12 Days of Christmas 2016 | Day 6

Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator Karen Robinson – 12 Days of Christmas 2016 | Day 6

Today’s project is my version of an awesome gussetted pouch that I found on Lisa Althouse’s blog (LA Stamper), she has a video tutorial which is well worth a look, it explains how to make the gusset more simply than if you had to write it out.

Little Paper Party, This Christmas DSP, Tin of Tags, Gussetted Pouch.jpg

It only uses a 6 x 6″ piece of DSP (you can make four from a 12 x 12″ piece or use the paper stacks, with no waste) and the Envelope Punch Board.

I have all the punch boards and love them but I have to say that the envelope punch board seems to be the most versatile, maybe because it’s been around the longest. So many creative people have discovered how to make much more than just envelopes with this tool, I think if you could only have one this would be the one to choose – just a small plug there 😉

little-paper-party-this-christmas-dsp-tin-of-tags-gussetted-pouch-side-view

I used the This Christmas DSP (and my favourite music sheet), from the Annual Catalogue for the pouches. TIP: if you have a directional paper place your paper so that the top is to the right, it will end up on the diagonal but it will be the right way up.

To embellish the top flap I stamped a sentiment from the Tin of Tags stamp set in Momento Black Ink on Very Vanilla cardstock. I find that the Momento Black coordinates with this paper better than the Archival Black, it’s a bit softer. I punched out the sentiment using the 2″ Circle Punch and attached one of the smaller Metallic Foil Doilies, cut in half, to the top and bottom. I thought it needed some more sparkle and a couple of the Metallic Enamel Shapes in gold added just the right amount. I did add an extra 2″ circle to the back to tidy it up, but that’s optional.

little-paper-party-this-christmas-dsp-tin-of-tags-gussetted-pouch-contents

The finished dimensions of the pouch are 3-3/8 x 2-5/8″ (8.5 x 6.5cm), so quite small, but still big enough for a little treat. They’ll hold some of the slimmer chocolates and small scratchies ($1 and $2 Australian ones at least), you could fold up cash and they’d make a nice jewellery pouch as well. They can hold a gift card, but the top isn’t quite flush when it’s closed, I’m sure the recipient wouldn’t mind 😉

I think they’d be sweet at place settings on the table or you could even make up a batch for RAK’s (random acts of kindness) when your out and about to spread some Christmas cheer.

Lisa closed hers with velcro dots, but I think this particular paper might be too thin for that. I’m not planning to reuse them so I think either glue dots or Fast Fuse, depending on what’s in them and how I plan to gift them, would be fine.

A quick and easy tutorial:

Requirements: 6 x 6″ DSP and Envelope Punch Board

Line up DSP @ 2-1/4″, punch and score, slide to 3-1/4″, punch and score
Rotate DSP 90º, line up the first score line with the score guide, punch and score
Line up the second score line with the score guide, punch, don’t score
Rotate DSP 90º and repeat step 1
Rotate DSP 90º and repeat step 2
Remove the small squares near the punch outs
Fold the double scored sides and fold again to create the gusset
Score 1/2″ from the top flap score line to create the flat part of the front flap
Adhere the sides and bottom
Embellish as desired

I hope this makes sense, the video will help (one of the skills I’ve yet to learn). I promise that once you’ve made one they really are quick and easy.

I really liked today’s project, I hope you do as well. You could really go to town with the decoration or keep it pretty simple like I did. They’re a good project for mass production as well, once you get in the rhythm, which can be helpful if you need lots of little items for community or church events.

Please excuse the dark pictures, there’s a Christmas tree where I usually take them, I’m still trying to find a good spot.

I’ll be back tomorrow with Day 7, see you then.

Cheers,
Karen