Mousy needs a tail!

I realize now that I completely forgot to add a tail to my little mouse on the treat tube box!  For instructions on making his tail, scroll down the page and check out the mousy mouse card I made earlier.  This little guy actually has a tail!  LOL

Nickel Tubes

Some people asked about what you can store in these tubes.  Yes, regular size m&m's will fit in the nickel tubes.  I would prefer to use the mini m&m's so you can get more in it.  I actually wanted to put christmas m&m's in the tubes but the stores don't have them out yet.  I should be able to pick them up after Halloween.  I put cocoa mix in mine.  You can get the swiss miss marshmallow lovers packets where the marshmallows are in their own separate package.  The 3rd tube has chopped andies candies in them.  If you didn't want to put food in the tubes, you could put bath salts or beads.  For valentines day, you could put red hots or the sweethearts in these.

Treat Tube gift box

This box was made to hold 3 tubes. The tubes I used are called Nickel tubes.  They are used by coin collectors to store coins.  They are flat on the bottom and have a screw on plastic cap.  If you wanted to substitute your own tubes, you could use any tube that is around 1" wide.  If you use a smaller tube, use a smaller punch for the holes in the box top so the tubes fit snugly.  I put hot chocolate mix in one, chopped andies candies in one and mini marshmallows in another.

Box Assembly Instructions:

1) Cut red cardstock 6 1/2" x 4".  Score in 1" in all sides.  Clip the 2 score lines on each end, fold up all 4 sides and glue in place to create an open top box.

2) For the top, cut 3 1/16" x 5 9/16". Score at 1/2" on all sides.  Fold the flap up on one long side and then use the 1" circle punch to punch 3 holes in the top as shown in the pictures (line up the bottom of the punch with the edge of the folded up piece). Sharpen all score lines.  Clip the 2 score lines on each end, add some adhesive to the tabs and secure to the sides (finished piece will look like a box top with holes in it).

If you want to stabilize the tubes from tipping, you can add an insert to the inside bottom of the box.  Cut 2 15/16" x 5 7/16" and score at 1/2" on all sides.  Follow same punching and assembly instructions as the box top piece.

3) Cut 1 1/2 strips of designer papers 12" x 7/8".  Glue the strips together to make one long strip.  Glue the strip all around the sides of the box.

Punches Needed for the Mouse:

2 Ornaments in basic gray - HEAD & BODY

2 Circles 1" in basic gray - EARS

3 Circles 3/4" in basic gray - PAWS & MUZZLE

2 Circles 3/4" in going gray - INSIDE EARS 

1 1/4" Circle in going gray - BELLY

1/4" Circle in pink pirouette - NOSE

Butterfly in gong gray - LEGS/FEET

Heart to Heart small heart in real red

Curly Label in real red - HAT

Boho Blossom smallest flower in white - HAT

Large Oval & Scallop Oval - HAT

Modern Label in real red - SIGN

teardrop punch - eyes

1) For the hat, punch half of the large oval into white.  Line up the scallop oval over the top and punch out the hat brim as shown below.

2) Cut the butterfly piece in half for the legs.  Fold each half in half and tack feet in place with dimensional.

Sponge all of the gray pieces with craft white ink.  

3) Cut one corner of the curly label off for the hat.  Attach the brim and the boho blossom to the top of the hat  

with dimensionals.

4) Glue ear pieces together and glue onto head.  Glue hat onto head.  Attach muzzle to face with a dimensional.  Glue on teardrop eyes and nose.  Add highlights to eyes and nose with a unibal white gel pen.  Draw on eyelashes and brows with zig pen.  Glue head and body pieces together.  Attach belly piece with dimensional. Attach the heart on the chest with a dimensional. Glue legs onto body.  Stamp greeting and punch out with modern label.  Glue sign to body and attach paws to sign with dimensionals.  

EDIT: I realized after I made my project that I was missing the tail.  To make a tail, punch the large oval in basic gray.  Line up the wide oval over the punched hole and punch again.  Cut a third of the ring off to create the tail.

Want a printable version of this tutorial? click on the link below:

https://www.sugarsync.com/pf/D8472508_837_657778016

Great deal for paper piecing

My favorite paper piecing patterns are over at Precious Piecings.  Right now, all of her patterns are only a one dollar each.  What a deal!!!!  You get the jpeg picture file of the pattern as well as an svg vector cutting file for using with your Cricut machine and SCAL software.  She has well over 500 patterns for sale, so there is something for everyone!

The Great Outdoors Scrapbook Page

I started teaching a scrapbooking series at the public library last month.  This month's theme is "the great outdoors".  I was able to combine my 2 favorite things - punch art and scrapping!

