Little Shaker Boxes by Sizzix

I thought that for today's project I would show you a Sizzix XL Die - this particular one is the Shaker Box. The die offers you the version on the left with the lid - I sometimes trim the lid and just have it as a small sweetie box as on the righthand side of the photo. As you can see a fair number of sweeties can be squeezed inside eg Minstrels, M&M's, Smarties, really any of the smaller chocolates will fit as the boxes are very nearly 2cm deep.

The SU designer papers are perfect for this sort of project, as the inside is as important as the outside - my favourite Tea and Crumpets papers are just right for my chocolate theme - I decorated the lid using a Sizzlit die from my collection - I love this phrase and sizewise it's just right when layered on the piece of Vanilla cardstock - the little scallop detail on the side edge is enhanced by first using a small hole punch down its length and then softly inking the edges with Chocolate Chip - the finishing touch was another tiny Sizzlit flower and flatbacked pearl.

The inside of the lid was also decorated but this time using one of the stamp sets from the SU Sale-a-bration brochure currently on offer until the end of February if you spend more than £45 in one order - head to http://www.sallys-daze.blogspot.com/ to see further details - just to add an additional small embellishment I cut out one of the flowers from the paper, inked the edges and cut out a small centre piece - a little piece of Vanilla Grosgrain ribbon adds the finishing touch. If you scroll back up to the main photo it shows the inside of the box for you to see, by clicking on the picture it will enlarge the image for greater detail.

I mentioned that I also have a second version of the box where I trim away some of the lid, tucking it down to give a neat edge - this allows the contents of the box to be seen all the time. I decorated this one very simply using the circle scallop punch, again punching little holes all the way round, inking the edges and using matching paper for the inset circle and positioning it in the top lefthand corner.

These cute little boxes have so many uses and can be decorated in so many different ways - Valentines and Easter immediately spring to mind - in cute paper and filled with chocolate Easter Bunnies they would make a perfect little gift for my little boy's classmates this Easter - now there's an idea.

As always thank you for stopping by and I hope you have a lovely weekend planned - I think we have to make the most of it because apparently snow is on the way for the beginning of next week according to the weatherman - gosh, it's out with the extra winter woollies!!

Bridgette xx

PS I have to confess the Minstrels in the photo did not last long after I had taken the last photo - just a little yummy for my tummy!! A girl's got to keep her blood sugar level up whilst blogging - oh dear, I think I'm addicted.