The best chipboard for your covers III

Hi everyone!

Myry again and today I'm going to continue show you how frames can be the best for your covers!

This time I'm going to do a shaker frame.

Measure the length and width (in this case, 12cm). Cut and stick 4 thin cardboard pieces (at most 2mm wide).

Paint with white gesso to cover any mistake.

Choose a color according to the decoration you are going to use. Cut a piece of acetate to the size of the inside of the frame (11'6cm) and stick it inside. 

Then cut a paper piece of 12cm, put shaker filler on top and stick it to the cardboard very carefully. 

And now stick the embellishments on top of the frame as you like!

I hope you like this another idea for your covers!

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts items used:

Valentine Scroll Top Frame 

Other items used:

Brush and white gesso

Cardboard, cutter and glue

Paper, acetate, shaker filler and embellishments

An Incomplete Curiosity Composition Box

Ok, my project isn't finished but... But... BUT!!! I have a very good reason.

We've planned a little family getaway to Montreal next month and I've created this in preparation for my memories. I'll keep little mementos from our adventure and tuck them in this box when I return. I'm so excited!

I'll buy postcards. I'll keep tickets and receipts. Bottle caps and coasters will be placed in here too. Maybe a stone or a leaf or... or... or... the possibilities are endless! I'll keep my eyes peeled for a little tacky souvenir and add that to my curiosity box as well.

I've created embellishments for the box with layers from the Steampunk Shape Set and
Stackable Labels Shape Set. I have to toot my own horn and say I'm really digging that top element!

While I usually mix and match collections, I've stuck with Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Deluxe Collector's Edition from Graphic 45 for this piece. If you like quirky and cool and vintage it'll be right up your ally. If that ain't your cup-o-tea, by all means, make something that suits YOU.

Below is a list of all the bits you'll need and I've got a video walk through for pulling all those bits together. Here's hoping we all make some amazing memories to complete our curiosity composition boxes.

Supply List:
Composition Box - 25
Steampunk Shape Set
Stackable Labels Shape Set

Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Deluxe Collector's Edition
White glue
Ribbon
Acrylic paints (I am in LOVE with Golden Fluid Acrylic Paint Iridescent Copper)
Small brass brads

Civic Duty Shadow Box

Hello crafty GSLC friends!  It's Susan today, here to share a civic-minded shadow box with you.  While we were clearing out the attic the other day Husband found a 70s-era patch that set the tone for this weeks project using the Arch Top Cabinet w/Doors (and feet -- really great feet).

You'll see the patch at the bottom of the post.  For now, let me walk you through my construction.  Remember my crafty education team motto?  "I make the mistakes so you don't have to!"

Here all the parts laid out.  The dimensions when finished are 4" x 1 1/2" x 6 1/2" (10.16cm x 3.81cm x 16.51cm).

The first thing I did was to outline the body on my chosen paper.  I like to score corners rather than cut separate panels, but you can do that, too.  If you do one big piece like mine, leave extra on the side flaps to account for the corners.  See how there's more on the left edge (and barely more on the right)?  That's what I mean AND what you see here was barely enough.  While it's flat, outline the base arches, moving the left and right panels out a little first ( accounting for that scored corner).  Set this aside and do the same for the doors and front panel.

I picked out door knobs and poked a hole in the first door.  To match the second door, I laid the first onto the second and marked where the hole needed to be.  These doors are marked "front" and "back" in pencil, and -- even though you can't really see there are two doors here, they are stacked front-to-back-to-back-to-front.  It doesn't matter as much at this stage, but if paper or paint had already applied, I can guarantee I would have something upside down. ::shrug::

 I now have all my outer papers cut.  Notice I've penciled in the base arches but not cut.  I glued the top and bottom then the sides, and let it sit for a while.

Score the paper where you think the corners are.  This sounds scary, but you can score a little to the left or right of the original score lines if needed.  I had to adjust both and it didn't make a difference in the finished appearance.

Once the cabinet is dry enough to handle, double check the paper width before cutting out the base.  This is where I needed to adjust my score lines.  Cut out the center arch first, then check your pencil lines on the side arches and adjust as needed.  Once your arches are cut out, go ahead and glue the paper to the cabinet, starting with one side and wrapping around, making sure to flatten the paper as you go.  I like to use Mod Podge for these kinds of steps since it briefly allows me to nudge the paper a little if needed.

At this point leave the doors and front alone.

I applied black gesso to the inside, base, and top.  Later I painted the top outside and bottom outside with a mottled brown-black-red combo to mimic the door paper.

I used linen hinge tape to attach the doors to the frame.  I put as much as possible on the narrow frame and marked the spot.

Next I separated the tape from the backing and stuck it to the door; I reattached the backing to the little flap as I worked on the red door panel.

I don't have photos, but here's what I did: sanded the left edge of the paper at an angle to account for the hinging.  This was easier to do before attaching to the door because I didn't want to sand the linen tape.  I did the same for the right door, then attached the paper to the door panel.  I sanded the rest of the edges a bit and then inked all around.

