the front. Use your hole punch to make two side by side holes through all layers.

Using an eyelet setter, set two eyelets in the holes of the flap. Do not set through all layers or you will not be able to open the box.

The rest is just decoration - so embellish how you would like. I stamped a sheet of adhesive labels with stamps from PTIs Limitless labels set and used them to decorate some miniature chocolates for the box. I also added a tag that says Happy Father's Day. Tie a ribbon through all the holes in the top of the box to close it and you're done!