Easter Chick Gift Box

Hello, Easter is approaching fast and the Papermilldirect DT are working on Easter Projects.   This week I’ve chosen to work with a pattern that is suitable for all crafters to use.  This file includes PDF versions of the patterns so that you can print out a template and cut by hand if you prefer (Cutting files in different formats are also included for those with cutting machines).  The file set is called ‘Trio of Chicks’ (all links at end of post) and has a card, tag and matching box and of course works beautifully with the Papermilldirect cards whether you are machine cutting or using scissors.

I cut the 2 main box pieces and 2 egg shell tops from Papermilldirect White Linen card to give a lovely texture to the egg.  The chick has been cut from Papermilldirect coloured cardstocks in Daffodil Yellow and Mandarin Orange, with black card for the eyes (or use googly eyes if you prefer).

The egg themed box is really easy to assemble, score along the fold lines and attach the 2 pieces together at the tabs using double sided tape or glue.

You can leave the chick as plain card or add some texture as I have done here by using embossing folders for the chick’s body, wings and feet.  Applying distress inks really helps to define the shapes and highlight the embossing too.

The egg shell tops are glued in place to the top of the chicks head, use one for the front and one for the back, lining them up at a jaunty angle.  Use 3D foam pads to attach the chick body inside the box, being careful to only apply foam at the bottom section, so it won’t show over the box.  Add the beak using 3D foam pads.

Next attach the orange feet to the front of the box, again using 3D foam pads to give depth, so they look to be coming out from the egg.  Attach the wings in place on the chick’s body and add the eyes to complete the face.  I decided to use googly eyes to add extra character.

Your little Easter gift box is now ready to be filled with Easter treats.  I added some coloured tissue papers to nestle some chocolate eggs upon. I think this would make a lovely project to make with your children too, especially as the shapes are easy to cut out with scissors and it's easy to assemble, they could have lots of fun decorating and filling them with treats.

Materials List:
White Linen Card – Papermilldirect
Daffodill Yellow Card – Papermilldirect
Mandarin Orange Card – Papemilldirect
Black Card - Papermilldirect
Trio of Chicks – cutting files incl. PDF – My Scrap Chick
Embossing Folders - Swirls, & Dots - Cuttlebug
Distress Inks - Spiced Marmalade, Tea Dye, Black Soot
Googly Eyes, Coloured Tissue, Chocolate Eggs
Double Sided Tape, Cosmic Shimmer Clear Glue, 3D foam pads

This project also appears on the Papermilldirect Inspire blog link here: https://www.papermilldirect.co.uk/inspire/post/easter-chick-gift-box

Moustache Heart Valentine Card

Hello, I'm back again with another Moustache themed project for Valentines Day.

I wanted to show that the lovely new First Edition ‘Love Story’ papers from +Trimcraft Ltd  are very versatile and suitable for Modern, Masculine and fun makes too, as well as feminine and romantic makes.

One of my favourite First Edition die sets is the Vintage Gentleman set and so I created this fun Mr. Moustache Heart Valentine card using the Wood Textured canvas effect paper in the Love Story pad and teaming it with black, red and kraft for an easy modern make.

 Step By Step:

1. Cut a sheet of Wood patterned canvas effect paper from the 6x6 Love Story Pad to measure approx. 5 3/8” square.  And Ink around the edges with red ink.  Mat onto a slightly larger square of Dovecraft black card and again onto a 6x6” Kraft card blank (fold along the top) using double sided tape. 
   
2. Using black ink and the Dovecraft ‘Be My Valentine’ clear stamp, stamp the sentiment along the bottom of the woodgrain paper, pressing evenly & firmly to ensure a good print on the textured surface.
   
3. Cut 2 heart shapes from Love Story paper by hand or by using a die, template or your Cricut machine to cut simple hearts.  Ink around edges with red ink and adhere largest heart to card front.  Mat the small heart on top using 3D foam pads to add height.
   
4. Using the FE Vintage Gentleman die set, cut 1 curly moustache shape from Dovecraft black card and attach to heart using 3D foam pads.  Glue 2 googly eyes in place if you have them, if not you can create eyes with circles of black and white card.
   
5. To finish I created black pearls by using a First Edition black marker to colour pearls, when dry I added 1 large and 2 small to either side of the stamped sentiment.
   
    
   Products Used:
   
   
   Dovecraft Kraft 6"x6" Cards & Envelopes DCCE024

   First Edition 6x6 FSC Paper Pad Love story FEPAD115

   Dovecraft A4 Black Card DCBS102

   First Edition Dies - Vintage Gentleman FEDIE003

   Dovecraft Clear Stamp - Valentine DCSTP016

   First Edition Twin Markers - Greys FETMK001

   all materials from +Trimcraft Ltd  and the project can also be seen in the Trimcraft DT Gallery link here http://www.trimcraft.co.uk/projects/121192/moustache-heart-valentine-card-with-first-edition-love-story-papers-dies

Be Mine - Fun Valentine Gift Box Idea

Hello, the Papermilldirect DT have been busy creating all different kinds of gift boxes this week and I'm sharing a fun gift box idea for Valentine’s Day.  Although I have used my Cricut Explore to cut the box for this project, you could easily use the elements to decorate a plain box blank or score and fold a box similar and use heart shapes to decorate.