Here is what it looked like at this stage.  Notice the doors fall in a bit - at the end I made door stops from the little dashes left from the laser cutting.  (I keep all of these "just in case").  In the future I'll add the door stops before the front panel is attached so they can be better aligned.

I let it dry overnight with the doors open.  The next day I sanded all the edges (and reinked as needed), then decorated.

Thanks for your visit today.  Please vote in your local elections as well as the big ones!

Cheers,
Susan

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Used
Arch Top Cabinet with Doors #D11B

Other Supplies Used
Tim Holtz Seasonal paper
Brown Dresden trim
Acrylic paints
Black gesso
Mod Podge
TH metal door knobs
Vintage photo
1970s fabric patch
Cheese cloth
Vintage brooch
Lineco Linen Hinge Tape

Advent Shadow Box by Gloria

Hello, it is Gloria with you and I have a huge project to share. And by huge, I mean a time-consuming project! Depending on how "fancy" you get, this project could take a while, so you will want to get your Advent Calendar Shadowbox on order TODAY! (Check availability at the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Store).

I have always had some sort of advent calendar set up during the holidays, even after my kids got "too old" for one. The calendar I have been using is getting a bit tired and worn, so, I figured, time to make a new one! This shadow box version of an advent calendar is approximately 11 1/2" x 11 1/2" x 1 1/2" with an 8" x 8" center opening.

There are 25 small boxes (roughly 1 1/2" square). You can purchase the pre-cut chipboard boxes or you can use a template to make them yourself. If you have an electronic cutting system, there is also a cut file for cutting the little boxes! You can decorate the 8" x 8" opening to your heart's content.

I even decorated the back of the shadow box. It would be fun to add a large photo to the back of the box to display as well.

1. To begin, unpack your shadow box and wipe the pieces with a damp cloth to remove the soot created during the cutting process.

2. Spray the pieces with black glimmer mist. Once the mist has dried, you may wish to seal the pieces with a clear sealant. Assemble the shadow box. (You will have three small pieces "left over" to use for creating box #25. I chose to skip that step.) After I assembled my box, I wrapped the outer edges with washi tape for extra stabilization.

3. Assemble the small treat boxes. Use strong tape or glue to assemble

4. If using glue, allow the glue to dry before going to the next step. You may also wish to rub the edges of each box with ink.

5. To cover each box, trim a strip of paper to 1 3/8" x 5" (cut 25). Trim two squares to 1 7/16" x 1 7/16" (cut 50). Use a 1/2" circle punch to cut a notch into the top of one square (do this for 25). Use the box as a guide for the notch placement.

6. Wrap the 5" long strip around the box, securing at the front. Glue one of the squares to the bottom of the box.

7. Add the notched square to the front of the box. You may add paper to the inside of your boxes, if desired. Since my project is decorative only, I skipped that step.

8. Place a box into each opening of the advent calendar. Trim a piece of decorative paper to 8" x 8" and attach to the center of the shadowbox. Trim a second piece of decorative paper to 8" x 8" and cut on the diagonal. Attach to the lower right corner of the center opening (shown in Step 14 below). Trim four paper strips to 1 3/8" x 8" and attach to the inside edges of the shadowbox.

9. Cut four pieces of decorative paper to 1 7/16" x 11 3/8" and attach them to the outside edges of the box.

10.Use a craft knife to separate the Faux Metal Number Plates 1-25 from the background. Attach two micro brads to each number.

11. Use foam adhesive or glue dots to attach a number embellishment to each box, 1-24. Arrange the numbered boxes in your advent calendar as desired.

12. Select the numbers element from the package of Mixed Media Fragments 1. Cover the surface of the chipboard with embossing ink. Sprinkle with gold glitter embossing powder and heat.

13. Select one of the Postage Frames and paint it with white paint. Once the paint is dry, cover the surface with glitter glue. Stamp the image onto cream paper and attach to the back of the postage frame.

14. Glue the gold numbers to the upper left of the center window. Fussy cut a Christmas image from decorative paper and attach to the lower right corner with foam tape. Add the postage frame as shown. Assemble the last box (#25) and glue to the center window, at an angle as shown.

15. Add holiday decor and embellishments to the #25 box as desired.

16. Decorate the top of the box with more holiday decor and ribbons.

Happy Christmas! Thanks for looking!

~ Gloria:Scraps of Life

Supplies Used:

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts:
Advent Calendar Shadowbox
Advent Calendar Boxes (25)
Faux Metal Number Plates 1-25 (similar)
Mixed Media Fragments 1
Postage Frames

Partner products:
Graphic 45 papers: St. Nicholas, A Christmas Carol, Twas the Night Before Christmas, The Twelve Days of Christmas, Christmas Emporium
Graphic 45 stamps: St. Nicholas 3

Other: black spray mist, ink (black, white, brown), glitter glue, ribbon, micro brads, washi tape, adhesive and glue