Easy Peasy Covered Chipboard

Check out the frame on this card.  It's covered chipboard.   Yup, that stuff that usually takes way too much time to trim, file, distress, trim some more and and and... Oh what a headache and often not worth it.   How would you like to create a covered chipboard shape like this in mere minutes.   Well, here's how.

Card: "You're the Fairest of Them All"

Start with a steel rule die with the shape you'd like to cut.  I'm using these two dies from Tim Hotz.  Yes, it's two dies.   The large frame has an opening with a metal base.  The inset piece has magnets on the back that hold it nice and snug.   

Back to the tutorial

Simply measure how large of a piece of chipboard you'll need to cut.   Here I'm looking at 4 1/2 inches wide. 

I picked my cardstock....which can take hours and hours.   Gyah!  What happened to those early days when I didn't have that big of a selection to chose from.   Eh... wouldn't trade em for the set up I have now.  :-)

Note I also cut a piece of chipboard 4 1/2 inches wide.  I used a nice and sturdy piece that came from some package of paper.   I just save those for work surfaces and for, well, THIS.

Here's the trick.  Run your paper through your Xyron.  It gives you a nice uniform coverage and is fast.  No drying time.  If you don't have a Xyron, use a quick drying wet adhesive for good coverage and to keep your paper from warping. 

Out of the Xyron

Adhering it to the chipboard.

Nicely adhered.

Run it through your die cutting machine.   A Sizzix or Cuttlebug work great. 

Separate out the die

And you have a piece that you could use as is, but I want to do away with those brown chipboard edges. 

I use a marker, in this case a Tim Holtz Disress marker to color the edges.   Great color match to the paper.   

I also use a sponge and some Distress ink to add a bit of ink to the edges of the paper on the chipboard.  That way if there's a slight color difference from the paper to the marker I'm using, it blends it all in. 

And your frame is done.  

And here it is used on a card with mirror paper that I get in the craft department in large sheets and cut down.  As I was putting this together, I did note to myself that this frame is a bit large for this card and could use a larger canvas.  I may move it sometime in the future.  

Oh and note to self.  Don't take a picture straight on when using this incredibly reflective mirror board.  My hands are right under this devil's head.  It almost looks like a selfie. Oops. 

Papers by Little Yellow Bicycle and Authentique  Cardstock by Stampin' Up.

Stamp is from Bombshell Stamp's Cherry Bomb set. 

Sunny Ride

I don't know about you, but I could use some sunshine with this dreary winter weather we've been having.   The days the sun peeks through the clouds here seem to be far apart.  I suppose it doesn't help that I spend daylight hours at work 5 days a week.  So to brighten up my day, I pulled out some yummy yellow for this sweet ride. 

The card features the "Harley Bikes" set from Bombshell Stamps and is for this month's Bombshell Sketch challenge.   Check out the sketch and some other ideas on the Bombshell Blog. 

Here's this month's Bombshell Sketch. 

Stamps: Harley Bikes (Bombshell Stamps); Teeny Tiny Wishes (Stampin' Up)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Coloring: alcohol markers (Copic)

Printed paper: Authentique

Tools: punches (Stampin' Up), ovals from Creative Memories Custom Cutting System

Accessories: ribbon (Stampin' Up), misc brads. 

Custom Pizza (Treat) Box

With Halloween around the corner, it's the perfect time for treats.   So how about a pretty little box for some special treats.    Take a look at this one adorned with this gorgeous Frankenstein Bride from Bombshell Stamp's Halloween Costume digital dress up set.

And check out the treats inside.   Yum!  The box is custom sized for these little truffles. 

Here's how I made it.....

First of all, take some measurements.  I laid the candies on my cutting mat grid.   I need a box that's 2.5 x 3.5 inches.   But how tall? 

One inch tall ought to do the trick. 

Take those measurements and translate them to this basic pattern.   The orange lines indicate where the cut lines will be. The overall design is a pizza box design with the hinged flip up lid. 

After adding the various segments together for length and width, I cut my cardstock that size - 5 1/2" x 8"

The sketch above also gives me the score lines I'll need.   

Score all of the lines.

Crease all of the score lines with your bone folder. 

Make the cuts along the orange highlighted cut lines.  

Apply adhesive to the flaps to where the flaps will be on the inside of the box.   I used Score tape.

Adhere the base off the box first.  

Then finish up with the lid.

You should have a box with a snug fit.  

I like to take a piece of packaging chipboard and line the base.   My box base is 3.5 x 2.5 inches. 

Dry fit.  Trim any adjustments.  And then adhere the chipbard to the base of the box.   

Had to make sure the little candies fit just right.    :-)

Time to decorate.   Add a base layer of cardstock.   You can use part of the above sketch 

After adding the base decorative layer, I used a hole punch to notch out the lid for a finger hold.  This makes it a lot easier to open the box and get to the treats. 

See the notch?

 Finish decorating the box.   The Frankenstein Bride image from Bombshell Stamp's Halloween Costume digital dress up set is a complete digital image with the Bombshell Angel's face and is perfect to downsize.  I reduced her size to fit on my little box, printed her out, colored, and trimmed.   

Supplies: 

Stamps: Bombshell Stamp's Halloween Costume digital dress up set

Coloring: markers (Copic)

Ink: dye ink (Stampin' Up - used for shading)

Printed Paper: Authentique

Cardstock: Stampin' Up

Tools: label shape and circle punch (EKSuccess)

Hot Wishes

It's time for Bombshell Stamp's May sketch challenge.   

I ended up turning the bottom half of the sketch into a fancy fold. 

And here's the inside of the card.

BombShell Stamp's may sketch challenge.

using Piston Rebel stamp set

Additional Supplies

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Coloring: markers (Copic)

Printed Paper: (Authentique)

Cardstock: Night of Navy, Poppy Parade, Pumpkin Pie, Naturals White for the inside (Stampin' Up), white for stamping and coloring (Neenah)

Tools: stars embossing folder (Paper Studio)

Accessories: rubon greeting (K&Company)

Mojo Monday on Tuesday (MOJO242)

As a working mom, it's amazing that I managed to do a Mojo Monday card, and this early in the week.   I worked on it last night while hanging out with the family.  The school year is wrapping up and we've got less to tend to in the evenings.  It's actually nice to just chill.

 

Her's the Mojo Monday inspiration sketch.

For this card, I stamped a medallion image using a gorgeous stamp from Holly Berry House, colored it and trimmed it.   This is actually an extra stamping from when I used this image to make ATCs (Artist Trading Cards).  I colored this image with Stampin' Up markers.   The printed paper is from 6x6 pads by Authentique.  Love these papers.  The blue cardstock is Marina Mist by Stampin' Up.  I used DCWV textured brown paper as the base and some matting layers.   The butterflies are punched from some of the Authentique printed paper using Martha Stewart butterfly punches.   I added some ribbon (Espresso Grosgrain by SU and misc. beige stain) and a pearl accent at the center of the medallion.   Viola!

ETA:  I love happy accidents. Turns out this is also a good card for Tuesday Alchemy's challenge for this week, which is "butterflies".  You'll have to go over there and check it out.  They have some beautiful cards there for great inspiration.