Hot Cocoa Box

Hello Cottage Cutz Friends!

Melinda here with you, and today I am sharing a fun Hot cocoa box I made. I decorated it with some of the fun dies from the Christmas release. I love that you can invest in these seasonal dies, but use them well past their intended season. It is great to get a lot of mileage out of them!

Here's a look at my fun box. I used white cardstock for the base of the box. I then used some blue cardstock for the mats. From there I did all the fun stuff of decorating my box. 

here is another view of my box. You can see the front is just a bit shorter so you can pull out the hot cocoa packets.

Both pieces of the box. I have to take the time to measure out the two pieces. I will update this when I do. I made SEVERAL versions before I settle on what I was happy with. I think one of these days, I need to add in some photos of what my desk looks like when I am coming up with these boxes. There is a LOT of trial and error involved before I get it right...lol. Of course that is a part of the fun of crafting, right?! Dreaming up something and having it come together. I do know the large rectangles on the left side piece are 3.5 x 5. That is the right size for the Swiss Miss hot cocoa packs. 

Here is a photo of the box as I am putting the two pieces together.

Here is another picture as I am putting the box together.

Here is a picture of the base of the box as it is first put together.

Here is a picture of the bottom. I added some half beads on the bottom for the "legs". I also added some extra mats at the bottom for some extra stability.

Here is a closer look at the top. I added some of the super cute snowmen friends die to a scalloped rectangle mat. I added some pink paper and some pretty patterned paper too.

For both sides I used the scalloped rectangle and added a pink cardstock mat and some more of that pretty Doodlebug patterned paper. To that I added my hot cocoa mug with the little "steam curl" and the cookies & cocoa verbiage.

I think my little box turned out super cute and will be taking this to my office.

Dies I Used

Cookies & Cocoa

Santa Gnome w/Cookies

Snowmen Friends

Nested Scallop Rectangle Set

Stitched Heart Set

Well that about covers it for today! Until the next time, have a wonderfully craft-die day!

Melinda Beltran

We Go Together Hot Cocoa Pocket Box Surprise Card

Hello Cottage Cutz Friends!

Melinda here with you, and today I am sharing a fun and colorful Valentine's day card with a little surprise. Here's a look at my finished project.

Here's a look at just the cover. It features images from the following die sets

Cookies & Cocoa

Santa Gnome w/Cookies

Snowmen Friends

Nested Scallop Rectangle Set

Stitched Heart Set

 I used my markers to color in the various pieces. The cute image was from my Doodlebug paper pack as was the patterned papers I used for the scallop rectangle mat and the two hearts. I also used my puffy paint for the showgirls' hat and pompom and some stickles for the whipped topping on my mugs.

To make this fun card with a surprise you will start with a 5.5 x 11 piece of cardstock. I used white for mine. I then scored it at 5.25 and 5.75.

When scored you should have a half inch seam or section in the middle. See photo below. You will score and fold both lines so your base will close.

To make the little pocket you will need to create a little box like the one I created in the photo below. 

The base measurement is 4.75 x 11

You will score your piece of cardstock along the 4.75 side at .5", 7/8", 3 7/8" and 4.25"

You will score along the 11" side at .75", 1 1/8", 5 7/8", and 6.25"

You will cut it according to the photo below.

Here's a template image to offer a little additional help.

Once you have scored and cut the box, you will assemble it. When put together, this is what the "top" side should look like.

It has a flap that folds on the top so you can easily put a packet of Hot Cocoa inside.

Here is a photo of the "backside". I left the extra flaps so that I could adhere all of it to the base. Doing this makes the sides more sturdy. When you assemble the box, it will make more sense. They are optional and you could choose to cut them off to make the sides "flush" with the sides and not wrap around to the back. Here you can see I just added a piece of tape to keep down those flaps and then added adhesive to the entire back. This makes sure the little pocket/box is going nowhere...lol!

I added a blue mat to the inside background and then adhered my pocket/box to the center. I then decorated the top with a mat of patterned paper, a decorative piece of corresponding patterned paper and then a little rectangle, heart and another little snowmen friend. For this one, I added the little Santa Gnomes boots to him. Super cute! The rectangle and heart are left blank so I can write a little note to the recipient.

Here is a side view of the inside of the card, opened up. This gives you a good idea of what the box attached will look like and how the cocoa packet will be accessed.

Here is one last look at the top

I think it turned out super cute and you can make these for co-workers, friends and loved ones for Valentine's day and have a lot of fun doing them!

Dies I Used

Cookies & Cocoa

Santa Gnome w/Cookies

Snowmen Friends

Nested Scallop Rectangle Set

Stitched Heart Set

Well that about covers it for today! Until the next time, have a wonderfully craft-die day!

Melinda Beltran

Quick and Easy Gift Card Holder Card

Happy TuesDIE Cottage Cutz Friends!

Melinda here with you on this terrific Tuesday. Today I am sharing a quick and easy gift card holder - card with a Christmas theme. It features dies from the FABULOUS Cottage Cutz Part2 Christmas release!

How To Make The Holder

Start with a piece of paper measuring 5.5 x 11 inches

You will then score it on the 11" side at 4.25, 5.5 and then turn it and score again at 4.25 on the other side. I believe that would be the 6.75" mark if you go straight across.

You will then fold it in half at the 5.5 mark and then do a valley fold on each of the 4.25 scored lines. Your fold will look like the photo above. Next  you will want to put adhesive along one edge of the 4.25 score line as pictured above. You could also go along just the sides if you want but with a good adhesive, this is not necessary.

With your adhesive applied, you will want to fold the base in half. Essentially, one side onto the other. Here is what it looks like opened after folding.

Here is what the "Inside" will look like once it is folded. You will fold the two flaps back over.

Next you will want to slice off the center fold just a bit. I start 1" from top and slice about an 1/8" or so and then stop 1" from the bottom. You want to slice just enough to cut the fold. This will become the opening that the card sits in.

Here is what a gift card stuck inside the slit looks like. the card sits snuggly in there. This is why you don't put adhesive anywhere else except along the bottom edge when folding the base.

Here is a top view of the inside to show how the card sits in there. I added some patterned paper and then one double stitched rectangle die cut mat to write my greeting.

Here is one more view of the inside. I also added a 1 x 5.25 strip of red cardstock along the holder pocket. There are a limitless amount of ways you can dress it up.

Here is a closer look at the adorable Santa Gnome w/Cookies die cut. He was so much fun to piece together! You could whip out several of these for co-workers, teachers, etc. For a final touch I added a strip of green cardstock with some green and white polka dot ribbon and a bow. I also hand wrote Merry Christmas on the smallest double stitched rectangle die cut in white for my sentiment.

Don't forget to head over to the CottageCutz YouTube channel and check out all of the amazing projects on there. Our video team is doing a wonderful job of filling the channel with all sorts of creative content! You don't want to miss it!

Dies I Used

Santa Gnome with Cookies

Stitched Oval Die Set

Nested Oval Scallop Set

Double Stitched Rectangle Set

Here's a look at the entire release. Be sure to head over and grab them while they last!

Well that about covers it for today! Until the next time, have a wonderfully craft-die day!

Melinda Beltran