A Few Last Minute Christmas Packaging and Tag Projects!

Hello!  Although Christmas is just over a week away, and most of the presents may be wrapped, there is still time for some last minute gift packaging and tag making (after all every present needs a tag - and they also make great tree decorations!), so today I am sharing a few gift packaging and tag projects I worked on this week. 

Just a quick reminder that for one day only - today (Thursday December 15, 2022) Stampin' Up! is offering free shipping on orders of $100.00 (CDN) or more (before taxes)!  This is a great opportunity to take advantage of the Last Chance Promotion too and stock up on your favourite retiring items from the July-December 2022 Mini Catalogue!  Unfortunately, due to increased shipping times and delays, for orders placed today Stampin' Up! will not be able to guarantee delivery before Christmas.

On with the projects!

The basic tools used to complete the projects include:

• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - for all die cutting and embossing;
• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for all paper/cardstock cutting;
• score board and stylus (Simply Scored Scoring Tool - item 122334) - for scoring paper/cardstock;
• Bone Folder (item 102300) - for burnishing score/fold lines;
• Stamparatus (item 146276) - stamping platform that enables me to make multiple impressions of a single stamped image when I need a dark and crisp image;
• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - the putty tip is very handy for picking up and placing small embellishments and die cuts; and
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755).

Merry Wishes Christmas Bauble Gift Box

This lidded box with insert that measures 3 1/4" tall x 3" wide x 3" deep I made to hold a 2" clear bauble ornament I decorated using the liquid floor polish and glitter technique - these little ornaments are a lot of fun to make and are nice little co-worker gifts - especially if they are presented in a colour-co-ordinated gift box!  The box and insert were made in the same manner I used for the cupcake box from my March 10, 2022, blogpost "Hey What's Cookin'?" (https://archiesatelier.blogspot.com/2022/03/hey-whats-cookin-playing-with-whats.html).  For this project I used the following additional supplies:

• for the base of the box:  two 6 1/2" x 6 1/4" pieces of Shaded Spruce cardstock (item 146981) - each scored on the 6 1/2" side at 3" and 6" (1/2" tab is the glue tab); and on the 6 1/4" side at 3" (the 3" tabs are the bottom flaps and the 3 1/4" tabs are the front/back/sides of the box);
• for the insert:  a 3 15/16" x 3 15/16" piece of Shaded Spruce cardstock  - scored at 1/2" on all four sides (I attached the insert so that the bottom edge of the insert sides were approximately 3/4" from the bottom of the box - the insert was secured with tape to the inside of the box before the bottom flaps of the box were glued);
• for the lid:  a 4 9/16" x 4 9/16" piece of Shaded Spruce cardstock - scored at 3/4" on all four sides.  I glued on the decorative paper panel before cutting the circle opening;
• Layering Circles dies (item 151770) to cut the circle openings in the lid and insert (for the insert I used the 1 7/8" diameter circle, and for the lid the 2 3/8" diameter circle);
• acetate sheet (Window Sheets - item 142314) - an approximately 2 7/8" square piece glued to the underside of the lid behind the window opening;
• Sweetest Christmas 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 159559) - for the decorative paper panels for the front/back/sides of the box and the top of the lid;
• Window Wishes stamp set (item 159751) for the "Merry Wishes" sentiment, which was stamped in Shaded Spruce ink (item 147088) on Shaded Spruce cardstock;
• Tailor Made Tags dies (item 155563) - to cut the sentiment tag;
• Real Red 3/8" Mini Ruffled Ribbon (item 156323) - for the bow tied around the edge of the box lid; and
• silver cord from Simply Elegant Trim (item 155766) to tie the sentiment tag to the ribbon bow (and for the hanger on the bauble).

