To be or not to be……. My Valentine? by Chris W

Yes dear friends, the time approaches once more and whether you’re jumping up and down or groaning there is little chance of us crafters forgetting it. Hopefully you’re getting to appreciate that as far as I’m concerned a die is for life, not just for Christmas, lol. Sizzix have just brought out this wonderful heart box die and even if you don’t have a Valentine you can still love this die!

I couldn’t wait to prize the parcel from my postie’s clutches and rushed inside to drool. You can tell how much I love this die because I’ve made 3 boxes already. The first two boxes are in altered art style but the third is sooooo simple it literally took minutes to create and even the most daunted newbie could manage this easily! Whether you’re making the box as a Valentine pressie, for Mother’s day or you just want a gift box to show your love of one of your nearest and dearest this box is sure to please so grab it whilst you can!

BEFORE you start there are a few tips I can offer you; Firstly I’d advise making your first from thick card and be happy to throw it away if it doesn’t look quite right. The placing of the elements that comprise the box sides is a little tricky the first time around particularly if, like me, your hands aren’t the most dextrous. I made boxes 1 and 2 from greyboard and had no problems but the third I made from thick card and, placing the bottom sides to the absolute edge (as I had the previous two) I came unstuck because when the lid was made up it didn’t entirely cover the base. The solution was simple and that was to inset it a little so the lid covered it completely.

The second tip is to decide before you start how you’re going to decorate your box. If you’re going to paint it then it’s probably best done after it’s been made up but if you want to cover it in paper or you want to stamp, stencil, mask or stain it then it is far easier to do this BEFORE making it up.

Tip number three is to decide whether you want to cover the side with a paper strip. This will probably be more easily understood once you’ve made your first box. I didn’t add a strip to box 1 but I did to boxes 2 & 3.

Whatever you decide to do I’m sure you won’t be disappointed with this lovely die.

Full Instructions for creating all three boxes can be found here:

Box 1 – Harmony

This altered art box can be used for Valentine’s Day or for any other day and either gender. The attraction of altered art is that it is ageless, it would be great for Grandma equally as well as appealing to your teenage daughter.

If it’s not for Valentine’s Day a simple change of ribbon can make this more masculine in a heartbeat!

Level of difficulty:     Intermediate

Materials: 
2 sheets of thin greyboard 30cm x 15cm (12” x 6”)
Red or deep pink acrylic paint (I used pearlised)
Black acrylic paint
Tim Holtz Rock candy clear crackle medium
Tim Holtz ‘Composer’ tissue wrap – TH92962
Scrap of thin black card (for music stave)
A sheet (or large scraps) of thin silver craft metal
2 miniature red roses (or alternatives)
1 miniature bow
12 small silver coloured beads
Small length of fine silver chain (about 10cm)
A couple of small silver charms (I used a heart and key)
A small vintage metal heart embellishment (or equivalent)
2 silver jump rings
Craft gems for decorating the crown
Jewellery making looped head pin
40cm length of decorative ribbon not more than 2cm wide
Claudine Hellmuth Studio matte glue
Double sided sticky tape

Tools:
Sizzix Big Shot die cutting machine
Sizzix Scoreboards XL Heart box die – 658057
Sizzix XL cutting plates (pair)
Tim Holtz Movers & shapers mini cage and bird dies –657207
Tim Holtz Movers & shapers crown die – 657210
Sizzix Movers & shapers base tray - 657607
Music stave die -  you can use the Sizzlits Sheet music’ decorative strip die – 657343 or any equivalent
Cutting mat
Inking sheet
Thick watercolour paint brush
Ten Second Studio decorative metal embossing wheel or a thin embossing tool
Scissors
Scalpel or craft knife
Japanese screw punch or paper piercer
A dry rag

Box 2 – I Love You Mum

A shabby chic style box designed for a birthday as much as for Valentine’s Day. A very simple style with the most time consuming part being the flowers made from scalloped circles.

The addition of some off-white ‘bobble’ ribbon provides the finishing touch to this stylish box.

Level of difficulty:     Intermediate

Materials:
2 sheets of thin greyboard 30cm x 15cm (12” x 6”)
1 sheet 12” x 12” thin patterned card
1 strip 30cm x 2.5cm thin patterned (same or coordinating, your choice)
Scraps of thin red plain card (for flowers and tag heart)
A sheet (or large scraps) of thin gold craft metal
Tim Holtz Distress ink pad – Vintage photo
Black archival ink pad
Metallic gold paint or gold leafing pen
Ranger gold stickles glue (or equivalent)
2 large craft gems (for flowers)
2 15cm lengths of gold craft wire (for flowers)
40cm length of decorative bobble ribbon not more than 1.25cm wide
A very small tag with hole
15cm length of baker’s twine
Claudine Hellmuth Studio matte glue
Double sided sticky tape
Foam pad

Tools:
Sizzix Big Shot die cutting machine
Sizzix Scoreboards XL Heart box die – 658057
Sizzix XL cutting plates (pair)
Tim Holtz Movers & shapers mini flourish – 657205
Tim Holtz Movers & shapers scroll heart die – 658052
Sizzix Movers & shapers base tray - 657007
Scalloped circle punch or die (approx’ 7.5cm/3” diameter)
Small heart punch
Text stamp (any large enough to cover scalloped circles)
Tim Holtz blending tool with sponges for the distress inks
Cutting mat
Inking sheet
Thick watercolour paint brush
Ten Second Studio decorative metal embossing wheel or a thin embossing tool
Scissors
Scalpel or craft knife

Box 3 – Simply Love

This box shows you just how easy it can be to make – the whole process, beginning to end, took about 25 minutes. I used PanPastels (but you can use distress ink just as well) to demonstrate how even the most inexperienced crafter could create this in a jiffy.

I didn’t use ribbon but I have used a decorative strip of paper to cover the sides. You can see how easy it is to vary your options. Hopefully I’ve demonstrated what a brilliant investment this die is, you will reach for it time and time again!

Level of difficulty: Easy

Materials:
2 sheets of thick white card 30cm x 15cm (12” x 6”)
1 strip 30cm x 2.5cm thin white card
4 pastel PanPastels (or distress inks) of your choice
Versamark clear embossing pad (or equivalent)
(A coloured archival ink pad if you’re using distress inks rather than PanPastels)
Claudine Hellmuth Studio matte glue
Double sided sticky tape

Tools:

Sizzix Big Shot die cutting machine
Sizzix Scoreboards XL Heart box die – 658057
Sizzix XL cutting plates (pair)
Any small heart stamp
Sponge applicators for the PanPastels OR
Tim Holtz blending tool and sponges for distress inks
Cutting mat
Inking sheet
Scissors
Scalpel or craft knife