5 - Sniffles, Sneezes and Coughing, oh my

Here we go Ü Tonight begins the countdown to our One Year Anniversary sale. So with that I would like to share that for three days, November 30th through December 2nd, we will have a storewide sale of 15% off everything in the store.

This time round the sale will be first come, first serve. If we run out of an item we will not be putting it up for preorder. There are two reasons for this. First is because I know how disappointed you would all be if you do not receive that special item in time for the holiday season and unfortunately I think we will probably run out of some items. I just have no idea when those products will become available again. I have tried so hard to be certain that we are well supplied, but it seems almost impossible to predict. We have our Nestabilities arriving this week, but unfortunately what we have arriving is what we will have until sometime towards the-end of December. Spellbinders has more on order, but unfortunately they will more than likely not be here in time for the holiday season. Then there is Copic - we are still waiting, patiently (and sometimes not so patiently - LOL) waiting for the new Stampin' Up! coordinating color sets, as well as the glitter pens and current colors. If by some miracle they arrive we will put them up, but I'm not crossing my fingers at this point. There is just no telling when the Copic products will arrive and if they will arrive. I try so hard to "know" and yet there just are no good answers.

The second reason for not doing preorders is because it was a true nightmare for us on this end the last time round Ü Trying to stay on top of the preorders during the last sale was a true test of perserverance and organization. At times I really wondered if I would loose my sanity - LOL! I thank you in advance for your understanding and I hope that I was able to make a fairly good estimate as to what we need in our warehouse and that we won't run out of anything.

So now for the fun stuff!

Tonight's project wasn't the one I was going to start with, but this cold that set in on Thanksgiving has really hit hard. I just couldn't help myself being that I believe I have used an entire box of tissues already and so tonight I present one of the images and sayings that Karen has added to her line this season. Being that cold season is upon us the timing of these images could not be more perfect - ha! ha!

The little tissue box comes with the tissues drawn in place, but I just slit the top and inserted some real tissues for "effect". I then added the sentiment - it just cracks me up!

As you can see I have highlighted my personal predicaments with Twinkle Stickers - I am both sneezie AND wheezie - thank goodness I'm not queezie - LOL!

To kick off the countdown I thought I would share how I create boxes for "custom" sized products, in this case the cute little tissues. I begin by measuring the item I want to enclose - the tissues were 2 1/4" wide x 4 1/4" long x 7/8" high.

Next I take an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of cardstock and start scoring. Perhaps I am rather odd in that I don't figure this all out on paper first, but I just visualize how it is that the item will fit inside the box and begin. I have posted the picture below so that you can see how easy it is to create your score lines in the correct position if you use the centering ruler on the Scor-It board.

I have added little black lines to the score lines so that they show up a little better. The diagram below will hopefully help make this a little easier to understand as well.

I begin on the right side of the paper and score my lines moving from right to left. The first 1/2" is what you will always need to use to have a surface to adhere your box shape together. Next comes the height of the object you are making the container for. I always make it slightly bigger than the starting size - for example my tissues were 7/8" so I rounded up to 1". By aligning my first score line with the 1" mark on the Scor-It board you will be in just the right spot - score your line. The next measurement is the width of the object - the tissues were 2 1/4", again I rounded up this time to 2 1/2". Move your paper over so the score line now lines up with the 2 1/2" mark and score again. Repeat the height and width one more time and you have completely surrounded your object. Cut off the remaining paper along the final score line.

Next you need to make the height work. For the flaps I decided on 3/4" to tuck in on the ends. So I began with the 3/4" tuck-in, then added the 1" for the height of the tissues. Then comes the length of the item. In this case the tissues were 4 1/4" and so I rounded up to 4 1/2". Another 1" for the tissue height and another 3/4" flap and you have the correct amount of paper for your project.

The measurements need to be slightly larger than the actual product size so that it is not difficult to fit your gift in to the box upon completion.

Next I cut off the excess paper. Using my magnetic placement mat, metal edged ruler and retractable blade cutting knife I remove the "corners" leaving only the body and flaps.

One tip I have is to cut just inside of the score line, rather than in the center of the score line. This will help your box fit together better. I used a corner rounder to clip the flaps. Stamped and embossed the Millinery Ribbon, Rose then pierced on either side.

Red liner tape is the absolute best for holding boxes together. Attach the tape to the flap and secure the box. Spiffy it up with a little ribbon and you have the best looking tissues in town :D

I hope that this little project can be used by many of you to create gift boxes this holiday season and that not too many of them will enclose tissues Ü!

Comments

[Shawna]

On top of everything else --- a cold. Bummer! But as always you are still producing fabulous projects. Feel better soon!

[Kim G]

I can't tell you how many times I've put Copics in my basket, only to not place the final order. Mainly, I'm wondering what add-ons you were planning to do. If I purchase the two sets of 24 that you currently have, will the Stampin' Up! color set(s) be an add-on or set(s)on its own? Thanks!

[Beth]

Ellen, So sorry you have come down with a cold! My family has been dealing with this for about 3 weeks so I definitely know what you are going through. Funny- different sides of the country, same symptoms! I am so... excited about the countdown to your sale (not to mention the sale, itself)! Thank-you fo rthis wonderful tutorial and hope you feel better soon!

[Beth]

Ellen, So sorry you have come down with a cold! My family has been dealing with this for about 3 weeks so I definitely know what you are going through. Funny- different sides of the country, same symptoms! I am so... excited about the countdown to your sale (not to mention the sale, itself)! Thank-you fo rthis wonderful tutorial and hope you feel better soon!

[Beth]

Ellen, So sorry you have come down with a cold! My family has been dealing with this for about 3 weeks so I definitely know what you are going through. Funny- different sides of the country, same symptoms! I am so... excited about the countdown to your sale (not to mention the sale, itself)! Thank-you fo rthis wonderful tutorial and hope you feel better soon!

[Juanita]

Oh, Ellen, I can't believe you've been struck by a cold, UHG, and yet you are still able to produce projects!! You are one AMAZING woman. I love this box, TFS.

[Rose Ann]

This is so adorable!! Thanks for the awesome tutorial!

I hope you're feeling better soon!

[Billie (myboys)]

Oh my, so sorry you have not been feeling well. Hope you recover soon. However, the illness didn't slow down your creativity. I love the tissue box with the real kleenex. Darling

[DebbieYates]

This is too cute - hope you're feeling better soon - God bless-

[Kerry Fitzpatrick]

Ellen...sorry you're under the weather but am glad to see a blog entry from you. I miss your creations. The tissue box is adorable. If you have to feel uckie, this will at least make you smile a little between sneezes.

[Jana]

Wowsers, Ellen!!! What a fun project! Congrats on the One Year! I love your store.