Peace on Earth Milk Carton Gift Box

For this milk carton style gift box that measures 6" tall x 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" I used the following supplies:

• for the milk carton a 10 1/2" x 8" piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock (item 119685), scored on the 10 1/2" side at 2 1/2", 5", 7 1/2", and 10" (1/2" tab is the side glue tab); scored on the 8" side at 2" (bottom flaps), 5 1/2", and 7 1/2" (turn over the cardstock before making the 7 1/2" score) - this 1/2" tab will be the top edge of the milk carton; and then scored on the 10 1/2" side again (with the 1/2" top edge tab placed at the top of the scoreboard) at 1 1/4" and 6 1/4" - score only down to the 1/2" tab horizontal score line.  To make the indents for the milk carton you then make score lines using a stylus and ruler on the 2" top flaps, under where you made the partial score lines in the previous step, from the bottom of the partial score line out to both corners of the 2" tab sections;
• for the clapboard siding - I cut a 3 7/16" x 10" piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock, which I then scored along the 3 7/16" side at 1/4" intervals - from this strip I cut the panels for the sides of the milk carton (each panel 3 7/16" x 2 7/16") - before gluing on the siding panels I sponged all edges with Basic Gray ink (item 149165);
• for the roof a 2 7/8" wide x 6 1/2" long strip of Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) - scored at 2 3/4", 3 1/4", and 3 3/4".  I embossed each of the two sections of the roof using the Stripes embossing folder (Stripes & Splatters 3D Embossing Folders - item 157980) - placing each end of the roof strip in the embossing folder so that the embossing folder was lined up to the 2 3/4" and 3 3/4" score lines respectively;
• scallop edge die from the Scalloped Contours dies (item 155560) to cut two 3/4" wide strips of Cherry Cobbler cardstock for each roof section;
• Regal Reindeer Bundle (item 159728) - which includes the Regal Reindeer stamp set (item 159722) and the Reindeer dies (item 159727) - although the stamp set and dies will not be retiring the Bundle will be retired so the stamp set and dies will be available for the 10% Bundle Savings only until the end of the Last Chance Promotion - for the "Peace on Earth" sentiment (stamped on Crumb Cake cardstock - item 120953 - using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink - item 132708); the die cut trees; star, reindeer, fox, and snow hills

Regal Reindeer Bundle - 159728

• Evening Evergreen cardstock (item 155574) for the trees;
• tiny scrap of Distressed Gold 12" x 12" Specialty Paper (item 159237) for the star;
• Soft Suede cardstock (item 115318) for the reindeer body, Crumb Cake cardstock for the additional antlers - I sponged the body and antlers with Soft Suede ink (item 147115);
• Cajun Craze cardstock (item 119684) for the fox - I sponged the tail, nose, and chest with Craft Stampin' White Ink (item 147277) and the body with Soft Suede ink;
• white glimmer paper (Real Red & White 6" x 6" Glimmer Paper - item 159578) for the snow hills;
• Fabulous Frames dies (item 159163) for the oval frame cut from Evening Evergreen cardstock and sponged with Craft Stampin' White Ink;
• Cherry Cobbler patterned paper from the 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments - Regals (item 159256) for the frame backing;
• watercolour paper (Fluid 100 5" x 7" Watercolour Paper - item 149612) for the pine branches;
• Decorated Pine dies (item 159710) to cut the pine branches;
• Evening Evergreen ink (item 155576), Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111), and Soft Suede ink to colour the pine branches;
• Tailor Made Tags dies (item 155563) to cut the sentiment tag and the Basic Black cardstock hole reinforcer;
• Soft Suede ink to sponge around the edges of the sentiment tag;
• Crumb Cake baker's twine (Baker's Twine Essentials Pack - item 155475) to tie the sentiment tag to the library clip (from my stash) that holds the roof in place; and
• Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker (item 100082) to add splatters to the decorated box by flicking the brush tip against the marker lid (I placed a sticky note over the snow hills when doing this).

Gift Card Holders

The Mini Pocket Envelope dies (item 159167) certainly helps in making quick and easy gift card holders - whether you want to tuck them into a card, another present, or hang them on the tree!

