Elizabeth Craft Designs General Els van de Burgt Studio

Spring Time Tea Light

February 26, 2016

Hi, it’s Sandy Diller here to share a fun project with you.  With spring fast approaching I decided to use some of those lovely pastel colors of the season.  I love these colors although I don’t seem to use them often.  This night light features soft spring colors as well as the warm glow from a trio of battery-operated tea lights.

Here’s how I did it!

Starting with a Graphic 45 Box from their Staples Line that is approximately 8.75″ square.

This box was kraft color that has been painted white.  It comes pre-cut with a square opening in the front and an inside panel that slides in and out.

For this tutorial, measurements will be given using this box.

  • With die # 924 Crystal Flower Set 1 & ECD Watercolor Paper, cut 1 large and 7 small flowers.
  • With  die # 1030 Bunch of Flowers 4 & ECD Watercolor Paper – cut 3 sets, 3 large, 3 medium, 3 small flowers.
  • With die # 1033 Leafy Branch & green cardstock, cut 3
  • With die #  1073Butterfly 1 – cut 1 solid body from ECD Water Color Paper and 1 Overlay using Soft Finish Cardstock with ECD Clear Double Sided Adhesive on the back.

  • From ECD 100# Soft Finish Cardstock cut 3 squares measuring 7.75″ square, 6.75″ square and 5.75″ square.
  • Using die # 1062 Fitted Frames 2, Lace Squares – cut once using the 4th square from the outer edge.
  • Using die # 1119 Fitted Squares – using only the 4″ square – cut the center out of each square.

An easy way to have the hole centered each time is to mark the back side of the square with an X, see above.  Using a Sharpie make a mark on your die at each corner.  Line up the marks with the X and you’re good to go.  Use low tack (washi or painter’s) tape to tape die to paper and cut.  A simple and fast way to be accurate with  little to no measuring.

From ECD #100 Soft Finish Cardstock cut –

  •    2 pieces 5″ X 8.75″ – scored at 1.5″ on the long side. (shown above)
  •    3 pieces 2″ X 8.75 ” and one panel 8.5″ square for back (not shown)
  •    1 piece 8.25″ square for inside of box.

Add scored pieces with repositionable tape at the front and sides, leaving corners loose.

Add 2″ X 8.75″ pieces at top and bottom using repositionable tape, leaving corners loose.  Miter corners using ruler and knife.

After mitering, glue in place wrapping sides around to back.

Add back panel.

For inside section of box, using ECD Clear Double Sided Adhesive Tape, stick panel to top. Pierce hole in center to hold knob and bow.

Then using ECD Clear Double Sided Adhesive Tape add wire-edged ribbon to top extending it down about 2″ on each side.  Poke hole through ribbon for knob screw.   Add ribbon down both sides of the outer box, wrapping around to the inside.

Add bow by making 2 loops stacked together with hole in center for the knob and knob screw.

Add knob.  Tip: Using wire-edged ribbon allows bow to hold its shape.

Using Distress Ink and a blending tool, add ink to front panels.

Starting with the largest panel, glue flat to box with an even edge all around.

 For second panel, add double sided foam tape all around and add to box lining up the center square. 

For top and final panel, add vellum and trim piece to the front, attach to box using double sided foam tape for dimension as shown in photo below.

Add legs. (idea-o-logy metal legs were used here).  Add strong glue formulated for metal to side panels only of each leg and glue in place (E6000 was used here).  Use rubber band to hold legs in place while glue dries. Be sure not to get glue on bottom section of leg as it will prevent box from opening!

Make hole in center of each flower for brad.  Using watercolor, paint large flowers with 2 shades of pink on both sides.  The center flower was made with one large and two small flowers stacked with largest one on the bottom and all 3 held together with a brad.  The other flowers were made the same way using 3 layers of the same size flower. When paint is dry, curl edges of each pedal.  Make tiny flowers the same way using 2 layers for each one.  No hole is needed for tiny flowers, simply glue together.  Paint butterfly and add overlay.

Glue all elements in place. (hot glue was used here for the larger flowers and the butterfly.)  Add pearls where needed and go over all flowers and butterfly with Wink of Stella glitter pen.

Line inside panel with white cardstock

To hold battery operated candles add a little shelf made of chipboard.  On the shelf add 3 cardstock rings to hold candles in place when opening and closing box.  Slide inside panel into decorated outside section.

Elizabeth Craft Designs Products used:

Crystal Flower Set 1

Bunch of Flowers 4

Leafy Branch

Butterfly 1

Fitted Frames 2, Lace Squares

Fitted Squares

100lb Soft Finish Cardstock in White

Watercolor Paper

Clear Double Sided Adhesive Tape

Other supplies used:

Distress Ink

Stampin Up Ink

Stampin Up Water Colors

Pearl Brads

idea-o-logy Legs

Battery-Operated Tea Lights

Wire Edged Ribbon

Knob

Double Sided Foam Tape

Vellum

Green Cardstock

Wink of Stella Glitter Pen

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  • Deb ~ Paxton Valley Folk Art February 28, 2016 at 10:11 pm

    Beautiful Sandy, thanks so much for sharing your wonderful tutorial and project! Deb xo

  • Judy B February 26, 2016 at 4:43 pm

    What a gorgeous project! Your soft colors and design are super. Your butterfly is amazing. I love everything about this. Thanks for sharing.

  • dyeandpigment55 February 26, 2016 at 3:46 pm

    Great project. Thanks so much for the tutorial.

    • Sandy Diller February 26, 2016 at 3:53 pm

      My pleasure, glad you liked it.

  • Marjorie February 26, 2016 at 11:03 am

    That is beautiful, Sandy. Thanks for sharing.

    • Sandy Diller February 26, 2016 at 3:48 pm

      I love sharing – thank you so much for your comment.

  • judi kauffman February 26, 2016 at 8:27 am

    So feminine – and what a great color combination!

    • Sandy Diller February 26, 2016 at 3:47 pm

      Thanks Judi – Looking forward to spring and more of the pastel colors.

  • sandy February 26, 2016 at 8:23 am

    WOW !! This is beautiful

    • Sandy Diller February 26, 2016 at 3:46 pm

      Thanks Sandy – it was fun!

  • Els van de Burgt February 26, 2016 at 8:23 am

    What a fantastic project Sandy!

    • Sandy Diller February 26, 2016 at 3:44 pm

      Thanks Els, I’m so glad you like it.

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