I know it’s been terribly quiet around here lately and I wanted to give you an update.

There is much work going on behind the scenes at DIY Bride! In the coming weeks there will be some fundamental changes in how DIYBride operates. Our goal is to put more resources in your hands and to grow our offerings to better help you create the wedding of your dreams.

The new emphasis of DIYBride.com is on a community-based learning environment where you’ll be able to take online classes, attend workshops and seminars, and better connect with other couples, crafters, and wedding professionals. Our first classes will be:

• Invitations 101
• Intro to Printmaking
• Beaded  Jewelry

DIYBride’s blog is being revamped into more of an online magazine format so that we can present projects and planning information in the context of how they’d work in a real wedding. For example: instead of just giving you, say, a favor project, we’ll be presenting a whole theme around that favor idea. We’ll give you a collection of projects and advice with templates, how-to instructions, and other crafty wedding goodness each month that are related to a central theme or idea.

The downloads area will return. We’re adding a shop and classified ads area along with a vendor directory, video tutorials, and other nifty features to be announced soon.

This is the vision I’ve had of DIY Bride for many, many years now. My first real business plan for DIY in 2006 had many of the above elements but, for reasons too numerous to list, didn’t manifest until now. It’s exciting to see some of it finally coming to life and in ways that are much better than I had originally envisioned. The launch date is January 10.
Thanks for your continued support and patience while I continue chugging along with the coding and testing of the new site.

Here’s what you’ll need for this clever gift bag:

STAMP SET:  one with a small snowflake, such as Snow Burst, Snow Swirled, Merry & Bright or Punch Pals

CARDSTOCK:  Holiday Treasures DSP, Ruby Red CS (or DSP and coordinating color of your choice)

INK:  Baja Blue

ACCESSORIES: Bone Folder, Sticky Strip, Round Tab, Scallop Edge, 1/2″ and 1/8″ or 1/4″ Circle Punches, Mini Glue Dots, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Build-a-Brads, Little Felt Flurries, Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive, Personal Paper Cutter with cutting and scoring blades.

Cut a piece of Ruby Red cardstock 4-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ and score it 1″ from each edge.

Turn CS on the diagonal, and score from each point to the intersection of the 1″ score lines.

Crease your box on the 1″ score lines and bring the corner scores in like this:

Use sticky strip to glue your box corners together.  After the ‘points’ are secured/glued, put a little piece alongside one of the points and secure it to the side of the box, making the inside all flat.

Cut Designer Series Paper to 5-1/2″ x 11″

Add stick strip to one long side and one end of the background paper.

Peel off the bottom piece of sticky strip and lay your box along the bottom of the background paper, so it is even along the bottom.  I start my background paper about half way on the side of the box so the seam will be at the back of the bag at the end.

Continue to wrap the box up with the paper, keeping the bottom edges the same.
Pull off the side sticky strip and glue this after wrapping all the rest of the paper around the box.

Here’s how it looks when your DSP is wrapped around the little box:

Now you need a strip of cardstock 11″ x 1″ and your scallop edge punch.  Starting in the center of the strip, make your first punch.  Then line up the punch, using the guide along the edges of the punch, and continue punching to the left and right, creating a scalloped strip.

Attach Sticky Strip along the long straight length of the scallop punched strip. Wrap the scalloped strip around the bottom of the bag.  I start it at the back of the bag so the seam is at the back.

Gather up your Sticky Tape, Round Tab and 1/4″ or 1/8″ circle punches, a ruler, and Bone Folder and contrasting cardstock, Ruby Red in our case.  Punch out 2 Round Tabs, place a rule along the center and score for your fold, using the Bone Folder.  Fold in half and punch through both layers (for the ribbon you will insert later).  Apply Sticky Tape to the outer most tab areas.  Position and adhere tabs to each side of your bag, one on the seam side, the other on the opposite side.

The Snow Flurries/Build-a-Brad embellishments are next.  I selected 2 of the smallest snowflakes from the Little Felt Flurries assortment. Since the hole in the center of one of the Flurries was largers than an average brad, I decided to use the Build-a-Brad on both Flurrie snowflakes.

Stamp a small snowflake, using Baja Breeze Classic Ink, on a scrap of Whisper White cardstock.  Punch it out with the 1/2″ circle punch.  Set aside.  Using the Build-a-Brad assortment of your choice, Antique Brass or Pewter, apply a small bit of Tombow adhesive to the ‘inside/top’ of your brad and set your stamped/punched snowflake onto the glue.  After it’s secure, top the snowflake with the acrylic bubble, trying to avoid getting your fingers on the sticky side.  If there is no hole on your chosen snowflake, make a very small snip with your Paper Snips; then slide your brad ‘legs’ through and carefully bend the legs into position.  Attach 4-6 Mini Glue Dots to the legs of the brad and attach to the bag, having one hand (or whatever will fit–like a bone folder) inside the bag to apply pressure to the glue dots.

String a piece, about 15″ long, of Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, through the holes in the tabs and tie, securing the opening.  And voila, you are done.  Here’s the finished bag!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little tutorial.  This is the first Bag in a Box I’ve made and it wasn’t nearly as intimidating as I’d built it up to be.  It’s really quite easy!

When I can share treat packaging that requires little cutting and easy assembly, I’m all over it. To the blog I go! And, well, here I am with this easy treat basket. Ok, it’s not a box but it’s a great way to present Jelly Bellys, chocolates or other small munchies. It takes about 3 minutes to cut and assemble and you can get 4 baskets per 1 sheet of 12″ x 12″ scrapbook paper.

Supplies Need

• Cardstock or heavy scrapbook paper, cut to 6″ x 6″
• Scoring tool (bone folder or paper cutter with a scoring blade)
• Hole punch
• Ribbon

Directions

1. Score each piece of 6″x6″ piece of paper at 2″ and at 4″ in both directions (horizontally and vertically). You’ll end up with score marks in a tic-tac-toe pattern.
2. Now score each of the 4 corner pieces, diagonally, from tip towards the middle.
3. Punch holes in each of the corners, about 1/8″ or so from the tips.
4. Fold all of the scores towards the middle. The corner pieces should come in towards the center.
5. Thread some ribbon through the holes. Place your goodies inside. Tie the ribbon closed.

(step 1):

(step 2):

Project Details and Directions: Kitschy-Koo

Vellum is such a fun material to work with because its uses are many and it’s easy to customize.

Some ideas to play with:

* Envelopes for seating cards

* Gift tags for favors

* Mini lamp shades for wine glass votive holders

* Votive candle wraps

* Rubber stamp and cut out shapes (i.e. butterflies) for use as decorations on and around the tables

* Cut strips of vellum, stamp with your name and wedding date and use for napkin rings or around favor boxes

* Make boxes or pouches for favors

* Use for wedding program overlays