Shimmer Sheetz

Shimmer Sheetz Boxes – Last-Minute Gifts

December 18, 2016

Shimmer Sheetz Boxes – Last-Minute Gifts
by Judi Kauffman

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There’s still time to make a few last-minute holiday surprises for friends and family. If you’re lucky enough to have finished all of your holiday gift making, bookmark this idea to use for birthdays, anniversaries, and many other occasions!

Decorating boxes with Shimmer Sheetz is fast and easy. You can start with any kind of box that has a flat lid or flat sides, be it brand new or something in need of a facelift!

The first box is a tin that’s been given a makeover with torn paper collage, paint, and embossed Shimmer Sheetz cut to fit the top. As shown, the lid combines one large piece and three narrow strips in contrasting colors (same embossing folder for all pieces).

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The second and third boxes held a cross stitch design in their first incarnation. Now they’ve taken on a whole new look with a piece of embossed Shimmer Sheetz in the spot that used to be occupied by stitchery. Insert-ready boxes are available from a variety of companies; Sudberry House and Framecraft are notable among them.

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For all boxes, the Shimmer Sheetz was altered with alcohol inks after embossing to add more richness to the surface. Skip the alcohol inks and lightly sand the surface to slightly tone down the sparkle and reveal the core color if you prefer. That makes the project even faster! (Gemstone Shimmer Sheetz has a silver core, Iridescent has a white core, Metallic is transparent so skip the sanding and stick with the alcohol inks if you’re using Metallic.)

SUPPLIES

Elizabeth Craft Designs –
Embossing folder of choice
Shimmer Sheetz in color(s) of choice

Other –
Big Shot or other machine used with embossing folders
Alcohol inks in colors of choice
Metallic Mixatives in Gold
Ink applicator tool
Paint, torn paper or other collage materials
Tins with flat lids and/or sides
Boxes with insert-ready lids

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  • Rosemary Paul December 18, 2016 at 10:51 pm

    What color shimmer sheets did you use on the third box? I love the coppery verdigris look of it!
    Great job. I am bookmarking this for Valentines day!

    • judi kauffman December 20, 2016 at 12:38 pm

      Rosemary, that one is Yellow Iridescent Shimmer Sheetz altered with a mix of alcohol inks in shades of turquoise, brown, and green, plus some a teeny tiny bit of black (it’s opaque rather than transparent like the other colors) and some gold (Metallic Mixatives from Ranger, also opaque). It’s hard to be totally accurate in photos, but you’ll always get the verdegris effect if you use copper, gold and teal together in some way. I can’t give you precise proportions, so my best advice is to suggest that you experiment! You can get almost the same effect by starting with Fire Opal Gemstone Shimmer Sheetz. Because it has a lot of copper in the surface to start with, you might need only teal and gold to alter the embossed areas, though black does seem to add a lot of richness. (sorry this got so long, but I want to be as specific – and as helpful – as possible.)

  • Diane Lynne Clemen December 18, 2016 at 6:58 pm

    I have the round box which does currently hold counted cross stitch. I may just remove it and use an embossed shimmer sheet. I love the look.

  • Suzanne Cannon December 18, 2016 at 12:13 pm

    These are beautiful Judi! So elegant!

    • judi kauffman December 18, 2016 at 3:44 pm

      Thank you! I’ll have to work one of your A Way With Words dies into one of them…Maybe a heart-shaped box for an anniversary gift.

  • Kathleen Adams December 18, 2016 at 10:58 am

    Judi, I love what you did with these boxes. You could even do a few for your own dresser like different shapes but matching tops or sides. Thank you for this great idea!

    • judi kauffman December 18, 2016 at 3:43 pm

      Thanks, Kathleen. My husband has one of them on his desk. I’ve got the tin in my studio with some small tools inside but it would be the right size for cotton swabs. I like your idea of making a dresser set.

  • rijacki December 18, 2016 at 9:57 am

    Stunning! Such lovely boxes.

    • judi kauffman December 18, 2016 at 3:41 pm

      Thank you! The ‘insert-ready’ boxes are so elegant (I always loved those Framecraft and Sudberry House boxes when I did cross stitch and needlepoint) but even a humble tin that used to hold candies or an inexpensive papier mache box with a flat lid will work!

  • mjmarmo December 18, 2016 at 8:27 am

    Wow – Judi, these are so beautiful! Love the embossing with the inks!

    • judi kauffman December 18, 2016 at 3:39 pm

      Thank you! Shimmer Sheetz and embossing folders and alcohol inks are such a great combination. And there are endless possibilities. I never get bored.

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