Mini Pocket Envelope dies - 159167

For the first gift card holder I cut the base from watercolour paper, and a partial piece of the back portion from a piece of Sweetest Christmas 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 159559).  I stamped the moose from the All Bundled Up stamp set (item 159824) using Stazon Jet Black Ink (item 101406), colouring him using Soft Suede ink (item 147115), Real Red ink (147084), and Shaded Spruce ink (item 147088).  Using Basic Gray ink (item 149165) I stenciled around the coloured image using the small check mask from the Artistic Mix Decorative Masks (item 159178), and then sponged around the edges with Soft Suede ink.  Using a Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker (item 100082) I added splatters by flicking the brush tip against the marker lid - using a sticky note to cover the moose's face.  I trimmed down the top of the back and rounded the corners using a small corner rounder punch and then sponged the edges with Soft Suede ink.

 

I used Sweetest Christmas 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 159559) for the second gift card holder.  I embossed a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) using the Timber 3D Embossing Folder (item 156406) from which I then cut the house (and heart cut out) using the Gingerbread House dies (item 159718).  I sponged the embossed house with Soft Suede ink (item 147115) and glued a small piece of Sweetest Christmas DSP behind the heart opening.  From Real Red cardstock (item 102482) I cut the bow using the small bow die from the Decorated Pine dies (item 159710).  To the center of the bow I added one of the large white dots from the Classic Matte Dots (item 158146).  Behind the house I tucked two small pine branches, cut from watercolour paper using the Decorated Pine dies and coloured using Evening Evergreen ink (item 155576), Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111), and Soft Suede ink.

There is a lot of shimmer on this third gift card holder that I cut from Distressed Gold 12" x 12" Specialty Paper (item 159237), cutting another piece of the inside back section (the Distressed Gold paper is not double-sided), sponging all edges with Soft Suede ink (item 147115).  The oval frame was cut from watercolour paper using the Fabulous Frames dies (item 159163), sponged with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116), Soft Suede ink, and Memento Tuxedo Black Ink (item 132708), and then "painted" with Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush (item 141897).  Inside the frame I tucked pieces of a snowflake frame cut from white glimmer paper (Real Red & White 6" x 6" Glimmer Paper - item 159578) using the snowflake frame die from the Snowman dies (item 159817).  To the centers of three snowflakes I added one of the Pearl Basic Jewels (item 144219).  Behind the frame I glued a small piece of script vellum from Vellum 12" x 12" Layering Designs (item 157764).  I cut the bow from a piece of Texture Chic 12" x 12" Specialty Designer Series Paper (item 158808).  I added a gold eyelet and a loop of gold cord from Simply Elegant Trim (item 155766) for a hanger.

Tags

A wrapped present is not complete without a tag - maybe the gift recipient will keep the tag to hang on their Christmas tree too!  There are no rules for tags - all shapes and sizes - and they are a lot of fun to make!

This tag measures 5 1/2" tall x 3 1/2" wide and I used Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686) for the base (I "ruffled" the edges by scraping along them with the blade of my craft knife), Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) for the matting panel, and the poinsettia patterned paper from Boughs of Holly 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 159600) for the decorative paper panel.  I cut the diagonal "tag" corners using the Very Best Trio Punch (item 159878).  I sponged the edges of the Crumb Cake and DSP panels with Soft Suede ink (item 147115).  Using the Sweet Gingerbread stamp set (item 159714) I stamped on Crumb Cake cardstock the roof trim, house decoration, and window and door outlines in Craft Stampin' White Ink (item 147277); the heart and door in Real Red ink (item 147084); the windows in Soft Suede ink; and the sentiment in VersaMark Ink (item 102283) - no embossing I just wanted the tone-on-tone effect.  Using the Gingerbread House dies (item 159718) I cut the house and roof.  Using the Tailor Made Tags dies (item 155563) I cut the sentiment tag and the Early Espresso cardstock hole reinforcer.  I sponged the edges of the torn tag with Soft Suede ink.  From watercolour paper I cut the large pine branch using the Decorated Pine dies (item 159710), and coloured it using Evening Evergreen ink (item 155576) and Soft Suede ink.  For the house "ground" I used a piece of Soft Suede patterned paper from the 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments - Neutrals (item 159257).  I added a loop of Crumb Cake baker's twine (Baker's Twine Essentials Pack - item 155475) to the sentiment tag (securing the ends with a little dab of glue), and a short piece knotted around the Evening Evergreen 3/8" Windowpane Check Ribbon (item 158135) that I threaded through the eyelet.  I used Mini Stampin' Dimensionals (item 144108) to attach the house.

