More Inspiration for Challenge #6 with Jo

 Hi there, Squashettes, I hope that you are all safe and well out there in Blogland!

It's Jo here with more inspiration for Challenge #6 where we're asking you to Box Clever and make an embossed box or upcycle an existing box with the help of an embossing folder or two!

We have had some wonderful entries in the gallery, but I'm sure there are still some of you who'd like to join the fun but haven't yet taken the plunge. If you're still seeking inspiration for this theme you need look no further than our fabulous Empress of Squash, Robyn, who has created some beautiful additional makes for this challenge. 

Upcycled boxes...

Easter boxes...

Thank you so much, Robyn, you really have done us proud!

I'm gonna come clean and admit that I've found this challenge to be, well, quite a challenge! I tried to make boxes using templates from the internet but none of them looked like something I'd want to share. My attempts at milk carton boxes were especially disappointing and quickly found their way into the wastepaper basket!

Fortunately, I eventually came across the instructions for a sweet little triangular box.

I worked between the instructions I found at the Scorpal site from Diane and then over at Deb's Split Coast site. I've really struggled to find the right weight of cardstock/DP to use for boxes and hit upon this nice, light card as the perfect solution. Unfortunately, I have no idea where the card came from but it's thicker than DP and held the creases well. I added a little square of embossing, which looks so cute!

These will make perfect little Easter boxes to be filled with little chocolate eggs.

And finally, because I love making them soooo much, here's another pillow box!

I finished this one by adding a Stampin' Up! bunny. Fun, fun, fun!

We'll be BOXING CLEVER until March 31st, so you still have plenty of time to play along.

Take care, keep safe and keep crafting!

Challenge #6 Inspiration

Hello Squashettes.  Happy St Patrick's Day.   

Gail here with a little more inspiration for the current Floral Embossing folder and make/repurpose a box challenge.   I'm a bit later than planned, but it was a lovely sunny day today so I was out sniffing the flowers.  I was also in a little quandry about which type of box to make and whether to go green for St Paddy's Day, or yellow for Easter.   In the end I decided to use a very cute Gummiapan Mini Milk Carton die and make one in each colour!!!!

I cut the die twice from green diamond and twice from yellow card, embossed the pieces with Sizzix Flowers #9 embossing folder and highlighted the embossing with green and yellow archival ink.  Fold and glue the pieces together, a couple of brads and a bit of ribbon and done!!

 

Aren't they cute!!!

Grab you flowery folder and show us your boxes for a chance to win a prize from the
Let's Squash It! Prize Vault.

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Let's Squash It! Challenge #6 - Boxing Clever with Floral Embossing

Welcome, welcome, welcome to the sixth challenge here at 

Let's Squash It! 

Let's Squash It! is The Embossing Folder Challenge.  We are gonna help you explore the world of the not so humble embossing folder and encourage you to dig 'em out, knock the dust off and find old, new and fun ways to make your projects pop. 

We have an awesome team to keep you entertained and awesome challenge themes to stretch your creativity and get you using all those long forgotten and neglected embossing folders. 

For those of you who are just tuning in you can check the previous posts for the story behind the genesis of the challenge and the technique posts for awesome tips and techniques to help you make the most of your supplies and folders.

Challenges start on the 10th of the month and run to the last day at 23.59 GMT.  We will be picking top picks and a winner, who will have a chance to be our guest designer for a future challenge.  There is a little prize on offer for a randomly selected winner and these will all be announced on the 5th of next month.   

So, Challenge #6

And this month's theme is

Use a Floral Embossing Folder AND Make/Repurpose a Box

Please use a FLORAL embossing folder or two or three and also make a BOX. You can re-use a box from your stash or make one from scratch and decorate, including at least one Floral embossing folder.  Please make sure you include both parts of the challenge on your card and also check da roolz to ensure your entry will be eligible for the random prize draw!