Cut box shape elements using my Design Space link here: https://uk.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/35853997

I have sized the box to fit A4 card all ready for you but you can easily change the dimensions if you wish.  (For those using earlier Cricut machines the box is from ‘Box It Up’ cartridge and also available free within the subscription images)  Cut the 2 side sections and lid from Papermilldirect White Hammered cardstock and the 5 red panels from Papermilldirect Post Box Red card.  Remember to pop the scorer into the holder if you want your machine to add the score lines for you.

Crease and fold lid along score lines, add glue or tape to inside of lid and adhere the red panel to show through the heart aperture.  Glue tabs to assemble box lid.

Crease and fold along score lines for the 2 box side sections, glue tabs to join panels together.

Slip the 4 red card sections into the side ‘pockets’ to show through the small heart apertures on each side of the box.  You can glue these in place if you prefer.

Fold over tabs at the bottom of box to close it.  If you wish to line the box you can add a square of red card or pattern paper inside.

Apply washi tape around the lid of the box, I have chosen a gold tape with white dots.

Using the First Edition Vintage Gentleman die set cut 1 curly moustache shape from papermilldirect black card and glue onto heart.  Add 2 googly eyes to create a fun face on the lid.

Using a sentiment stamp set and black ink, stamp ‘Be Mine’ onto white hammered card, cut out and glue to box lid.   Cover a small piece of red card with the gold washi tape and die cut into a heart.  Glue heart to box lid as shown.

As the box is a simple 2 part box shape you could easily score and fold your own using Papermilldirect cardstock.  I chose to use hammered card to give texture to the box but you could use Papermilldirect plain white card or even another colour from across the range.  You could also use templates or dies to cut your heart shapes.  Googly eyes add a fun element and come in different sizes, styles and colours so you can add lots of character to your designs, why not make a set of different ones?

Are you making gift boxes for Valentine’s Day?  Why not share your designs over on the Papermilldirect facebook page, we’d love to see them.

Materials Used:
White Hammered Card - Papermilldirect
Post Box Red Card - Papermilldirect
Black Card - Papermilldirect
Vintage Gentleman Die Set - First Edition
Sweet Little Sentiments stamp set - Clearly Besotted
Gold Washi Tape, Googly Eyes
Cosmic Shimmer Clear Drying Glue
Black Archival Ink
Cricut Explore with subscription or older cricut with 'Box it Up' images
Design Space Link:https://uk.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/35853997
 

Papermill Design Team:
if you have a moment, please do pop over and check out the other papermill teamies blogs and see what they got up to this week: 

• Barbara 
• Lisa 
• Ruth 
• Sylvia 
• Sandie
• Nessa 
• Nicole 
• Wendy
• Papermilldirect Inspire Blog  

Getting Cute n' Funky with papermill

Waving hello and welcome to this week's papermill blog post.  This week we are revisiting Halloween ideas and of course Black plays a big part in that colour scheme, so the special offer this week is a fab 300gsm A4 Black card in a small box for just £6-50!!  So a perfect time to stock up.

I've had a bit of a 'not feeling too well' week, with some Drs appointments and more blood tests and things, so I have kept this week's makes simple but hopefully you will find them cute and funky too.

I used my Cricut to cut out these fun layered Spider characters.  Using papermill card in Grey, Dark Violet, Purple Grape and of course Black.  I thought the black body part would look better with some texture, so I ran it through the Big Shot using a dots patterned embossing folder and then rubbed some blue coloured gilding wax over it to add a sheen that catches the light.  I added stickles glitter glue to the top hats, using a different colour for each Spider, then all the black parts were added to the main body using 3D foam pads to give height.  
 
The eyes were originally just small holes, but the minute you start to put a googly eye on something that is when it comes to life with it's own personality.  So I chose a different colour for each spider and the large eyes with lashes seemed to work best.  Rather than make these into cards I made them into fridge magnets, so a little round magnet is attached to the back of each and I placed them on my fridge freezer door.  

I like the little shoes the spiders are wearing and with the top hat make me think they are about to start tap dancing across my fridge freezer.  They are definitely not scary enough to keep my children out of there though :D


Materials List:
Black Card - papermill direct
Dark Grey Card - papermill direct
Dark Violet Card - papermill direct
Purple Grape Card - papermill direct
Dots embossing folder - Sizzix
Ultramarine Metallic Gilding Wax - Creative Expressions
Mercury Glass Stickles - Ranger
Glitz it Purple Sparkle glitter glue - Docrafts
Googly Eyes

if you have a moment, please do pop over and check out the other papermill teamies blogs and see what they got up to this week: Barbara Lisa Ruth Sylvia Sandie Sharon