Friday, April 24, 2026

Stuffies A-2 Box Card




Hello friends!  Now how many times have you heard "I want to play claw game"?  I know that my guys always liked to try their luck.  I might still take a peek occasionally when I walk by to see if something is just ripe for the picking.  

I have had so much fun with these new die and stamp sets from Trinity Stamps.  This card was created with the A-2 Box Card Die Set, Gashapon Machine Builder and the Stuffies Stamp Set and Coordinating Dies.  I have a link at the bottom of this post to a YouTube process video I also did if you want to follow along.



To start this card, I used the Starfield Letterpress Plate with silver glimmer foil on my cardstock.  I have foiled both sides of the cardstock, thinking that I would use the stars for the background in my scene, but as you will see later, I changed my mind, which I do a lot when I am creating a card.  You are going to need two of these pieces.  On the first piece that I cut out, I used the die with both windows attached with temporary tape.  On the second piece, I removed the center window and left in the side window.  There is another die in the A-2 Box Card Die Set that cuts out a piece that goes inside the box for you to attach little elements to create the 3-D effect.  I cut two of them from the scrap cardstock.  One will go at the top of the window opening and the other one will go directly under the window.


The die puts two score lines in the piece.  One is about an eighth of an inch from the outside edge, which will be the tab that will connect the two pieces together and the other score line is to create a corner of the box.  I have found that the best way to make a sharp and precise corner is to gently fold it towards me to help break down the paper fibers and then fold it in the opposite direction.  I use a really thin metal ruler next to the score line to help me with the initial fold. I used my bone folder to give my piece a good crease once I have it folded how I want it.  


I took thin double-sided adhesive, about an eight of an inch, and put it on the little tab piece and then on the right and left side openings of the windows.  I used a little bit larger tape, about a quarter of an inch, at the top and bottom of the windows.  I do this just to give the windows a little bit of a stronger hold.

I cut two pieces of acetate to 1.875” x 3.5” for the side windows and one piece of acetate at 3.0” X 3.5” for the center window.  Once the protective tape is peeled off, I placed the acetate in the openings.  It is very important that you make sure that the acetate isn’t preventing the card from folding at the fold lines.  You may need to do a tiny bit of trimming especially on the side windows. 

On the inside tab pieces, I folded them at the die created score lines and added a piece of double-sided adhesive to each end.

Now we get to start decorating out A-2 Box Card with the pieces that the Gashapon Machine Die Set creates.  I applied double sided adhesive to the back of the cardstock that I am going to use.  Rip and Stick sheets work well for this.  Some of these pieces are so small, that it is really hard to glue and place them, even with tweezers, so that you don’t make a mess with the glue – having the adhesive makes it a whole lot easier.  

I also use a piece of heat-resistant Teflon, to place my little pieces on once I remove the protective backing from the tape.  This works really well to keep track of the pieces especially when you are using the same die multiple times with different colors of cardstock.   I started with the windows.  I used the Gashapon Machine Die to cut out the thick frame for the center window.  For the thin trim on that piece, along with the frame on the side windows, I used the window pieces from the A-2 Box Card Die Set

Okay, here’s a helpful tip!  To make this little light bar without cutting all those little circles and then trying to evenly space them on the bar, l let the die work for me.  I used the die with all the little circles to cut the red cardstock first.  Then I placed the bar die over the red cardstock where I have the circles cut out, taped it down and ran it through the die cut machine.  That cuts up the top layer of the light bar.  Next I used the bar die to cut out a piece of gold cardstock – this is the base of the light bar.  Once that is cut, I place the red piece on top of the gold bar and now you have perfectly spaced lights.

Once the awning is built, I will place at the top of the machine. I used liquid glue on top of the adhesive to give me a little barrier so that I can get it placed exactly where I want it before I press it down.  

I used the 8-Bit Birthday Stamp Set to stamp the arrow on the prize door and the .25 wording on the coin slot piece.  The little .25 stamp just cracks me up – it is such a little thing but adds so much!  

