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April 20, 2010

An Earth Day Project


Hi everyone! Let me introduce myself really quickly. My name is Elizabeth and I am a recent college graduate. I was introduced to the Cricut world about a year and a half ago and I have never looked back! I have a big Expression and a Gypsy as of Christmas of last year. My style is pretty simple, but I love it! I love to make cards and gifts, but my favorite thing is still scrapbooking. I hope you enjoy this project!

So, let me start off by saying I am a little nervous to be here, but am also excited to share my project with everyone. I have a small blog that I mainly started for keeping an archive of past projects for personal use, so this is my first time sharing with a large audience.

I had the tree box on page 127. I am sad to admit that although I have owned this cartridge for over 3 months, I had not used it yet!!! I hadn't even linked it to my Gypsy! Ok, please tell me at least a couple of you have some cartridge sitting somewhere on a dusty shelf that hasn't been touched in forever... it might help me get over my guilt...

I will admit that I am very glad this was not a video! Because it did not work out at all how I planned it. At first, I thought this was a box like one you would open. After I assembled a test cut I realized that it is more like a 3-d object, but you will see how I worked around that so I could still put some goodies inside.

Here is the tree box after all the scoring. I used my Scor-Pal to make the scoring a little easier. It worked really nicely to line up each score mark. I was surprised by how many flaps this box has, but this was the first box I have made.


This is the box after I inked up the edges. I was going for a distressed, recycled look to fit the Earth Day theme. Keep an eye out for more recycling later on in the post.




Then I had a brilliant recycling idea! I asked my fiance if he had any old papers from college that he didn't need anymore. He gave me a funny look, but handed me some papers.... he is used to not asking why I need strange things in the craft room anymore. :)



Then I got out my crimper that I bought at Michael's with a 50% coupon (the only way to shop really) :) and started crimping all the strips. After I crimped them, I squished them and shaped them until they had the look I was going for. Then I filled the box using the window as my opening until it looked nicely full, while still having room for other goodies.



Okay, let me address the green triangle I added as a layer. This was a big issue as I was working on the project. I was originally going to use this paper for the entire box, but then I didn't think it felt stable enough. So then I had the brilliant idea to use the Gypsy to create a layer! After all that's what the Gypsy is supposed to do! Unfortunately, I only own one cartridge with a triangle. No problem, right? Big problem. The cartridge is George and I am one of those unlucky people who still have not been able to link George to my Gypsy. Ugh. So I did something kind of crazy. I hand cut all the triangles. Woah. I was worried that I had forgotten how scissors worked that way after using the Cricut and my Gypsy exclusively. Don't worry I guess it's like riding a bike. :) I just traced the box and then cut slightly smaller so it would layer. In order to cut out the window, I traced the piece that had cut from the window originally and traced that. Then I cut that out and prayed that it would work as I had used up all of the one sheet of patterned paper I had bought. Note to self: Always buy at least two sheets. Anything less is tempting fate. The next picture shows the back of the box. This triangle was much easier. :)



I wanted to include a small packet of seeds as an Earth Day gift in the box. Then I came to another roadblock. The seed packet was way too big! No problem, I told myself as I took calming breaths. ;) I just folded it in half and glued it together with my ATG. That ATG is seriously a life saver! Here is a picture of the box with the packet of seeds inside.



Then I stamped a piece of cream cardstock with this awesome clear stamp I found at Hobby Lobby. Recently our local Hobby Lobby expanded by 8000 square feet!! It is like Christmas every time I stop in. I am constantly finding products they didn't stock before. The best part is they mix them in with the old merchandise so it feels like a treasure hunt! Oh, the simple pleasures in life. :) Anyways... I found a spring themed clear stamp set that had this adorable sentiment. I cut around the edge and distressed it with my Tim Holtz Paper Distresser. I couldn't decide where to adhere it down. Then I had an idea! I would tuck it inside the window and make it a little card or gift tag.



Here is a picture of the back of the card. I just wrote a small note on there and signed it. Here is another place where things did not go as planned. The pen I grabbed was slow to start and the 'H' on "Happy" just did not look right. I decided to widen it out and stylize the letters a little. Again, I am so thankful this was all not on video! I don't know how everyone does it!



Thank you so much for taking the time to read this long post! I hope you enjoy my project! I actually had a lot of fun making it once I got over the nerves. :) If you would like, feel free to check out my blog ScrapSweet Designs Again, thank you so much for looking and have a great day!




17 comments:

Laura said...

Elizabeth this is such a great box... i love it... oh and by the way i have a couple of carts that need dusted off... i may have to do that in the next couple of days(they aren't linked to my gypsy either). Laura

Dakota Bear said...

Elizabeth I loved reading your commentary as you were doing the project. It is always amazing how we come up with other ideas when the original don't work out. It was a very clever way you made and decorated the tree.

Kelly said...

Fabulous project. I love the idea of giving away seeds in that little tree. You could put tree seeds in there for plant a tree day also. Oooo the ideas are endless. Love, love it
Kelly;;)

Moxy77 said...

Elizabeth, You did a lovely job on this project. Improvising is a wonderful attribute. I love the rustic, earthy look of this box. The style of it is perfect for earth day. Thanks for this project. Melissa

papillon digital design said...

What a brilliant idea. This was a difficult box and I love what you did with it =D>

Deanna Mulder said...

Great box Elizabeth. I like what you did with it and relating it to Earth day. What a great idea.

Sherri said...

What a great idea. I have had TBBM for about 4 months and I haven't used it yet either but it is linked to my Gypsy. Just think of the Earth Day projects you can make with this Tree Box and the Give a Hoot cartridge. It is nice to know that I'm not the only one who has to quickly think of a fix when something doesn't go as planned.

Thanks for sharing.

Larelyn said...

Thanks for a great idea! I love it when you're able to create as you go (and you share it with us). Love the crimped recycled paper. I keep my shredder and crimper close at hand in my scrap room. The inking completed the look. Great job!

SharonS said...

Super cute, Elizabeth! I love your handwriting too ;;)

pcrusberg said...

What a great project! I love it! Thanks, Pam

Sheila aka SassyLady said...

Great box! I too, hadn't used TBBM until my project for Tuesday Treats. Isn't it wonderful how these blogs teach us to stretch and improve our skillls. Look at that, you made a very difficult box and it is lovely!

Marty said...

Great box I love the look you achieved thanks for all the details I enjoyed reading your post.

cissi said...

Love the box Elizabeth, and the way you incorporated it with earth day, great job!!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post hope to see more of your creations here on Tuesday Treats :)

flowerdisco said...

omg...i can't believe we had almost the same seeds idea. i just made a project and had seed packets and the other birdfood and one of the projects was earthy kind too...you gotta come and see it.

your tree is super and i have to say a great idea too :)

Sharon said...

I love how your box turned out! Like it was meant to be that way!! :)

IvyH said...

Love it! I too often get in the middle of a project and have to adapt...but many times it turns out better than expected. Just an fyi, since you have a Gypsy, you do indeed have a triangle image...it's on Gypsy Wanderings (I think under the Decor Tag feature key). I don't own George yet myself, but I've found that nearly every basic shape you could need is on GW, you just have to really search for it sometimes, LOL!

217 Creations said...

Just so clever!!!! I left you some love at your blog too!!!! Congrats on your debut!