Dannie's Designs

Mini Milk Carton Holder Tutorial

Last week I showed you this project on my blog.

Are you ready for the pattern and tutorial?  First, click here to download the pattern.  If you're having trouble opening the pattern, RIGHT click on the link and  then click on "save file as."  Once you've saved the file to your computer, you should be able to open it up without any problems.

Step 1:  Cut and score your cardstock according to the directions on the pattern. 

Stamping Tip:  You'll notice that my pattern directs you to cut out little triangles.  You need to cut a straight line on the score line and then cut the triangle portion out of the little tab.  Cutting the triangles out helps the box go together a little better. 

Have you ever put together a 3-D item and had the little tab stick out over the top of the side of your box like this?

You can click on the photo for a larger picture.  Cutting out little triangles will help eliminate this problem.

Step 2: Add sticky strip to the bottom of the box as shown in the photo below.

Remove the sticky strip backing and fold it into a box.

Step 3: Fold the handle portion of the box as shown in the photo below.

Step 4: Add six pieces of sticky strip along the edges of the cardstock as shown in the photo below.  The pieces of sticky strip do NOT go across any score lines.  Do NOT make it one continuous piece of sticky strip down the left side of the handle.  It makes it so much easier to put together.

Step 5:  Remove the backing off the two longest pieces of sticky strip and adhere the handle together like this.

Step 6:  Using the small oval punch, punch out an oval from a scratch piece of paper.  Add adhesive to the back and adhere it to the cardstock where you'd like the handle to be.

Step 7:  Line up the punched out oval inside of the oval punch and punch the oval through the cardstock.

Step 8:  Remove the four pieces of stick strip off the bottom of the handle and adhere it inside the box bottom.

Step 9:  Embellish as desired and add two mini milk cartons.

If you make one of these mini milk carton holders, I'd love to see it.  Leave a comment on this post with a link to your creation so we can all take a peek.  Thanks for stopping by!

Tag Box Tutorial

I sat down this morning and finally figured out how to make my own patterns.  It was much easier than I thought.  I'm happy to say that I finally have the pattern and the tutorial done for my gift tag box that I posted last week.

Click here to download the pattern.  If you're having trouble downloading the pattern, hold your mouse above the words "click here" and RIGHT click on the link and select "save link as."  This will download the file straight to your computer and then you can open it.

This is my first pattern, so if you see anything that needs to be changed please let me know.  I made the pattern so it makes complete sense to me; however, that doesn't mean it will make sense to you.  If you have questions or suggestions on how to make the pattern more readable, please let me know.  

Now for the tutorial.  Cut and score all of the cardstock and the transparency as shown in the pattern.  Take the 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" piece of cardstock and fold it on the score lines so it looks like this.

The peak should be pointing up.  Turn the cardstock upside down and add a piece of sticky strip on the side of the peak.  It doesn't matter which side you put it on.

Remove the backing from the Sticky Strip and adhere the two sides together.  Burnish it with your bone folder to make sure it sticks well.  It should look like this when you're done.

As you can see, the right side is 2 1/2" wide and the left side is 2" wide.  That's exactly the way you want it.

Follow the steps above and do the exact same thing to the 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" and the 4 1/2" x 2" pieces of cardstock.  When you're done they'll look like this.

These three pieces make up the dividers in the box.  The piece on the bottom left is 2" wide and the piece on the bottom right is 2 1/2" wide.  Place the two bottom pieces on top of the top piece like this.

Once they are lined up, adhere them in place.  Make the box bottom according to the pattern and drop this piece inside.

Fold the transparency on the score lines.  Add a piece of sticky strip to one of the ends--it doesn't matter which one.  Wrap the transparency around the box, remove the backing off the sticky strip and adhere the two ends together.  Fill the box with tags, add some ribbon and you're done!  

Thanks for stopping by!

Bra and Panty Cards

Have you ever downloaded a pattern to try and then it just sat there and you never touched it again?  I have too many to count.  My computer files are full of fantastic ideas just waiting for me to find the time to try them.  As I was looking through all of my saved patterns, I came across this one and decided that it has sat neglected long enough and now was the time to make it.

I love how this turned out!  You can find the pattern for the card here.  There is no name on the pattern so I don't know who to give credit to for making the template.  This is a pattern that I downloaded off Split Coast over two years ago. 