For this 5 3/4" tag (point to point) x 3" wide tag I used the following additional supplies:

• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the tag base;
• Basic Borders dies (item 155558) to cut the tag ends;
• Window dies (item 159756) to cut the interior and outer window frames - both from watercolour paper - inside coloured using Basic Gray ink (item 149165) and Memento Tuxedo Black Ink (item 132708); and the outside frame (paper embossed using the Timber 3D Embossing Folder - item 156406 - before die cutting) coloured using Soft Suede ink (item 147115), Basic Gray ink, and Memento Tuxedo Black Ink;
• Regal Reindeer stamp set (item 159722) to stamp the little girl and reindeer images on watercolour paper using Stazon Jet Black Ink (item 101406);
• Real Red ink (item 147084), Bermuda Bay ink (item 147096), Calypso Coral ink (item 147101), Soft Suede ink, Basic Gray ink, Mango Melody ink (item 147093), and Evening Evergreen ink (item 155576) to colour the images;
• Soft Suede ink to sponge the watercolour panel;
• Reindeer dies (item 159727) to die cut the little girl image;
• Decorated Pine dies (item 159710) to cut the large pine branch from watercolour paper;
• Evening Evergreen ink, Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111), and Soft Suede ink to colour the pine branch;
• Basic White cardstock (item 159276) for the top window panel - stamped with the Knit Together background stamp (item 156416) using Real Red ink and then over sponged with Real Red ink; and
• Garden Green 3/8" ribbon (Real Red & Garden Green 3/8" Ribbon Combo Pack - item 159577) for the bow tied around the 5/8" cream gross grain ribbon (from my Dollar Tree stash!) threaded through the eyelet.

For this 3 3/4" x 2" tag I used the following additional supplies:

• Tailor Made Tags dies (item 155563) to cut the tag from watercolour paper that had been stamped with the Knit Together background stamp (item 156416) using Real Red ink (item 147084) and over sponged with Real Red ink; and the backing tag from Poppy Parade cardstock (item 119793) - I added the cardstock tag to the back of the tag for a neater back for the tag and to provide a clean space for any writing;
• VersaMark Ink (item 102283) and gold embossing powder (Stampin' Emboss Powders - Metallics - item 155555) to emboss edges of tag and to over stamp and emboss using the splatter stamp from the Quiet Meadow stamp set (item 155082) - I was trying to build up a few layers of embossing;
• Decorated Pine dies (item 159710) to cut the large and small pine branches from watercolour paper;
• Evening Evergreen ink (item 155576) and Soft Suede ink (item 147115) to colour the pine branches;
• Vintage Bottle Punch (item 158689) to punch the bottle from watercolour paper - coloured using Soft Suede ink (splattered with water - Stampin' Spritzers - item 126185 - and blotted with paper towel);
• Meadow dies (item 155852) to die cut small label from Basic White cardstock (item 159276) - sponged with Soft Suede ink and Basic Gray ink (item 149165);
• Full Basket dies (item 158679) to die cut small heart from a scrap of the stamped/sponged base tag paper - edges sponged with Soft Suede ink;
• Mini Stampin' Dimensionals (item 144108) to attach the bottle; and
• gold cord from Simply Elegant Trim (item 155766) for the bow attaching tag to neck of bottle (bow was tied before the bottle was adhered with the dimensionals), and for the hanger loop.  I secured the center of the bottle bow with a little dab of glue.

