A Way With Words Els van de Burgt Studio Shimmer Sheetz

Faith, Love, and Thanks – 2 – Die Boxes and a Card

September 11, 2016

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By Judi Kauffman

September 11. A day that the world will never forget. The sky was a perfect clear blue over Manhattan, the Pentagon, a field in Pennsylvania. Within minutes it all changed.

Each year I spend time reflecting on what was lost: The flight attendant who lived a few blocks from us, the colleagues of a friend who worked in one of the towers, and all of those I never knew but mourned with a heavy heart. On this day I spend time celebrating the heroism of first responders and ordinary citizens who did what they could to save lives.

And then, I go back to my normal routine, grateful that the sky is still blue, most of the time. That people are wonderful, most of the time. And that there is still creative work to be done. All of the time.

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I chose three words for today’s projects: Faith, Love, and Thanks, to symbolize the gratitude, joy, and hope that, together, always manage to bubble up and keep us going.

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The boxes and cards use only two dies. The words, cut from adhesive-backed Shimmer Sheetz, are from Suzanne Cannon’s A Way With Words collection. The rose is from Susan Tierney-Cockburn’s Susan Garden collection.

These projects are so simple that I’ll let the photos do the talking – no step-by-step instructions. If you want to duplicate the cards as shown, the supply list spells out precisely what you’ll need. But my goal is to encourage you to use the idea of a 2-die card or box as the stepping-off point, the spark for other cards, gifts, or party favors.

Design Strategies

I chose clear boxes, but you could substitute organza, cellophane, or burlap bags, use opaque boxes, or simply create a tissue paper wrap for a candy bar and decorate the top.

A single rose felt right to me, but your projects can include several; a trio is always lovely. Or go for a mix of flowers and use several Susan’s Garden dies.

For larger boxes, instead of accenting the die cut word, surround it with a wreath of flowers and leaves!

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If you want to use only one die, replace the flower with any low-relief embellishment.

Switch to different sentiment dies and change the color palette: Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, Get Well Soon, With Sympathy. Go for Seasons’ Greetings, Merry Christmas, Noel, and others geared to the holidays. Or if you’re making favors for a wedding, use Forever or Mr. & Mrs.

Branch out beyond boxes and cards. Create some tags, decorate gift card envelopes.

Don’t forget to review Els van de Burgt’s YouTube Tutorial if you’re new to die cutting Shimmer Sheetz. It requires a metal adaptor plate in your machine’s standard cutting plate ‘sandwich’ (or the Sizzix Big Shot with Precision Base Plate).

 

SUPPLIES

Elizabeth Craft Designs –

A Way With Words – Thanks

A Way With Words – Faith

A Way With Words – Love

Susan’s Garden – Rose 1

Shimmer Sheetz in Amethyst Gemstone

Clear Double Sided Adhesive Sheet and Tape

Through the Lens – Metal Series 6 x 6 Cardstock (Used only on ‘Faith’ card)

Soft Finish Cardstock in White for Roses

Soft Finish Cardstock in Lavender and Dark Fuchsia for all projects

Soft Finish Cardstock in Perfect Purple for the ‘Faith’ card

Other –

Chameleon Pens – Warm Tones to color the roses

Clear boxes or other containers to decorate

Candy or other treats to fill the boxes

Metal Adaptor Plate

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  • Sue ponce September 21, 2016 at 12:23 am

    Beautiful set especially faith8

  • mjmarmo September 12, 2016 at 6:39 pm

    So very pretty!!! Love each of them!

  • Kimberly O. September 12, 2016 at 7:41 am

    Wow! The roses were cut with a steel die and then formed? They look so REAL!

    • judi kauffman September 13, 2016 at 6:14 am

      Kimberly – Yes, the rose die set has several different petals and leaves. After they’re cut they’re colored (in this case with Chameleon Pens from the Warm Tones set) and then shaped with shaping tools and mats. The Elizabeth Craft Designs YouTube channel has a video tutorial for every one of Susan’s flowers so you will be able to see how easy it is.

  • Joan Howard September 11, 2016 at 10:13 pm

    I love the clear box and the sentiment with Shimmer Sheets!

  • Kathleen Adams September 11, 2016 at 3:51 pm

    I love these cards. That rose if perfection! I think creating something beautiful today is the best way to remember and show that we were not defeated!

  • paulaj September 11, 2016 at 1:41 pm

    Beautiful. Sometimes, for a day such as 9-11, simple is best. Classy materials!

  • Darla September 11, 2016 at 11:26 am

    Perfect remembrance!!! I love the clear box…..

  • Candy Spiegel September 11, 2016 at 9:15 am

    Beautiful projects. Beautiful words.

    • judi kauffman September 11, 2016 at 9:36 am

      Thank you, Candy. Suzanne Cannon’s A Way With Words dies and Susan Tierney-Cockburns flower dies are truly magical (the best sort of evidence of human hands at work – Suzanne’s hand lettering and Susan’s hand-drawn flowers).

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