Hi there!  Sorry that I've been missing for a few days.  Had some things to take care of with my "day job" which included a business trip most of last week. 

Today's post is the last installment of the projects featured during the Royal Blog Tour at the beginning of November (Good Grief!  The month has flown by so very quickly!).   One of the things my mother made with recycled Christmas cards was small boxes to package the beautiful earrings and pins that she makes with fused glass, wire wrapping, and/or beads.  She would use an origami fold to make her boxes.  Since I don't have her dexterity, I was thrilled when Stampin' Up! offered the Bitty Box and Envelope Bigz XL die for the Big Shot.  This little box is just the right size for tiny gifts and tags.

(click on boxes to see larger image)

These little boxes were quick and easy to make.  In fact, it took longer to do the stamping than to cut out the boxes!  I used three different types of cardstock for these boxes:  Crumb Cake for the box on the left, Glossy White for the center box, and Brushed Gold for the box on the right. 

As with all the projects featured during the Royal Blog Tour, the Christmas Collage stamp was used to make these boxes.  The stamp was laid on its wooden back on the tabletop and the Basic Black ink was tapped repeatedly on the rubber until the entire stamp was inked.  The top edge of a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of cardstock was pressed to the top edge of the stamp (5 1/2" edge pressed to the top edge of the stamp).  A hard rubber brayer was rolled over the cardstock to transfer the ink to the cardstock.  The cardstock was carefully removed and then the stamp reinked.  This time, the bottom edge of the stamping on the cardstock was lined up with the top edge of the stamp and the remaining unstamped part of the cardstock was pressed to the stamp.  Like before, the hard rubber brayer was rolled over the cardstock to transfer the ink to the cardstock.  Note that if you are not comfortable with an eyeball approach to lining up the bottom of the inked area of cardstock to the top of the inked stamp, then use the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig; just don't use the Basic Black ink on the plastic Stamp-A-Ma-Jig sheet because it's very hard (nearly impossible) to remove). 

Here's how each box was made:

Crumb Cake box.  Use a Blender Pen and Classic inks to color selected images on the cardstock.  I used Old Olive and Always Artichoke for the holly branches and pine boughs; Real Red and Cherry Cobbler for the poinsettias; Cherry Cobbler for the holly berries; Not Quite Navy, More Mustard, and Cherry Cobbler for the bells with Old Olive and Always Artichoke for the holly leaves; and More Mustard for the shading around the ring for the number 25.  Place the cardstock face down on the Bitty Box and Envelope Bigz XL die over the Bitty Box cutting area.  Note that the bottom of the stamped design needs to be lined up with the top of the box top flap.  Place an XL cutting plate on top and bottom of the die and roll through the Big Shot.  Remove the die cut box and assemble.  Fold one yard of Real Red 1/8" Taffeta ribbon in half and wrap around box from top to bottom, then turn ribbon to wrap around box from side to side.  Knot on top and trim ends with Paper Snips.

Glossy White box.  Use a sponge to randomly apply ink to the cardstock.  For this box I used More Mustard in the area of the bells and the number 25; Old Olive and Always Artichoke in the area of the holly branches and pine boughs; Cherry Cobbler in the area of the poinsettias, holly berries and the middle of the bells; and Not Quite Navy in the area of the ribbon on the bells.  Place the cardstock face down on the Bitty Box and Envelope Bigz XL die over the Bitty Box cutting area.  Note that the bottom of the stamped design needs to be lined up with the top of the box top flap.  Place an XL cutting plate on top and bottom of the die and roll through the Big Shot.  Remove the die cut box and assemble.  Wrap 18" of Whisper White organza ribbon around box from top to bottom, then turn ribbon to wrap around box from side to side.  Knot on top and trim ends with Paper Snips.  Create a bow with 12" of Whisper White Organza ribbon over the knot on box top.  Trim ends with Paper Snips.

Since the Brushed Gold cardstock is so pretty, I didn't think it needed any added color but some ribbon.  For this box, I laid Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta ribbon on top of Real Red 3/8" Taffeta ribbon around the box and threaded one end through one buttonhole of the Always Artichoke Big Designer Button from the Deck the Halls Big Designer Buttons assortment.  Then I threaded the other end through the opposite corner buttonhole, snugged the button to the box top, and knotted the ribbon on top of the button.  Trim the ends of the ribbon with Paper Snips.

I really enjoyed making all the projects featured in the Royal Blog Tour.  It's always fun to participate in these types of tours to get out of my comfort zone and stretch my papercrafting skills.

Thanks so much to all the folks who visited my blog during the Royal Blog Tour and left all the wonderful comments.  I appreciate the feedback and look forward to your return visits.

Stamps:  Christmas Collage; Inks:  Always Artichoke, Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Real Red; Cardstock:  Brushed Gold, Crumb Cake, Glossy White; Embellishments:  Deck the Halls Big Designer Buttons, Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Real Red 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Whisper White Organza Ribbon; Tools:  Paper Cutter/Scorer, Bone Folder, Paper Snips, Blender Pen, Sponge, Big Shot w/XL Cutting Plates, Bitty Box and Envelope Bigz XL die