Spring Swap

My swap for the Spring Training was inspired by this swap I received from a Dutch Demo at European convention, which have a yummy treat inside...

My yummy treat was a different size so had to work out the size of card needed ... which is twice the length, twice the depth and a bit of overlap to hold the treat in. So for me it worked out at the length of the A4 card and 2.5" wide

 

Then to the scoring of the card, which you need to get your treat and a ruler out... first score line needs to cover the length of your treat so for me it worked out at 3.75", then depth of treat (4⅛" for me), then length of treat (so up to 8" for me), another depth measure (8⅜"), then look at you overlap section and give your treat a reasonable length to be hugged in as well as for the flap to stick down (which for me meant a score at 10" and 10⅜")

Next step is to make the slot for your treat... I had done my width of card so that I had ½" of card either side so using a craft knife cut it along the crease lines for the holding flap and across at ½" in on each side. Then check your treat fits!

Now to the prettification! 

First off, a piece of the Gold Soiree DSP for the front cover, I used different designs for different flavours of chocolate stick treat... plus some double sided tape on the end flap to stick to the back cover.

Then to the sentiment... keeping with the 'for you' theme of the orginal I used this sentiment from 'Garden Party' set of stamps. I used a combination of the smallest sized of the SU labels Die set and Label from the Circle flip card die. Cut 1 sentiment and 2 backgrounds for each treat book.

Then onto the holding device for your treat book I used white seam binding ribbon which I inked up in colours on the papers, so Pistaschio Pudding, Calypso Coral and Crisp Cantaloupe and a set I kept white. Just use daubers or sponges to colour up the ribbon on both sides. Then use liquid glue over 1 background piece and lay the ribbon over, I worked out where to sit it for a central-ish location on the front cover and set it up so I placed it on the same place on the cutting mat, then laid the ribbon from the start of the mat. To use the method you end up working them upside down... 
Then a blob more liquid glue over the ribbon and place the sentment mounted background card to complete the ribbon part.

Nearly there! So next step is to wrap the ribbon around the treat book and tie some bakers twine to hold the ribbon in place, you want it pretty tight so I found it easier to tie the twine while still on the card to get a tight knot then cut to get the right length, rather than lots of short bits. I used gold twine but found the gold bits wanted to unwind for me (but not my orginal swap :( ) (sorry for the upside down photo on the right... blogger won't upload the rotated version!). Slide the twine allow the ribbon to loosen and slide off the treat book to get at the chocolate!

Ta-Dah! The four colour and paper combinations on offer... 

Overdue Tealight Swap

A long time, lots of contract documents with work and a bit of mojo diversion to knitting for a while ... but time to catch up on make posts!

First off from way back in October when I headed to Brussels for the Stampin Up European Convention.. it was a blast, as best described to those who have experienced international Guide & Scout camps as ... an international camp for crafters with craft swaps instead of badges! 

So onto my swap ... a decorated tealight in a little box. I found myself "Ce une bougie dans la boite" to French demos a lot (don't know it in German...). 

So to start with the tealight... 
Punch out a 1" circle in white tissue (for a decent cut when using tissue paper, fold to 2-3layers and wrap in copier paper). 
Stamp design on the tissue circle (circular ones work best) and cut a cross slit in the middle to slip over the wick. Then with a heat gun melt the wax slightly so the tissue becomes embedded. 

 Then using the envelope punch board I made little boxes for the tealights to go into. Start with a 4" square piece of card. Starting punch dimensions on the board for both rounds on the envelope was the same, I think 1.5". 

Stamp your box, I used Endless Wishes from the Autumn Winter 2014 SU catalogue in Lost Lagoon, Wisteria Wonder, Smokey Slate and Pool Party. It was lovely snowflake design which appeared on a lot of my stamped items over this period!

Then I cut 1cm strips to form a belly band to hold the box shut which had a festive sentiment in the colour scheme I was using.

I had a bit of production line going to make up a pack of 100 Ikea tealights into these little goodies.... and in exchange got lots of swaps to inspire, and it was lovely to see some of the SU stamps a little differently in German and French!