Monday, October 03, 2022

Dancing Feet Treat Box & Card

Hellooooo CottageCutz friends!   

Kris here with a fun and interactive card and treat box using dies from the new HALLOWEEN RELEASE!   If you missed Part 1 of our team post yesterday, click here. You'll see that these dies are not just for Halloween... many of the dies you can use any time of year!  There will be another team post next Sunday, and we are also showcasing samples throughout the week, so LOTS of inspiration for you!

I started by making 2 "Dancing Feet" cards (or should we call them swinging legs?) but then I decided to make a fun Candy Box, with the dancing legs/feet on the front!  They are both easy to make and I'll show you how!

(here they are in action)

How FUN are these?!! 

For my projects today, I used the Witch Legs, Witch Hat, Trick or Treat Phrase, and the spider is from the Spooky Truck die from the New Release.  I also used the Wacky Stitched Rectangles the Pierced Wide Circle Frame die set and the Pierced Circles set.

Let's Start with the Card:

1)  I started with my card base then attached each of the following layers:
White card base = top folding card, 5-1/2" x 4-1/4"
Plaid paper mat = 5-1/4" x 4"
Purple paper mat = 4-7/8" x 3-5/8"
Orange paper = 4-5/8" x 3-3/8"
Black cardstock = 4-1/8" x 3-1/8"
White cardstock = die cut with 2nd largest Wacky Stitched Rectangle


2)  I die cut my pieces:  hat, legs and spider, and added some shading with Copic markers.

3)  Then I made the mechanism that will make our legs swing!  I used the smallest circle die I could find in my stash and cut a hole from purple cardstock.  I then hand cut around it a piece that looks like the one in my photo below on the left, cutting a rectangle around the circle first, then I cut up from the bottom to create 2 stems, and I rounded the top to follow the shape of the hat.    


4)  I glued my witch legs onto the stems of the purple piece we just cut.  See photo below.

5)  I then added a small circle foam dot to my white card front a li'l higher than the center, and hung my legs around it.  

6)  Next, I added foam dots to my hat.  Notice you DON'T want to add them to the brim of your hat or your legs won't move!  Learned that one myself!  LOL!  One at the tip of hat will suffice, because you'll also have the middle dot that we hung our legs on.  Remove the backing from both foam dots and center your hat over legs.  

7)  I added s sentiment that I generated on my computer and die cut, added the li'l spider and some black sequins and we're done with the card ☺


I made another similar one for the front of my treat box.  


Design Steps for Treat Box:

1)  I cut a piece of lime green cardstock at 3-1/4" x 4-1/8" and mounted my white Wacky Stitched Rectangle on top.   I repeated the rest of the steps as my card to create the front panel.

For the box... I wasn't sure score lines would show up on black, so I also made an orange version to show you where to score/cut etc.  

2)  I cut a piece of (black) cardstock, 11" x 7-1/2".  Then, with the 11" side along top of my score board, I scored at 3-3/4", 5-1/4", 9", and 10-1/2".  Then I turned it so the 7-1/2" side is along the top and scored at 1/2", 1-1/2" and 6".

3)  Use the photo below to make cuts with scissors to create mitered flaps etc.  The largest sections you will NOT miter the flaps, all others you will.  (you can click the photo to enlarge if you need to)


4)  Once my flaps were mitered, I measured each of the larger sections (that have the 1/2" score on top) to find the middle and placed a pencil mark at 1-7/8" and used my Crop-o-dile to create a hole.  I rounded the corners of the flaps with the holes.  

5)  You CAN decorate just one side of your box and be done, but I thought it'd be fun to create a peek-a-boo window on the back so they can see the candy inside!  ☺  So I cut a piece of purple patterned paper, 3-1/2" x 4-1/4" and glued it to the outside panel of the largest end as shown below.  

6)  Then I die cut a circle (5th largest of the Pierced Circles Set) from the middle of that panel. 


7)  I then turned it over and added a piece of window sheet larger than the circle and attached to inside.  


8)  I cut a circle frame to cover the hole on the outside using the middle sized Pierced Circle Frame die.  Then I added the cute spider from the Spooky Truck die by gluing it behind the frame, then attaching it to the box. 


9)  This is totally optional, but I thought the candy (and spider) would show up better with a colorful insert, instead of seeing black through the hole, so I cut a piece of yellowy-orange paper cut at 3-1/2" x 4-1/4".


10)  I cut some candy-patterned pieces for the spines and top portions of my box.  I cut (2) spines at 4-1/4" x 1-1/4"


11)  And (2) plaid pieces for the top portions cut at 3-1/2" x 3/4"

12)  I die cut the Trick or Treat Phrase from glittered cardstock and glued onto the back of my box as shown.


12)  To assemble the box, add a strip of Score Tape onto the outer 1/2" flap as shown.


13)  Then flip it to the other side and add 2 or 3 strips of Score Tape to the non-rounded end flap as shown below. 


14)  Bend the short 1/2" flap over and remove backing from tape, then fold the other end of box over onto that flap, lining up corners.

15)  Now you can fold in the small bottom (non-rounded) flaps in, then fold in the non-taped flap, then remove tape backing from the 3 strips and fold over that flap.

16)  You can use the straight end of your bone folder to stick inside your box and rub over the flaps to help secure them. 

17)  Lastly, I added cute ribbons thru the holes at the top and tied a bow!  Done☺

PRODUCTS I USED:

  

 

 

Check out the whole HALLOWEEN RELEASE HERE!