To create the play button, I used the little die to cut out a piece of black cardstock and also a piece of red card stock.  The black piece is the base of the die and the red pieces create the button.

For the joystick, I cut the outline from black card stock.  Then I used the die that cut the little pieces that fit on the die to cut out the pieces from the gold, green and red cardstock.  Again, I used the liquid glue to help me get the placement right.

To place a sentiment on this card, I cut a piece of white cardstock to 2.75 x 5.25.  I used the sentiment from the Stuffies Stamp Set and a couple of friends to decorate that piece.  I used liquid glue to center it on the back of the card.  This is a perfect area for the sender to write a personal message or sign the back of the card.  

I also glued a piece of blue glitter paper to the other side of this piece to be the background in the game.  The glitter piece is cut to 3.0” x 3.5”.  

I colored my Stuffies with Copic Markers in the following colors:
  • RV000, RV10, RV02 -pig
  • T1, T3 RV000-cow
  • YG0000, YG00, R04-chicken
  • C00, C1, C3, C5-lamb
  • YG0000, YG00, Y13, Y18-duck
  • YG13, YG09, G19-dino
  • E42, E43, E44-puppy
  • E15, E29, E39-bear
I used the Stuffies Stamp and Coordinating Die Set to stamp out 3-4 images to color making sure that I had enough to complete the project.  

I started with the stuffy that has been caught by the claw.  I built my claw and attached it to my dino.  I determine where I want the claw mechanism to be on my upper tab and attach the rectangle piece and hose.  I attach a thin piece of acetate to give extra support to the claw that holds the Dino and then glue him to the acetate.

I have attached some stuffies at the bottom of the window making sure not to get any glue on the acetate.  I built a stack of stuffies from all my friends, concentrating on the height of the stack staying over to the right side so that they don’t cause a problem with the dino in the claw.  I attached that pile of stuffies to the bottom tab making sure that the don’t impede the closing of the card.  

To close up the box.  I removed the tape on the one piece that has just one window.  I ran a bead of glue along the piece of tape. Then I lined up the top and bottom edges and butted the long piece right up the fold and give it a good press.  

Next, I turned the box so that I could see the inside of the box. I lined up the free end of the tab at the fold that forms the box corner; I removed the protective piece on both tab piece and fold the back piece over so that it catches the back of the box and creates the bridge all the way across.  I will give it a good press on the outside of the box.

To close the box, I ran another bead of glue along the tape once I remove the protective tape and press the edges together.   I need to apply a little more pressure where the glitter cardstock on the background is because glitter cardstock doesn’t play well with glue sometimes.  

Now have a box There are two bridges inside the box and the box collapses which means it is easy to put in and envelope to mail.  How cool is that????

Thank you so much for spending a little time with me today.  I hope that you have found this video helpful in constructing your own A-2 Box Card Die.  In addition to the Gashapon Machine Die, there is also a really cool retro Arcade Machine Builder on that fits perfectly on the box perfectly.  Check out the video on my channel.

The links on this post are part of an affiliate program that allows me to make a small commission at no cost to you. I am very thankful for any support that you give so that I can share more creative content with you!

Sandy


Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Vroom!!


Hello!  I was looking through some of my stamps by Gerda Steiner Designs recently and came across this guy living his best life and thought that it had been a little bit since he came out to play.   This stamp set is called Vrooming By!

To make the main focus of the card look like a stamp, I used the Pink Fresh Nested Rectangles Postage Edge Dies to cut it from Hammermill Cardstock, Premium Color Copy, 100lb paper.  I always use this paper for ink blending.  I will use it for Copic coloring occasionally when I need a larger surface.  I prefer to use X-Press It Blending Card but it is pretty expensive, so I use it mostly to stamp smaller images and cut them out with dies or my scan and cut.  