And finally . . .

I really do like large tags!  For this 6 5/8" x 4 1/4" tag I used the following supplies:

• Evening Evergreen cardstock (item 155574) for the tag base - I scraped the blade of my craft knife along the edges;
• Forever Fern stamp set (item 152559) to stamp foliage, and the Quiet Meadow stamp set (item 155082) to stamp splatter images around the edges of the tag using Evening Evergreen ink (item 155576) - for a tone-on-tone effect that, while it won't distract from the main image, helps fill the empty background space.  I also sponged the edges with Evening Evergreen ink;
• Soft Suede cardstock (item 115318) for matting panel (edges sponged with Soft Suede ink - item 147115);
• Decorated Pine dies (item 159710) to cut the one small pine branch and two large pine branches from watercolour paper, and the hole reinforcer (small circle die) from Soft Suede cardstock;
• Mini Pocket Envelope dies (item 159167) to cut two small foliage stems from watercolour paper, and the small tag from Basic White cardstock (item 159276);
• Summer Shadows dies (item 156618) to cut one large and one small broad leaf foliage stems from watercolour paper;
• Evening Evergreen ink, and Soft Suede ink to colour the pine branches and foliage stems;  
• Basic White cardstock stamped with the Knit Together background stamp (item 156416) using Evening Evergreen ink and over sponged with Evening Evergreen ink - for the decorative paper panel;
• Soft Suede cardstock embossed with the Timber 3D Embossing Folder (item 156406) for the circular frame - which was cut using two circle dies from the Layering Circles dies (item 151770) - after the frame was cut it was sponged with Soft Suede ink;
• All Bundled Up stamp set (item 159824) for the moose image stamped on watercolour paper using Stazon Jet Black Ink (item 101406);
• Soft Suede ink, Real Red ink (item 147084), Evening Evergreen ink, and Basic Gray ink (item 149165) to colour the image;
• Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker (item 100082) to add splatters to the image by flicking the brush tip against the marker lid;
• Soft Suede ink to sponge the edges of the tag, and to stamp on the tag the dots (from the Forever Fern stamp set);
• Full Basket dies (item 158679) to die cut the little heart from a scrap of the left over stamped/sponged base tag paper from the bottle tag - edges sponged with Soft Suede ink;
• Linen Thread (item 104199) for the bow attaching the tag to the pine branch; and
• Evening Evergreen baker's twine (from the retired Fan Baker's Twine - item 158143 - that was a recent addition to the Clearance Rack) for the hanger looped through the center of the double knot of the 5/8" cream satin ribbon (Dollar Tree stash!) that I added to the top of the tag (through the eyelet).

The following retiring items from the July-December 2022 Mini Catalogue that I used in my projects are discounted during the ongoing Last Chance Promotion - although the Promotion runs until January 4, 2023, all retiring items are only available while supplies last:

• Decorated Pine dies (item 159710) - 50% off;
• Gingerbread House dies (item 159718) - 40% off;
• Snowman dies (item 159817) - 30% off; and
• Window dies (item 159756) - 20% off.

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I had a lot of fun working on these projects!  I feel a little better prepared now for Christmas!

If you are interested in purchasing any of the available Stampin' Up! products I have used in my projects, and you live in Canada and do not have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, please do not hesitate to visit my online store found on my website https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/ at your convenience, or simply click under the "Shop With Me" tab on the right sidebar of my blog, which will take you directly to my website and online store.  I very much appreciate your business! You can browse the PDF versions of the July-December 2022 Mini Catalogue and the May 2022-April 2023 Annual Catalogue anytime on my website.  Don't forget to check out the Clearance Rack too!

Have fun creating!

Laurel

*It has come to my attention that quite often email correspondence from me is delivered to the recipient's spam or junk mail folder - if you have corresponded with me I have replied so be sure to check your spam or junk mail folder!  Thank you!!

The trick to a successful day is to pace yourself!