Life Is Short.....Eat Desert First

     Ooops! I meant dessert.  If I change the title now some of the links won't work, so I'll have to leave my spelling mistake as it is, sorry. 

     Welcome to the Monday project for Creative Expressions. This time it's a cup cake box, you could also make a matching card if you wish.
      I have used two single stamps for this project, one is a background stamp called Sketched Utensils and the other is called Life Is Short.
     I don't often work with pink but I thought I would use it this time and put it with brown, it made me think of chocolate cake with pink icing.
     The brown card is Foundations Chestnut, it's a good quality smooth card that is a dream to work with, firm but folds well.
   

      I made a mock up in plain thin white card to begin with, just to make sure I had got it right, no point in wasting the good stuff. It also makes it easier to see the measurements.
     On the longest side measure and mark at 2.5, 5.5, 8.0 and 11.0 inches, both top and bottom and score. On the shortest side mark and score at 3.0 and 6.5 inches.
     On the long sides cut along fold lines from outer edge to the first score line. Trim small 0.5 inch area to form a tab as per the photo.

   Using the small plain oval from the Vienna die set by Sue Wilson cut the two handle holes. Round off all the corners on the top flaps and handles.
   Use the small oval again but this time inside the ornate die that is the next size up, I have used masking tape to hold them in place when cutting. Cut the hole in the front panel and back it with acetate. This is much easier if you have a machine that will cut A4, if not then you can still do it but you need to be careful not to cut through both layers of the box when it is folded. (Voice of experience on that one!)

     Cut four pink panel 1/4 inch smaller than the panel to be covered and round off the corners.
     Stamp the two narrower panels with the background stamp, Sketched Utensils, in Archival Coffee.
     On one of the wider panels stamp with Archival Coffee using Life Is Short and clear emboss it.
     On the remaining panel use the larger plain oval die from the same set to cut a window in the centre that will line up with the ornate window on the box.

     When all ink is dry use Distress Ink Spun Sugar to colour around the edges of the pink panels.

     Stick the panels on to the box before assembly, it is so much easier.
     Glue the tab on the side first, making sure the box is sitting square and not twisted. Fold in the two smaller base flaps, followed by the larger ones and glue.

     Once all panels are in place use Cosmic Shimmer PVA Dusty Pink to place small rivet like dots in the corners. Leave to dry, around half an hour in a warm room.
     Using some more of the pink card you can cut extra embellishments and a tag to hang from the handle.
     The tag is also distressed but with Brushed Corduroy and as yet has no greeting on it, this will come later when I know who will be receiving it. The tag is tied on with a small length of Pastel Pink Bakers Twine.

     Materials used
Life Is Short single stamp
Sketched Utensils single stamp
Archival Ink Coffee
Cosmic Shimmer Embossing Powder Clear
CS Pearl PVA Dusty Pink
CS PVA Dries Clear
Sue Wilson Die Set Austrian Collection - Vienna
Foundations Card Chestnut Brown
Pastel Bakers Twine
Distress Inks Spun Sugar / Brushed Corduroy

Pink Card
Acetate.

I would like to enter this box in the following challenges:

That's Crafty - Anything Goes
The Stamping Boutique - Anything But A Card
Baffies Creative Shop - Gift Packaging
Nutcrafters - Something To Do With Gifts