That long paragraph is my excuse for blogging less regularly than I usually do. I hope you’ll forgive me!

Today’s post is a belated one for Justine, who requested a tutorial for the Top Note die box that I made a few weeks ago. Sorry for the delay! I hope you (and everyone else) find this useful.

Start out with a 9″x6″ sheet of paper. Score one inch in on each side. Then, along the 9″ side, score at 4″ and 5″. Cut the folds 1″ to the score line along the middle score line and on one side.

Next, cut away the two scored sides of the opposite box end. This portion will be the box lid.

Fold the box into shape, tuck the little tabs that you sniped along the inside, and adhere with sticky strip. For my box, I also rounded the edges of the box lid to finish it off.

You can use whatever you like to keep the box closed. Here, I used a magnet that I purchased online. You can use a bit of Velcro too, which is easy to find in craft stores.

Now, cut four Top Note die shapes using the Sizzix. Two of the shapes should be with normal card stock because it’s thicker and two should be cut with patterned paper, if you want to decorate the outside of your box. The two layers will give the cover a little more strength. Then, adhere these covers to the top and bottom of the box that you made.

You can stop here if you like, but if you want to create dividers for the box, those can be easily made. To divide the box in half, cut a 3″x6″ sheet of paper. Score and fold at 2″, 3″ ,and 4″. Insert into your box.

Here’s the box divided into two sections. You can adhere sticky strip to the divider to keep the center from puckering up.

Now, for the other dividers. Cut two sheets of 2″x5″ paper and score at 1.5″, 2.5″, and 3.5″. Fold and insert into your box.

Voila! Finished box.

Hubs and I went house hunting last weekend. I’m happy to report we found an agent we like. She’s not at all the sales-y, schmoozy type, thank goodness. She’s very forthright and honest. Now, Hubs and I are just waiting to find a place that we like for a price that we like.

Oh, before I forget, there are only six days left for Sale-A-Bration! Then, the free products will retire, never to be seen again. I’ll also share a project with you that I made a while ago. I used the Sizzix Scalloped Circle die to cut the sides of the box. Then, I cut and scored a box to fit inside to hold a set of four cards. The cards are 3″x3″ in size. Enjoy!

Yesterday, I made a Pizza Margherita, which is a pizza crust with a light brushing of tomato sauce, topped with basil and slices of mozzarella di bufala (the round mozzarella cheese stored in brine). I made an easy pizza crust recipe from scratch that called for half whole wheat and half all purpose white flour. It gave the pie a nutty, wheaty texture, definitely different than a typical pizza (recipe here). Also, I noticed that after only two thin slices, I was very full.

Speaking of dinner, the Hubs and I went over to our lovely friends’ flat for dinner on Monday. We brought over a small housewarming gift: two small bottles of white and black truffle oil. Hubs and I have a bottle of white truffle oil at home that we got as a housewarming gift last year (thanks Jen & Jo!). I loved it so much, I wanted to pay it forward. White truffle oil is incredibly delicious when drizzled over pizza or pasta. Mmm. I’m drooling just thinking about it.

Of course, a gift is not a Kelly gift without proper presentation. I made a bag to carry the little bottles. The stamp set, ribbon, and polka dot paper are all items I earned from the current Sale-A-Bration promotion.

Project Recipe (all supplies SU unless noted): Yummy stamp set (Sale-A-Bration product), card stock in bashful blue, whisper white ribbon, markers in certainly celery, bashful blue, pretty in pink, designer paper in Delicate Dots (Sale-A-Bration product), ribbon in so saffron (Sale-A-Bration product), jumbo eyelets (set with a crop-o-dile), stampin’ dimensionals

But, enough about Facebook, let’s talk crafts.

Since Sale-A-Bration is ending in a few weeks (3/31), I thought I’d post some cute projects I made using some of the free stuff I got. On Sunday, I made a candy box using the Sizzix Top Note die and the Delicate Dots designer paper (the paper is one of the Sale-A-Bration products). I cut out the top and bottom covers using the Top Note die, then made a 3.5″ x 3″ box and taped the two covers on. The stamp set is called Trendy Trees and it’s in the current catty. I like this box because it can be used to hold all kinds of cute trinkets, from candy to jewelry. Fun!