I stamped and my little guy and then stamped and cut a mask for him.  Once he was covered, I inked the ground with Tea Dye and Vintage Photo Distress Oxide.  I then inked in the sky with Tumbled Glass.

I colored my little friend in with Copic Markers in the following colors:

  • R05, R17, R27 - Red
  • W0, W1, W5, W7, W9 - Gray
  • YG23, YG07, YG09 - Green
  • YR21, YR23, YR24, YR27 - Dog
Once that was colored, I used the Postage Die to cut it out and then layered it on red cardstock to highlight the postage cut edge.  

The palm print behind the stamp was inked on white cardstock.  I lightly inked the cardstock with Squeezed Lemonade Distress Oxide Ink.  I used the Lawn Fawn Tropical Leaves Stencil with Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn and Rustic Wilderness Distress Oxide.  I cut this piece to 5.35" x 4.0".

I glued the "postage stamp" and stenciled cardstock on a piece of yellow cardstock cut to 5.5" x 4.25". Once that was assembled, I glued it to a card base.  


I used the sentiments from the stamp set for the outside and inside of the card.  

To add to the postage theme of the card, I used the Year Round Postmarks from Sweet November Stamps. 

I think this is just a really fun card that would be used for a lot of different occasions.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day also.

Sandy




Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Make A Moth Betty Hello Notecard


Hello!  Just a quick card for today.  I have a cheerful little card today that has one of my favorite moths, Betty, by Emily Moore Designs.  I just love building this little buddies.  This particular moth was created with just the pieces from the Make A Month: Betty Die Set, but you can use the other little bits and pieces from the other Make A Moth Sets.  

I used the colors on the patterned paper to select the colors for the moth.  I used Emily Moore Design Decorative Sentiment Die Set to cut out the flowered paper and the white piece behind my moth.  The addition of the white cardstock really helped the moth pop.  The green background paper was cut using their Card Sentiment Dies.  The largest die in this set is 5.25" x 4.0" which is perfect if you like to have a small border on the outside of the card front.  I love a little border and do it on most of the cards that I make.


I used the same cardstock for the sentiment that I used to make my moth.  I used the Hi, Hey Hello - Big and Bold.  I added a little bit of "stitching" with my white gel pen to add a little be extra to the lettering without overpowering it.  

To add a little texture to my card, I used a cream-colored flat lace to trim out the .5" strip along the left side of the card.  

I just love the way this card turned out and think that it would be a great note card.  It would also be a wonderful Birthday card depending on what you use for the inside sentiment.

If you would like to receive a 10% discount from the Emily Moore Designs Shop, use this link: https://emilymooredesigns.com/?aff=19 and use Discount Code: SANDY10 at checkout.

I do receive a small commission from Emily Moore Designs at no cost to you.  I am very thankful and grateful for any purchases that help me to continue to create content for this blog.  

Thank you so much for stopping by today and I hope you are sharing a little love one card at a time.

Sandy





Sunday, April 19, 2026

#315 Craft Roulette - Unity Stamp Co.


Hello and happy Sunday!  Today I have a card that I created for the current Craft Roulette Challenge.  I had a couple of ideas but kept getting stumped by the Element parameter - hop(s)/hopping.  I kept looking through my stamps and when I came across this poor little fellow, all I could see was him hopping along with his cane because he had a broken wing.  Perfect! 

Thise weeks parameters:

  • Project - Hello
  • Colors - Strawberry Fields
  • Elements - Hop(s)/hopping
  • Random - Big Letter(s)

The stamp and paper are from Unity Stamp Co.  The stamp is called, Wing and A Prayer and the paper collection is Where Little Gardens Grow.

I colored my little friend with Copic Markers in the following colors:

  • E34, E35, E53
  • YR21, YR14
  • G20, G40, G43
  • R00, R01, E02

For the sentiment, I used Emily Moore Design's, Hi, Hey, Hello Big and Bold Dies.

This was a really fun and quick card to make.  

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you have a great week!

Sandy