We are very pleased to have our Let's Squash It!! Empress joining us as our guest designer this month.  Please welcome Robyn

Big Hello Squashettes – Robyn here from sunny Queensland, Australia and my blog Waterlily Cards by Robyn. I’m thrilled to be Guest Designer this month at Let’s Squash It!  And thanks to Gail and Jo, I’m falling back in love with my embossing folders. I’m an addicted card maker which at the moment is sharing my time with my re-love of crochet and also squeezing in time for my garden. If you also have a large selection of neglected embossing folders  - you might like to join in the fun at Let’s Squash It!  - and be inspired to use them again…  Hope to see your lovely creations this month, Cheers

And here is Robyn's gorgeous floral box

 

Robyn's box uses
Embossing folder - Floral Flutter
(Simply Cards Magazine Freebie)

 

And here's some inspiration from the team......

 

 

Gail's lantern box uses 

Sizzix Embossing Folder - Alpine Flowers

  

Jo's posse of pillowboxes uses 

Darice - Bold Daisy

Craft Too - Flower Folders

 

 

Please do check da roolz to make sure you will be in the running for da prizes.  

This months randomly selected winner will be able to choose a prize from the

Let's Squash It! Prize Vault

 

Now it your turn!

Grab your Floral embossing folders and join the fun.

We are looking forward to seeing your boxes.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Technique Time with Jo - March 2021

 

It's Jo here (the one with the sheep on her shirt), and I'm delighted to be back with a few tips and hints ahead of our next Challenge. 

I thought I'd share a few thoughts about die cutting and embossing.

I always try to remember to die cut FIRST and then emboss, but I've got to be honest it doesn't always work out that way as I get very excited about the embossing part of the creative process!

Luckily, I remembered to cut first when making this pretty pillow box using my Lawn Fawn Pillow Box die and Crafts Too embossing folder.

Look at how beautifully the Bazzils card has taken the embossing. 

Because I can see through the folder I can cut a tag and then position it so as to get the pattern just how I want it.

And now for the finished box and matching tag!

This was quite an easy make because my embossing folder was big enough to cover all of the pillow box die in one go, but what happens if you are working with a smaller folder?

I solved the problem by turning the folder side on and cutting my card so it would go through my Cuttlebug. 

I die cut the pillow box shape and then lined up the edge of the folder pattern with the line through the middle of the box and ran the folder through my Bug.

I moved the folder to emboss the other half of the die cut and this is the result.

I didn't try to match the pattern because when the box is folded and glued it doesn't show!

I tried a similar trick with a little favour box and it worked beautifully. If your embossing lines match your cut/score lines then it looks great.

Doesn't embossing just take everything up a notch with these little favour boxes? I wish I'd known about embossing when I made my wedding favours.

See you soon for a new challenge and a new guest!

Winners and Top Picks Challenge #5

  

Hello Squashettes!  Gail here today.  Thanks for all the awesome entries to our fifth challenge.  They were all lovely.  

You continue to overwhelm us with your fabulous response and enthusiastic embrace of our little challenge.  Thank you soooooooo much.  I'd also like to say a very special thank you to the people who took the time to add a couple of comments to other entries!!  We all like getting comments.  They bring sunshine to our lives.  We added a rule asking that you comment on the two entries in front of you.  It takes a minute of your time, brings joy, and also you never know when you might find a blog, a technique or an embossing folder you can't resist!!!

But you are here for the winner and top picks aren't you?  So let's get to it......

You make picking favourites is so hard!!!  The short list was long and thank cyberland for Mr Random.......

 

Our two runners up, Impressing us with their awesome cards are

 

Carole with this cute and fun sheep card

 

 

and

 

Janis with this beautifully embossed and sanded card. 

 

Congrats Carole and Janis

We hope you'll wear your badge with pride!

Our top pick and winner of our Empress of Squash award,
with a chance to guest design for a future challenge goes to

Sally with this beautiful ombre card. 

 

Here's your badge Sally and congrats on being our Let's Squash It! Empress.

 

We also have a prize to award!  We asked Mr Random and he said

#32

That's KT Fit Kitty with her beautiful falling heart embossed background and sweet cat.  

Congrats KT.
Email Gail craftynomad at gmail dot com with your address details and
let me know which folder you want from the prize vault.

 

Thanks again to you for your support of our challenge
I will be back on the 8th with another Technique Time.
Challenge #6 will start on the 10th!!!!

Take care.  Keep safe.  Hugz