Project Recipe (all supplies SU unless noted): Trendy Trees stamp set, card stock in sahara sand, bashful blue, whisper white ribbon, 1 3/4 circle punch, 1 1/2 circle punch (EK Success), ink in certainly celery, sahara sand, designer paper in Delicate Dots (Sale-A-Bration product), Top Note Sizzix die, stampin’ dimensionals

Work has been kicking my behind this week, so I just have a quick share for you today. It’s a Ghiradelli chocolate wrapped in a pillow box. The chocolate is of the XL variety, larger than the typical Ghiradelli squares, so it fits perfectly into the box. I’ll post the pillow box template next week along with another project. I love pillow boxes! They are so useful and they make even the simplist gifts look good. To spruce a pillow box up, punch a window in it using a shaped punch, like a heart, square, or other fun shape. If the box is going to be filled with small candies, like jelly beans, tape a clear window over the holes using a small piece of a transparency sheet.

Hope you like it!

Project Recipe (all supplies SU unless noted): En Francais background stamp, Dreams du Jour stamp set, card stock in mellow moss, very vanilla, pink pirouette, ink in mellow moss, close to cocoa, silver elastic cord (retired from Holiday mini catalog), heart to herat punch, colored pencils, stampin’ dimensionals

Fridays are my happy days. One day when I’m not working a nine-to-five staring at spreadsheets, perhaps every day will be my happy day. For now, I look forward to Fridays.

This weekend, I have a bunch of activities to look forward to, including a meet up with some of my favorite girlfriends, a Stampin’ Up team meeting at my upline’s house, and a photo shoot with my brother and his fiance. I get to play photographer on Saturday–yay! I’m excited to practice since our last shoot together was a lot of fun.

I also finally got a chance to upload the gable box template that I promised.  Check one off of the list of a gazillion things to blog about!

Click here to download the gable box template

Project Recipe (all supplies SU unless noted): Goody Goody Gumdrops stamp set (hostess set), twill background stamp (retired), card stock in kraft, whisper white, riding hood red, ink in riding hood red, sahara sand, designer paper in pink pirouette, kiwi kiss ribbon, Sizzix Flower Layers die, Sizzix Decorative Corners 2 die (from Michael’s), stampin’ dimensionals, button by Making Memories

Last but not least, Upturned Barbie nominated me for an award, so it’s my turn to spread the love!

The Rules:

1. Choose a minimum of 5 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design.
2. Show the 5 winners names and links on your blog, and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with “Honest Scrap.” Well, there’s no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon.
3. List at least 10 honest things about yourself.

Ten Honest Things About Me

1. I’ve been blogging for nearly ten years now. Whoa! I’ve had a Xanga account since 2001 and Blogspot for even longer.
2. I can eat sushi every day. I looove fresh, raw fish. Yum-O.
3. I used to be a very, very different person. I’ve changed unbelievably over the last eight years and I credit it all to God’s saving grace.
4. Hubs is four years younger than me. I never thought I’d marry a younger guy, but then again, I act like I’m ten, so it’s a good match.
5. I’m planning on going back to school in the near future. But, I can’t decide exactly what I want to do. Print design? Visual Communications? Web design? Photography? So many choices!
6. I’m the most indecisive person I know (see #5 above). I feel way more comfortable before I make a decision than after. Once I make a decision, I feel trapped and I want to change my mind. Hubs hates this about me.
7. I wish I was an extrovert! I’m a big introvert. Since almost everything in life involves networking and relationships, I think life is much easier for extroverts.
8. I love being behind a camera. I like observing events, people, interactions rather than participating, so behind a lens is the perfect place for me.
9. I like to scare my husband. I turn out all the lights and wait for him to come home after work, and yell “Boo!” when he walks through the door. It’s pretty hilarious, although Hubs doesn’t think so.
10. I lack self confidence. I don’t know why? I think I’m scared of failure. For example, I want to switch careers into something design related, but I’m scared that I’ll either make a wrong choice or fail at it. Failure isn’t that bad. Why am I so scared of it?

I nominate: Marying the Navy, Stampin Treats, Good Finking, Wai Sze Designs, and Anita!

With 75 degree weather up here in NorCal, it feels like winter has been cut short and spring has arrived already. It was H-O-T today; so hot, the air conditioning was on in our office. I’ll admit, I’m a bit worried, especially with California’s drought situation going on. We’re overdue for a good rainy season. Also, my girlfriends and I are going snowboarding in a few weeks. How will we snowboard without the snow?

In any case, I have a spring project to share today. It’s a cute little paper vase with a flower! I wanted to fill the pot with with green jellybeans to resemble grass, but alas, I had none on hand. Lined with some sweet green yummies, wouldn’t this make an adorable wedding or bridal shower favor?

