When giving a gift it is always a ton of fun to put the gift in a cute container. The versatility of container dies is what makes them so fun to use! With Halloween right around the corner I wanted to share how easy it is to make projects specific to a particular holiday using container dies. The one die that I used that is holiday specific is the coffin. I can't imagine using it for any other holiday besides Halloween and Mardi Gras, but I just couldn't resist this adorable little container for today's post - LOL!
The Berry Container was easily turned into a Trick or Treat bucket and I just had to make it neon orange - Halloween and Neon fit together perfectly, so what better time to pull out those neon ink pads you have purchased and put them to good use!
Place a strip of 4 1/2" Be Creative Sookwang tape down the length of an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of Solar White cardstock. Remove the tape backing and burnish the warm highlights glitter in place (follow these instructions if you are unfamiliar with this technique.) To save your neon ink pad from becoming a glitter magnet, pounce it on a non-stick craft sheet and use an ink blending tool to pick up the ink and spread it on the burnished velvet glitter paper surface. Add neon ink to the opposite side of the cardstock as well if you would like the interior of your bucket to be neon orange. I thought about stamping a fun image on the interior, but felt that with all the different projects I would be creating it would end up too busy for the final look. I do think that it would be magnificent though to have a funky interior on this sweet basket!
Allow the ink to fully dry or lightly heat set the ink before proceeding if you do not want neon orange ink on everything you touch. You will need to create and die cut two pieces to create this basket. I find that it is always easier to apply the tape, glitter and ink before die cutting to achieve a more consistent look.
To adhere the glittered pieces together I found that Be Creative Sookwang tape worked best.
I would like to warn you that if you are as impatient as I was you will have orange fingers and tools after all this neon inking. If you like clean fingers make certain to allow the ink to fully dry or perhaps you might just want to use the new Tangerine Dry Stickles to achieve a similar look. The scale of the glitter is not quite as fine and velvety as the Microfine Glitter Ritz and the orange is not quite as "zippy", but it still works nicely when doing this burnished technique.
Add a black cardstock handle using two black brads to secure and a cute little grinning face to complete the look!
Another idea I have wanted to share is how fun and easy it is to add detail to your little Inchie Squares using the low profile dies.
Position the die atop an Inchie and run it through your die cut machine using the same sandwich as you use for cutting with the low profile dies. The fit as it runs through is definitely a little tighter then when cutting cardstock, but I have not had any problems at all when using my Big Shot and/or Vagaond. Rather than cutting all the way through the material it will simply leave a fantastic impression!
To add greater depth layer three inchies. Be Creative Sookwang tape is applied between each layer to hold them together firmly. Then wrap the stack with another piece of Be Creative Sookwang tape. The beauty of this tape is that it comes in multiple widths. I use them all, but if you want flexibility and only one product in your drawers you can use the sheets and cut them to the size you need.
Remove the backing and apply warm highlights glitter burnishing it in to the tape with your fingertip. Pounce Neon Purple ink on a non-stick craft sheet and run the edges of the Inchie through the ink to add color. Be careful to set the Inchie aside to dry or your ghost just might end up looking like he has been eating grape jelly (hmmm - guess how I know that. Yes, patience is a virtue ;-D)
To add additional character stamp the Impression Obsession spider web on the coffin lid using Distress Embossing ink and emboss with White Embossing powder.
I couldn't resist adding this silly little skeleton to the interior of the coffin for a picture - LOL!
The last container I am sharing with you today is one that Krystie used in this post. I adore how she used the milk carton to create a little Nautical themed gift bag. I LOVE tools that can be used for a wide variety of occasions and many of these little containers have that versatility!
To create a project that was a little different and yet coordinated with the previous items I opted to create cut outs in the container using the Swooping Bats. I must admit that I am having a blast with the wide variety of dies we now carry - yes, I've "died" and gone to heaven with some of these - bwah, ha, ha!
First cut out the container.
I typically snap my dies apart and use a wire cutter to remove the little "tangs" that hold the dies together. I then file down the nubbins with my Basic Grey Precision file. This allows me to position my dies randomly in the exact location I want the cut out. I ran my project through the Vagabond the first time with the dies positioned as shown above. I then removed these dies and repositioned only the small bat, and once again ran it through my die cut machine.
To create the line of trees mask the lower edge of the container using Eclipse tape. Stamp the tree line using Distress Embossing ink and emboss with white embossing powder. After heat setting the white embossing powder use an ink blending tool with some Neon Purple ink to randomly add some depth and color to the base of the trees. Heat set again to embed the ink in the white embossing powder.
Add a strip of the neon orange glitter paper at the bottom and a square behind the cut out moon. Add a square of Amethyst Shimmer Sheetz to the interior of the milk carton behind the bats to make them pop!
Can you imagine the berry basket turned into fall themed baskets filled with Thanksgiving treats? or a series of little Advent calendar or Hannukah themed cartons lined up on the fireplace mantel? Select little containers that can serve a multitude of purposes and they may become some of your favorite paper crafting tools!