The great thing about this pattern is that it prints in standard card size.  Simply print the pattern and cut it out.  Cut a piece of Blush Blossom cardstock to 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and fold it in half (this is the regular size you use for making cards).   Lay the pattern on the Blush Blossom cardstock so that the top of the pattern (the hips if you're making the panty card or the neck if you're making the bra card) is along the fold of the Blush Blossom cardstock.  Trace it and cut it out.  

I used the Groom DSP to make the bra and panties.  Before I attached them to the card, I used some Sticky Strip to add some lace.  I think the lace was the perfect finishing touch.  Give it a try.  I'd love to see what you come up with.  Leave a link and I'll check out your creations.

Thanks for stopping by!  ~Dannie

Paper:  Blush Blossom, Groom DSP
Accessories:  Lace, Sticky Strip

Accordion File Folder Box

Happy Monday.  I hope your weekend was great.  Mine was very busy, but I managed to get a lot done around the house.  I even found a little bit of time to stamp.  Do you want to see what I made? 



Isn't this new Bella Rose designer series paper darling?  I love it.  This is an accordion file folder box.  Here's a look at the side view.



And here's a look at the box open.



You can pull on the front panel and it expands even more.  I just couldn't figure out how to hold the lid of the box, pull on the front panel and snap a picture at the same time.  I suppose I could have had one of my children take the picture.  That would have been fun.

Update:  The Scrapbook Lounge has taken down the pattern.  Click here to download the pattern.  If you're having trouble downloading it, RIGHT click on the link and click "save file as."  Save it to your computer and then you can open it.

You can find the pattern for this box at The Scrapbook Lounge.  You'll need to sign up for an account (it's free) once you're on the site.  It's the July 4, 2008 episode called "Expanding Memories."  They have a video tutorial as well as an eight page pdf that you can download with the pattern and directions.  Just look in the box below the video screen that says "episode options."  Click on "download design guide" and that's where the written directions are.

Edited to Add: I've had several people ask me what I used as the "insides" of the box.  I used chipboard and cut it to the dimensions listed in the directions.  If you don't have any chipboard, a cut up cereal box will do the trick too.

Each of the accordion pieces is 5" x 7", so this is a pretty good sized box.  You can use it to organize your cards, receipts, recipes and so much more. 

Also, I've been nominated a few more times for this award. 



Thank you Debbie, Laura, and Kristin.  I truly appreciate it.  ~Dannie

Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Bella Rose DSP, Chipboard
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Wide Grosgrain Ribbon and LOTS of Sticky Strip

Peek-a-boo Boxes

For this week's "try a new technique" challenge on SplitCoast, the challenge is to make a peek-a-boo box.  Brenda Quintana came up with the pattern for this box.   She was gracious enough to let me upload the box pattern right here on my blog.  This first file has one box on the page Download Peek-A-Boo-Box-Template-1.pdf .  This second file has two boxes per page Download Peek-A-Boo-Box-Template-2-On-1-Page-1.pdf

I thought the box would be perfect for wedding favors.  I used the swirl from Baroque Motifs and embossed it in Silver embossing powder on Vellum card stock. 

Here's the box with the lid open.  It has an acetate window so you can see what's inside.

I filled the box with peppermint patties because the wrappers were silver and would match the silver embossing.  I used my Carte Postale set to decorate the candy.

Tips on making the box:
When you download the pattern, it is true to size.  You can print it on your card stock and just cut on the solid lines.  However, this won't work for vellum.  The printed black lines would show through the other side.  To get around this, I measured the pattern with a ruler and cut and scored it according to the pattern.   NOTE:  I cut and scored the box first, then I flipped it over and embossed on the opposite side.

When you punch out the 1 1/4" square for the window, you'll want to be sure it's centered.  Take a scrap piece of paper and punch out a 1 1/4" square.  Put adhesive on that square and stick it on the vellum right where you want the window to be.

Turn your punch upside down and line it up right over the white square and punch!  It's the easiest way I've found to get a nice, centered window.

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Carte Postale
Paper: Shimmery White, Brushed Silver, Vellum Card Stock
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Scalloped Circle Punch, Circle Punches (1 1/4" and 1 3/8"), 1 1/4" square punch, Crafters' Tool Kit, Acetate