Recipe:
Cosmo Cricket "Mr Campy" papers
always artichoke, chocolate chip, close to cocoa, creamy caramel, ruby red, basi black cardstocks
1 3/4" circle punch
ornament punch
small oval punch
modern label punch
3/4" circle punch
butterfly punch
heart to heart punch
scallop circle punch
corner rounding punch
teardrop punch (MS or Fiscars)
Top Note sizzix die
dimensionals, black zig pen, white gel uni-ball pen

I hope to post more scrapbook pages in the future along with all of my cards and non card gift items.

Teardrop Punch

Apparently, the Martha Stewart teardrop punch is not readily available in some areas.  Fiscars makes a teardrop punch that is basically the same thing.  I think the size is the same too.  Hope this helps.

Reindeer Ornament Gift Box

By now, you probably have seen the nifty box you can make by using the sizzix scallop envelope die.  I found a great step by step tutorial on assembling the box HERE .  I used chocolate chip cardstock for my envelopes and cut 4 pieces of designer papers 2" x 4" in size.  Attach these pieces on the sides of the envelopes before folding down the flaps and securing with sticky strip (as shown in the web tutorial).

These awesome ornaments are from Ikea.  They are non breakable and come in several colors.  I applied a snowflake Decor Element and tied on some white satin ribbon to dress it up.  For the reindeer, you will actually need a sizzix die for the antlers.  I liked this look better than a traditional punched piece.

You will need the following Stampin' Up! punches and sizzix die:

Sizzix Bigz Tulipe die for antlers - cut in creamy caramel

Wide Oval for head - close to cocoa

Ornament for body - close to cocoa

3/4" Circle for hooves - basic black

5 Petal Flower for ears and nose - cocoa & black

teardrop punch by martha stewart (or fiscars) for eyes in black

Modern Label for sign - ruby red

Cut off 2 petals on the 5 petal flower for the ears.  Cut part of one petal for the nose in black.  Sponge all pieces in chocolate chip. Glue ears onto back of head.  Glue on antlers, nose and eyes.  Add highlights to eyes with uni-bal white gel pen. Draw on face details with black zig pen.  Glue head onto ornament (slightly tilted).  Glue onto front of box (from inside).  Stamp and punch "sign".  Attach to front of box with dimensionals. Cut the bottoms off of the black circles for the hooves.  Attach to the front of box with dimensionals.

This little guy is rather easy to make.  Fill the box with candies and other treats if you like.

                       

Want a printable tutorial? Click on this link to download:

https://www.sugarsync.com/pf/D8472508_837_657778028

Mousy Mouse

What do you think of this little guy? I wanted to put a candy cane in his paw but ended up keeping it simple.
You will need the following Stampin' Up! punches:
Ornament (head & body)
1" circle (ears)
3/4" circle (ears, paws & muzzle)
large oval & wide oval (tail)
1/4" circle (nose)
Additionally, you will need a teardrop punch for the eyes.  Some people have been having problems finding the martha stewart punch.  Fiscars makes a good substitute teardrop punch if you can't find the MS one.

I used basic gray, going gray, pirouette, basic black cardstocks for the mouse.
The paper I used is a double sided Fancy Pants paper.
Base color of card is not quite navy and there are layers of baja breeze and ruby red.  Riding hood red striped grosgrain

For the tail, you need to punch the large oval first and then line up the wide oval over the top and punch a ring for the tail.

Sponge all of the pieces with white craft ink (except the eyes).  Use pop dots to attach the muzzle and paws

Add highlights to eyes and nose with uni-bal signo white gel pen and detailing with black zig pen.

Batty Time

This little bat is pretty easy to make.  You will need the following punches:

Ornament
3/4" Circle
1/2" Circle
5 Petal Flower
Star (small one)
Teardrop (Martha Stewart)

Create the wings by punching 3 half circles (3/4") in a row. Then punch out those with ornament punch.  Body is ornament punch. Cut off top and round out tip.

Punch out 2 petals of 5 point petal punch for ears.  Punch 1/2" circle for face.  Glue tip of 1 pink petal from 5 point petal and cut away excess. 

Punch star out of white.  Glue 2 points of star to bottom of muzzle for teeth.  Attach muzzle to face with dimensional.  Glue on wings.

Glue on teardrop eyes and add highlights with white gel pen. 

Layers for card:

8 1/2" x 5 1/2" black for base
3 1/2 x 5 3/8" spider print (K & Company)
1 1/2 x 5 3/8" stripe print (K & Company)
orange grosgrain ribbon

Spider treat box

I just love these halloween papers!  Here is a version of the treat box with a spider instead.  You need the following punches:
1 3/8" circle - orchid opulence
1/2" circle - white
1/4" circle (use the crafters tool kit or crop-a-dile) - black
Wide Heart - black

I used the window box sizzix die for the treat box.

For the legs, punch the top of the heart and then line it up again over the punch and punch the legs (as shown in picture).   Punch 4 of these for the legs.  Cut each piece in half and glue onto sides of spider.