Sweet Treats Card Box

Good morning, Crafters! I have a SWEET project using the Authentique Confection Collection papers! I stepped way out of my crafty comfort zone and created not only a 3D project, but a set of very simple, easy-to-make and easy-to-mail cards!

There was something about the NEW Confection Collection that seemed to say, "Keep it simple, Gloria!" I have been having a play with my Silhouette Cameo, which has been gathering dust on a shelf for a few years...well, not really because I was smart and purchased a dust cover! I recently purchased a cut file for this A2 Stationery Organizer with Drawer (by Lori Whitlock). It is the perfect project for this yummy paper collection!

There is a video tutorial HERE, which I watched to make sure I knew how to put the box together, because 3D is not really my strong suit! I did not alter the size of the box, I simply cut the pieces from Spectrum Series Hot Cocoa Cardstock. However, I did add more decorative paper and embellishments than the sample. I like to line the inside and outside surfaces of my projects. Because, well....pretty paper!

Once I had all the pieces cut from Hot Cocoa Spectrum Series Cardstock, I measured and cut Confection Collection paper for all the surfaces. The cut file contains cuts for the decorative paper for the OUTSIDE surfaces, so you can just load your Confection papers into your cutting machine and, ta-da! I used those pieces as a guide for cutting the rest of the paper.

I did sponge the edges of my papers with a bit of brown ink. I especially went around the edges of the box because the paper has a white core, and some of the core showed where the Silhouette scored the paper.

I used Confection Four and the Cardstock Die Cut Elements to decorate the top of the box. I added some "strawberries and chocolate" flowers and a few enamel dots. Don't those dots look like ice cream drips?! 

I added a faux glass button to the drawer as a handle. The button had a shank on the back, so I just enlarged the hole (it is a small hole for a brad) so that shank would fit. I then used some glue and floral wire to attach the button 

To give the stationery set as a gift, place the cards and matching envelopes into the drawer and box. I decided to place a set of five envelopes into the drawer. I found some pastel envelopes in my stash, and they were perfect! I tied them with some ribbon, then added a few cut-aparts and die cuts so the recipient of the stationery set could decorate the inside of the cards or the envelopes. 

Lift off the top of the box and there is a nice, deep space for cards! A2 sized cards (5 1/2" tall and 4 1/4" wide) fit perfectly.

You can decorate a few cards with a lot of lumpy embellishments if you wish and they would still fit in the box, but you would need special envelopes for lumpy cards! I tied the set of easy-to-mail cards with a ribbon.

Making cards which are flat and easy to mail is not something I do on a regular basis! But if I want to donate cards to my church or another organization, I do try to keep them easy-to-mail so that the end user does not have to spring for extra postage!

For this card set you will need about three sheets of white or light cream cardstock. You can use 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock or cut 12" x 12" cardstock down to 8 1/2" x 11". 

We will make three vertical, top-folding cards and two horizontal, top-folding cards.

Cut three panels to 11" long by 4 1/4" wide. Score the panels on the long side at 5 1/2" to make three top-folding 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" cards. 

Cut three Spectrum Series Cardstock panels to 5 3/8" x 4 1/8" and attach them to the bottom of the card fronts. I used Bubble Gum for the "Sweet Treat" card, Hot Cocoa for the "Ice Cream" card, and Tickled Pink for the "Life is Short" card.

You will need one sheet of the Confection Four paper, which contains 12 images, each measuring 4" x 3". Cut the 12 images apart and choose five for your cards, three with a vertical presentation and two horizontal.

Chose coordinating printed paper from the Confection Collection and trim three pieces to 2 1/2" x 4 1/8". Wrap a length of coordinating ribbon or trim around the bottom edge of the printed paper and secure at the back. Then attach the paper to the top of the vertical cards, lining it up with the edges of the Spectrum cardstock. I chose two pieces of Confection Three (the sprinkles) and one piece of Confection Two (the text). 

Select your focal images and use the Spectrum Cardstock to mat the images. (I have a Perfect Layers tool that I use to get perfect 1/16" borders around my focal image.) I used Spectrum Hot Cocoa for all three images, but added a layer of Blue Hawaii to the "Ice Cream You Scream" card.

Attach the focal images to the center of the card fronts. Use the Die Cut Elements to add sentiments as needed. Embellish with enamel dots, pearls, or other flat bling.

For the two horizontal cards, cut two panels to 8 1/2" x 5 1/2". Score on the long side at 4 1/4" to make two top-folding 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" cards. 

Cut three Spectrum Series Cardstock panels to 1 7/8" x 5 3/8" and attach them to the bottom of the card fronts. I used Hot Cocoa for the "Day Dreams" card and Blue Hawaii for the "Add Sprinkles" card.

Chose coordinating printed paper from the Confection Collection and trim two pieces to 2 1/4" x 5 3/8". Wrap a length of coordinating ribbon or trim around the bottom edge of the printed paper and secure at the back. Then attach the paper to the top of the horizontal cards, lining it up with the edges of the Spectrum cardstock. I chose one pieces of Confection Three (the sprinkles) and one piece of Confection Four (the reverse, pink dots). 

Select your focal images and use the Spectrum Cardstock to mat the images. I used Spectrum Bubble Gum for the "Day Dreams" card, and Hot Cocoa for the "Add Sprinkles" card. Attach the focal images to the center of the card fronts. Embellish with enamel dots, pearls, or other flat bling.

Tie the cards in a stack with some coordinating ribbon and place them in the box.

Thank you so much for looking! I hope you have a YUMMY day!

Authentique Supplies Used:
Confection Collection: 12x12 Papers, Die Cut Cardstock Elements
Spectrum Series Cardstock: Bubble Gum, Tickled Pink, Hot Cocoa, Blue Hawaii

Additional Supplies Used:  
Cardstock: WorldWin Papers Natural
Cut file: A2 Stationery Organizer with Drawer by Lori Whitlock
Ink: Clearsnap Colorbox Chalk Chestnut Roan
Floral wire: craft supply
Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon Hot Pink Satin with Silver Metallic Edges
Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts, Prima
Enamel Dots: Doodlebug Design Sprinkles (Cupcake Plain, Cupcake Glitter, Ladybug Glitter), Prima Everyday Vintage Sugardots, Simple Stories Enchanted
Dies: Spellbinders Standard Circles Small, My Favorite Things Wonky Stitched Circle Stax
Envelopes: stash
Adhesive: hot glue, 3L foam squares, 3M foam tape, ATG tape, white glue, Scor-tape