I had some time, so I created a PDF template of the flower pot box for anyone who wants to make this project. The felt flower was cut from a Big Shot die called Flower Layers and it’s adhered onto a cookie stick from Michaels using glue dots.

Enjoy!

Click here to download the paper flower pot template

Project Recipe (all supplies SU unless noted): A Little Somethin’ stamp set (new hostess stamp set in the upcoming spring/summer catalog), Belle Toile background stamp, card stock in riding hood red, baja breeze, kiwi kiss, & whisper white, ink in riding hood red, baja breeze, scallop edge punch, hemp twine, riding hood red ribbon, Flower Layers Big Shot die, paper crimper, glue dots, felt from Beverly’s Fabrics & Crafts, yellow brad from Making Memories

Valentine’s Day is almost here, and although Hubs and I don’t celebrate, I still like making little goodies to hand out to my friends and coworkers. Over the weekend, I made some adorable mini gable boxes, sized approximately 3.5″ x 3″ x 1.75″. These are perfect for holding a stash of Hershey Kisses or the like. Cute! I didn’t have time to upload the box template onto my blog, but hopefully I’ll get around to it this week.

I have a bunch of posts in queue at the moment, most have been suggested via reader comments at one point or another. I’ve been meaning to post tutorials on adhesives, watercolor techniques, resources for blog design, and much, much more. So many things to write about, so little time. I just want to say that I keep a running list of post ideas from your comments and I take each of your suggestions to heart.

Speaking of blogs, I realize that I have not subscribed to many of your blogs in my Google reader yet. Dear readers, what are your blogs? Leave me a comment… I’d love to follow your lives and stay connected!

Project Recipe (all supplies SU unless noted): Love You Much stamp set, card stock in riding hood red, pink pirouette, whisper white, ink in riding hood red, designer paper in pink pirouette, scallop edge punch, stampin’ dimensionals, pink pirouette ribbon

I’m finally feeling just the slightest bit better from my cold. I never used to get sick, until I got married. Now, Hubs contaminates me with a boatload of germs. I’ve been sick three times this year already! I guess that’s why the wedding vows say, “in sickness and in health”

Today, I’m just sharing a quick project. I made a paper clutch a while ago, and I made another one in a different color palette. I used my handy dandy Scor-Pal once again. I love that tool. I use it for every single card I make, even if only to score the center. I’ve also made numerous boxes and bags with it. I highly recommend it to any avid paper crafter!

Have a lovely, craft-filled weekend, everyone!

Recipe: PTI patterned paper, ribbon from PTI and Michaels dollar bin, card stock flower made from PTI paper and K&Co pearl brad, Scor-Pal use to score fold lines, glue dots to adhere ribbon onto front

This weekend, I experimented with making handmade stationery sets from scratch and I really like what I came up with. I created a stationery box that holds a set of four cards and envelopes. Best of all, the raw materials cost less than $3 in paper and ribbon (not counting the ink and the stamps I already own). Someone could easily make the same project with leftover ribbon and a few sheets of patterned paper that’s on hand.

Above is a picture of the full stationery kit.

The box is made out of one sheet of 12×12 textured card stock, plus a decorative strip on the flap. In the near future, I will measure the dimensions of the box and make the pattern to post on my blog (although I can’t promise when!).

And here’s a close up. I like the bright, festive hues. These are SU’s current In Colors.

Above is the card box all closed up. There’s a tiny piece of Velcro under the scalloped circle tag that keeps the box closed. I also used two big eyelets to string the ribbon through as a purse handle.

Here are the four cards in the set.

Project Recipe (all products Stampin’ Up unless otherwise noted): Season of Joy (110384), Deer Friends (hostess set), and Cute & Curly (112966) stamp sets, card stock and ink in riding hood red, baja breeze, kiwi kiss, and whisper white, designer paper in ski slope, striped ribbon in riding hood red, double stitched ribbon in baja breeze, 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon in old olive, punches in scalloped circle (109043), 1 1/2″ circle (EK Success), 1 3/8″ circle (104401), curly label punch (112966), threading water edge punch (Fiskars), stampin’ dimensionals, Heidi Swapp clear flower

So, what do you think? Would you be happy to get a similar set as a gift? I’m planning to create several of these stationery sets, non holiday themed, so you’ll surely see a few more on this blog.