Thursday, March 14, 2024

Wedding Cake Ornament to Decorate

Here’s an activity for bridal shower or engagement tea 
suitable for children or adults featuring 
a simple three-tier wedding cake on stand. 
Use “hanging” ornament base shape with 
punch hole at top, or basic base shape where 
a magnet strip can be attached on backside. 
For thickened “chip board” style, cut several base shapes 
to stack and glue together, with plain or printed front 
(and back if desired) attached on top. 
Several options for decorating include 
using “print & cut” process to create line drawing 
to color or adorn with single or connected jewels, 
glitter, or the “sprinkle” cut-outs 
(cut file includes mini-strips, triangles or circles), 
or tier cut shapes to overlay and glue in place. 
Ornament measures approx. 3.44” wide x 4.75” tall. 

(This tutorial is under construction.
Please return soon to view
the completed assembly guide.)













Happy Everafter Stitched Border Card

Keepsake stitched 5x7 card expresses 
“we wish you happy ever after” across upper panel, 
combining “print & cut” panel with 
printed sentiment first words, 
and paper cut out for remaining words. 
(Plain panel is also included for other options.) 
Select a two- or multi-colored paper print to feature 
for the card base that shows behind front decoration 
panels to direct choice of two colors of regular 
embroidery floss to complete charted design 
(included as part of the instructions). 

Stitching and assembly for this card is identical
to the Mother's Day stitched card.
Find that tutorial by following this LINK.


Sunday, March 3, 2024

Shamrock Thin Treat Jar Box

A narrow dimensional container is hidden between 
front and back shamrock window panels 
with clear liners. 
Add offset accent panels and contrast window outline 
overlays to front and back. 
Jar neck accents add a touch of realism. 
Assemble and join box and panels with hinge 
to attach back panel, fill with loose treats and 
close top flap, swing back panel into place and attach 
with temp sticky dot. 
Prepare and attach “Lucky Charms” print & cut tag, 
then gift for an extra special St. Patrick’s day 
or good luck token. 
When fully assembled, box with panels 
measures approx. 3.75” wide x 6” tall. 
Container compartment measures 
approx. 4.63” tall x 2.75” wide x .63” deep

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A front main base panel
B decorative front overlay
C front window rim overlay
D back main base panel
E decorative back overlay
F back window rim overlay
G lid accent overlays with "threads" bar details
H compartment   I window see-thru panels (2)
J container hinge to attach back base panel
K opt. tag base with print & cut "Lucky Charms" phrase
Use the Silhouette Cameo and software process
to prepare the tag "print & cut" shape.
2. Prepare the container shape by bending back on
all perforations for front and back walls, boxing side
walls and flange, top and bottom walls and tabs.
3. Prepare the window panels by applying double-stick
tape (such as the Kool Tak ultra clear 1/8" side
tape with backer) exactly along the edges of
the window panels. Then . . .
. . . remove tape liner, position the window panel
on the container backside, between the wall edge
perforations, and centered top-to-bottom to cover
the shamrock opening.
4. Bend the container shape into a "tube" to bring
the straight edge of side boxing wall to overlap
the opposite flange tab perforation, adjust for
alignment, then . . .
. . . attach the seam. NOTE that symmetry of this shape
will allow it to be flattened, bending along perforation
lines, so that fingertip pressure can be applied
along the seam area. Once secure, pop back into
container form.
5. Close the bottom of container by ending side
tabs inward, tucking bottom flap inside the box,
and join in place with double-stick tape or adhesive.
NOTE that it may be helpful to use a rod-like tool
inserted inside the container to help provide 
a "press-against" surface to adhere bottom seam.
6. Close the top end in similar manner, except
 the flaps need to remain unattached so that
the container can be opened and closed.
7. The mason jar box is designed so that
the back panel assembly can be bent away from
the container to allow top to be opened. The side
hinge attachment allows this to work.
Prepare the hinge shape by bending along
perforation as mountain fold..
8. Position the rectangle side wall portion over
the right side wall (with back of container facing you),
centered top to bottom . . .
. . . so that the tab cut out edges are offset slightly
beyond the shamrock window cut out edges . . .
. . . then without shifting alignment, attach 
the rectangle portion to the side wall.
8. For FRONT assembly, apply glue to the front
of the container, then . . .
. . . position the front panel over the front of
the container so that the shamrock cut out
edges align as precisely as possible . . .
. . . then glue in place. Place a light to medium-
weight book on top of the assembly to help
press the panel in place.
9. Repeat Step 8 for the back panel, except 
only apply glue to the flange portion of
the hinge as shown here, then . . .
. . . carefully position back panel with window
cutout edges precisely aligned, and attach
backside of back panel to flange.
Press in place until secure as for front panel.
10. Position and attach the shamrock rim shapes
to corresponding front or back decorative panels.
11. Position and attach the decorating panel
front or back to corresponding front or back
attached panels, keeping the offset margin even
all around, with bottom edges matched,
and window openings offset, as shown.
12. Position and attach the lid accent shape and
lid rim accent shape where wall panel offset edges
or cut edges indicate.
Also position and attach shorter strips where panel
lid area edge shapes indicate they should be placed.
13. Open container to tuck or pour in candy,
then tuck top down into position to close.
14. Complete the package by attaching a sticky
dot or other equivalent temporary adhesive
to the open-side edge of container, then . . .
. . . close the back and press surfaces
together to attach sticky dot to back panel.
15. Layer the tag with tag base, aligning punch hole
edges, with outer edges offset slightly.
16. Finish by attaching prepared tag to
lid area of front panel with twine or
narrow ribbon. 