I hope I inspired you to get crafty with your favorite CotageCutz dies ~ Have a blessed week ☺

~Kristine

Sunday, October 02, 2022

Halloween Release Design Team Samples (Part 1)

Hello CottageCutz friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit today. We are sampling DT cards from the Halloween release.

There are 22 new designs in this release. So many whimsical images that are perfect for your Halloween card-making. They are currently on sale with 30% off individual dies. The sale is just for a limited time so hurry over to the online store to make your selections.

Group Posts give you the opportunity to see more card samples from the Design Team. We have 4 samples for your viewing pleasure today.

Card 1: The first sample for today is from Pam MacKay. She created such a cute fun-fold outdoor scene in a sidestep design. The left side panel uses the Spooky Tree Gnome, and she has the gnome sleeping under a nighttime sky. She used designer paper for the starry sky.  
 
The right side features the Haunted Ghost House die in a graveyard setting. The gravestones are created with the Halloween Victorian Gate dies, the fence is from the Spooky Fence Mini. She finished off her scene by adding pumpkins and her sentiment is from cardstock.  

Card 2: Our next sample is from Kristine Breach. Since all of you don't make Halloween cards, we thought we would bring a sample using the Halloween dies but for another occasion. This fun birthday card features the Halloween Victorian Gate, the Spooky Truck and the Spooky Kitties dies.
 
For the truck she simply changed the color of the truck, used fun colors for the hubcaps (love these) and the pumpkins are colored in the trendy teal shade that is so popular right now. The kitties are done in lighter shades to complement the subtle colors of her card. She placed the images on a white panel using the Wacky Stitched Rectangle die.

Card 3: Our next sample is from Melinda Beltran. If you like to make multiples this design is perfect for you. She created a CAS card using the Trick or Treat Phrase, Web and the Spooky Tree Gnome dies. She layered her phrase and added some glitter to make it pop on the background. 


Sample 4: The last sample for today is one that I (Mary Marsh) created. We know that we have scrapbookers out there that follow our Blog and purchase our dies. A friend asked me if I could put together a Halloween themed scrapbook page. So, I decided to go out of my comfort zone and try a scrapbook layout. I have been inspired by Jen Hartsgrove since she created a couple recently. 

For the layout, I used the Candy & BucketCute Ghosts and Trick or Treat Phrase dies. I wanted the layout to be fun and not spooky to complement the photos she gave me. For the title, I used the Stitched Alphabet and the Stitched Numbers die and cut them in bright colors. 

The background papers, the too cute to spook phrase and the bottom ghost panel are all from the Echo Park Halloween Party collection. On the left side panel, I added a couple of leaves leftover from another project using the Fall Leaves die. I added the whimsical ghosts, my trick or treat phrase and a few bats to complete my layout.  


I hope you have enjoyed the samples for today and that we have given you some ideas on ways to use these new dies. We will have another group post next Sunday with more DT samples. 

The team will be posting all week on the Blog & YouTube so make sure you check back each day for ideas. There is still lots of time to order your dies and get cards made for Halloween.

Dies used to create today's samples:










Friday, September 30, 2022

Hangin' with my Gnomies

Hello CottageCutz friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with us today. It's Mary Marsh here bringing you the Saturday edition of the Blog.

It's new release time!!! We have new dies in the online store. It's our Halloween release with 22 new designs. So many whimsical designs that are perfect for your Halloween card-making.  They are currently on sale with 30% off individual dies. The sale is just for a limited time so hurry over to the online store to make your selections.

For my card sample today, I am featuring the new Spooky Tree Gnome die. So let's get started with some details of how I created my card. 

Design Steps:

I started my card this week with the colors from the Splitcoaststampers color challenge #915. We were to use soft suede, pale papaya and pear pizzazz. Optional was to add any darker or lighter shades of the challenge colors. 
I wanted to see if I could use one of the new dies to create a Halloween card. I took the option and used darker shades of all the colors. 
soft suede, pale papaya, pear pizzazz
I also found this sketch online and thought it would work well for my card. Sketches always help to give my creativity a jump start.
I selected a designer paper from my collection for the card background. I liked the leaf design on the paper and thought it complemented the sleeping gnome. For the image panel I used the largest die (3 1/4" x 4 1/4") from the Double Stitched Rectangle set. 
I cut the images from the Spooky Tree Gnome die in cardstock using darker shades of the color challenge. For the pale papaya, I used pumpkin pie, for the pear pizzazz I used old olive and mossy meadow and for soft suede I used choc chip and a metallic brown cardstock (cat's bowtie).
Next, I stenciled a few stars with pumpkin carved ink and stamped my sentiment in choc chip ink. When I started card assembly I realized, I stamped the sentiment too low on the panel, so I redid it. But I forgot to take another photo. You can see the re-do in the photo below.
Now that all my elements are prepared I am ready to start card assembly. I attached the spooky tree gnome with clear drying glue. 
Attached the designer paper to the card base with double sided tape. 
To finish off my card I attached the image panel to the card base with dimensional adhesive. Scatter a few pale papaya gems for added interest. 
That's my sample for this week. I hope I have given you an idea for a way to use this new Spooky Tree Gnome

Make sure you stop by the Blog on Sunday. We are having a group post with samples featuring the Halloween dies. 

Reminder: Our YouTube Channel has a new video featuring a shaker card from Marla Harris. There is a giveaway for being a subscriber, liking the video and leaving a comment. Click here.

Dies I used to create card: