Thinking Outside the Box Blog Hop – Suitcases

I am so excited for this project! This month we were asked to create a Suitcase for our project with the amazing ladies from Thinking Outside The Box, and with the wonderful idea from my friend Chelsea, this is what I came up with!

Our blog hop team is called Thinking Outside the Box, and with this project I think I did just that! I ended up altering one of our stamp cases to create my suitcase!

This wonderful little case will hold regular A2 style cards, or you could “ think outside the box” and fill it with your heart’s desire!

So on that note, let’s get started

Step One:

a) Cut a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock at 7 ⅛” x 11 ¼”for the suitcase insert

b) Then score at 5” and 6 ¼”

c) Cut four pieces of Early Espresso cardstock at 7 ⅞” x ¾” and then score all four strips at ⅝” ; 1 ¼” ; and 6 ½”

d) Cut four pieces of Soft Suede cardstock at 7 ⅞” x ½” and then score all four strips at ⅝” ; 1 ¼” ; and 6 ½”

e) Cut two pieces of Early Espresso cardstock at 6” x ⅝” and then score both pieces at ½” and 5 ½”

f) Cut two pieces of Soft Suede cardstock at 6” x ⅜” and then score both pieces at ½” and 5 ½”

g) Cut two second largest  stitched circles in Early Espresso cut into quarters and sponge in Early Espresso ink.

h) Cut four of the smallest stitched squares and using an exact opposite knife cut out an inner square.

Step Two:

a) Using the Postscript Background stamp, stamp the entire suitcase insert in Soft Suded ink.

b) Once the entire surface has been stamped, sponge around all the edges and gently over the surface with Early Espresso ink.

c) Once the insert has been stamped and sponged, place it inside the stamp case.

Step Three:

a) Place all six Soft Suede strips into the Subtle emboss folder and run through the Big Shot.

b) Run the eight circle quarters and four squares (from the Stitched Dies) through the Big Shot using the Subtle embossing folder.

c) Once they have all been pressed, sponge to make them look weathered and glue the six strips onto their coordinating Early Espresso strips.

Step Four:

a) Glue the eight corner pieces onto each corner of the stamp case.

b) To assemble your suitcase, using tear tape put it on the ⅝” piece of the suitcase strips and then attach all four of the straps to the inside of the stamp case.

c) Before you glue down the rest of the strap, slide the four buckles onto the straps and glue down to the strap.

d) Once the buckles have been put on, the glue down all the straps to the case. I used Tear Tape to attach the straps.

e) Using a bone folder gently curl the two handles and then using Tombo glue attach the handles to the top of the stamp case. This will allow you to be able to open the suitcase to place goodies inside of it.

Now you have a great little suitcase to give as a gift and fill with whatever you see fit!  How cute would it be to fill it with travel size toiletries to give to friend heading on a trip?

Products used:

• Early Espresso cardstock item number 119979
• Early Espresso ink pad item number 147112
• Soft Suede cardstock item number 115318
• Soft Suede ink pad item number 147115
• Stitched Shapes Framelits item number 145372
• Post Script Background stamp item number 143989
• Subtle emboss folder item number 143706
• Full Wide stamp cases item number 127551
• Simply Score board item number 122334
• Bone Folder item number 102300
• Sponges item number 141337
• Big Shot item number 143263
• Tombo glue item number 110755
• Tear tape item number 138995
• Stampin dimensionals item number 104430

I hope you enjoy my project, and check out the other incredible projects by this group of incredibly talented ladies! Thanks for dropping in!

                                                                       

1. Shannean Moncrieff ( Australia)
2. Tanja Kolar (Germany)
3. Yoshiko Endo ( Japan)
4. Annette Elias (Netherlands)
5. Dena Rekow (USA)
6. Sharlene Meyer (New Zealand)
7. Beate Wacker (Austria)
8. Aude Barbara (France)
9. Barb Stewart (Canada) – You are here!