Here is the completed gift box.

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Shamrock Tag with Buttons

 
Large tag “card” has classic round-top shape 
with back base that bends away below punch hole 
to provide concealed sentiment or greeting area. 
On front, offset accent overlay holds four-leaf shamrock 
decorated with 4 layered-for-thickness buttons. 
A center punch hole can accept a jumbo (18mm) 
decorative brad if available, or stack and attach 
a paper disc, if desired. 
Optional “print & cut” front accent panel which
 includes phrase “shamrock your world” 
can be substituted. 
Add ribbon loop accent, then attach to gift or treat 
for St. Patrick’s Day fun. 
Tag measures approx. 4.5” tall x 2.35” wide 
when fully assembled and closed 
(a standard plastic gift card can be attached 
inside or to back). 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A tag front   B tag back with upper perforation
C tag front accent, with opt. "print & cut" phrase
D shamrock
E discs to layer as substitute for brad
F button rim rings (4 sets of 3)
G button body discs (4 sets of 4)
2. If desired, use Silhouette Cameo "print & cut"
tools and procedures to set up the tag front accent
which includes the "shamrock your world" phrase . . .
. . . then lift the printed and cut accent from mat.
3. If using paper disc cutouts in place of jumbo brad,
layer and attach into a stack, taking care to align
all outer cut edges as precisely as possible. Then . . .
. . . place under a heavy flat weight such as this
fabric covered re-purposed free weight bar and leave
in place until stack is completely dried, for several
hours or over night. Pressing in this manner will help
prevent warping or curling of layered shapes glued 
together with liquid adhesive.
4. Repeat step 3 for the button rim rings, and 
. . . also the button bodies, stacking and gluing
the prescribed or desired quantity of shapes,
and then pressing until thoroughly dried.
NOTE that it may be helpful to use a pointy tool such as
this stylus to clear out all interior openings of the stack
or of individual layers.
5. Layer the rim ring stack onto the front of
the button body stack, and attaching together,
taking care that outer cut edges are aligned
all around. 
Repeat until there are 4 complete buttons.
6. Prepare the tag front by centering and attaching
the accent shape over the front tag shape,
taking care to align the ribbon hole precisely,
and making sure that there is an even, narrow
offset margin all around accent shape edges.
Press under flat weight until dried.
7. Use the middle punch hole to align the center
of the shamrock shape, then rotate the shamrock
slightly so that leaf edges overhang accent
panel edges a tiny bit at sides, then . . .
. . . glue in place.
8. Bend the top portion of the tag back base forward,
then apply glue above the perforation.
Reverse the front tag to be face down, then
position the backside of tag rounded upper portion
over the matching portion of tag, adjust so that
cut edges align, then . . .
. . . attach together. Press until dried.
Here you can see how the tag is intended
to look, with a hinging action where back panel
can bend away from front tag.
9. Position the four prepared button stacks onto
the leaves of the shamrock so that they are
equi-distant from the center alignment hole,
centered more or less within the leaf,
and attach in place.
10. Position the substitute disc stack
at center of buttons so that it overlaps
them in a balanced or even way,
then glue in place.
To help the discs look more like a brad,
consider using Nuco Chrystal Glaze
liquid on the disc front, then allow to dry.
(Otherwise, use the jumbo brad to
insert through front tag only layers
at the positioning guide hole.)
To help the discs look more like a brad,
consider using Nuco Chrystal Glaze
liquid on the disc front, then allow to dry.