Cupcake Box

Cupcake Box and Almond Joy Cupcakes



Cupcakes seem to be a big rage these days. There are specialty cupcake shops, cute decorative cupcake liners, wrappers to go around the cupcakes, and cute boxes for carrying the cupcakes. People are serving cupcakes at parties instead of a layer cake or sheet cake; and even at weddings, brides are opting to use cupcakes arranged on tiered displays instead of a traditional wedding cake.

As soon as I see something made of paper, I start to think how I can make it myself. That is what I did with the idea of a cupcake box. I created this cupcake box that can be used as a favor box in order to keep the cupcake safe and avoid the smooshing (yes, that is a word) of the cake and the frosting.

Of course, you can't have a cupcake box without a cupcake, so I also had to make up a batch of these yummy almond/coconut cupcakes.

Materials Needed

Paper cutter

Scoring board
Circle Cutter

4 3.75" squares of cardstock or decorative paper
Two 6.5 squares of cardstock
One 3 7/8’ piece of Acetate cardstock
Adhesive
Ribbon or desired embellishments

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1

Take the 12" piece of cardstock and score at 8" and 4" on one side.

Step 2
Turn the cardstock 90 degrees and score at 8" and 4". There will be nine 4" squares scored on your cardstock.

Step 3
Score the four corner squares diagonally from the outside corner in towards the middle square.

Step 4
Prefold all scores. Fold the diagonal scores in towards the middle of the box.

Step 5
Put adhesive on the 4 middle outside square edges on the right side of the paper and on the diagonal score lines on the flip side of the paper.

Step 6

Fold into box and adhere together.

Step 7

Attach 4 3.75 pieces of decorative paper to box.

Step 8
Take one 6.5" piece of cardstock score it at 1" on each side.
Step 9
Cut a verticle line at the corners of the paper until it intersects with the horizontal lines. Cut again on one scoreline at the corners to remove 4 small triangles. This creates the glue tabs for the lid. Using the circle cutter, cut a 3 inch circle in the middle of the square.

Step 10
Adhere the 3 7/8” acetate square on the underside of the square

Step 11
With the right side of the lid facing up, add adhesive to the glue tabs and adhere to the adjacent flat to create the lid

Step 12
Take the other 6.5” piece of cardstock and score it at 1.25” on each side.

Step 13
Using the circle cutter, cut a 2.5 inch circle in the middle of the square with the circle cutter. And cut out the corners of the cardstock at the score lines

Step 14
Fold down the flaps at the score lines and place inside the box.

This will hold the cupcake.

Step 15
Decorate with ribbon or desired embellishments

The materials and tools I used to create this box are:

Bazzil White Cardstock

Hambly Sweet Cupcake Screen Prints

EK Success Circle Cutter

Score-It Board

Morex Delight Hot Pink Ribbon

Hambly Clear Heavy Overlay

Stardream Rose Quartz Cover

Almond Joy Cupcakes

6 large egg yolks
1 cup milk separated
2 1/4 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups sifted cake flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon + teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons softened butter

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Lightly whisk the yolks, 1/4 cup milk, and vanilla in a medium bowl. In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients and mix on low speed for 30 seconds to blend. Add the softened butter and the remaining 3/4 cup milk. Mix on low speed until the dry ingredients are moistened. Increase to medium speed and beat for 1 1/2 minutes to aerate and develop the cake's structure. Scrape down the sides. Gradually add the egg mixture in 3 batches, beating for 30 seconds after each addition to incorporate the ingredients. Scrape down the sides.
Scoop batter into lined cupcake pans, filling to about ¾ full.. Bake 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely.

Almond Frosting

1 package powdered sugar (16 ounces)

1/2 cup butter, softened (1 stick)

3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract
½ cup of heavy whipping cream whipped
Flaked Coconut
1 cup of chocolate chips (optional)


Beat sugar, butter, cream, vanilla and almond extract with electric mixer at low speed until spreading consistency. Set aside. Whip cream and fold into frosting. Frost Cupcakes and immediately dip each cupcake into a bowl of coconut to coat.

Melt one cup of chocolate chips in microwave on high, stirring at 30 second intervals until smooth. Be careful not to over cook the chocolate. Drizzle the chocolate over the coconut.

Happy Crafting and Baking from me to you.

Sandra

New Arrivals in Handmade Paper!

This week we just received in some great new papers from Black Ink. These are all handmade and screenprinted on recycled cotton rag. The designs are just gorgeous! They feature passion flowers, mums and peonies in a range of colors that are really popular right now.

Handmade papers are great for all types of craft projects from wedding invitations to scrapbooking to wall art. They are also wonderful gift wrap. I'm going to try my hand at bookbinding (again) and use one of the purple ones for a cover. We are having a big sale this weekend, so now is a great time pick some up! -Amanda

Miss You Already

This is a special post from Rachel.db of the Portland Paper Zone, on her last day working for PZ.

I kind of feel like it’s my birthday and the last day of camp/school all rolled up together. My birthday because I got dressed up to come to work today, my last day at the Paper Zone, and there was even a cupcake with my name on it waiting for me!

It’s also like the last day of camp/school because I’m saying goodbye to a lovely crew of people I’ve gotten to share the last two years with. My PZ pals are going down in my memory book in a pretty fantastic time of life. 2008-2010: my worker-owned bike shop was starting and my own personal business has grown. It’s with a fond farewell that I say goodbye to my blue PZ apron, and my coworkers- though we’ll be keeping in touch. I can catch them at local craft shows. Did you know that most of the associates at the Portland store are also self-employed? I’ll be keeping tabs on Andrea’s BeeTwixt shop, Barb’s Ciao Birdie Designs, Devan’s Nimbi Designs, Mari’s Trulee Twisted Jewelry, Liz’s graphic design. Since I won’t be working on the weekends anymore, I am definitely finding Mayzie’s table at the Portland Zine Symposium, and stopping by on Sundays to talk with Paola about new food dishes to try out at home. Since I mentioned everyone else by name, I also want to give a shout out to Jack, Portland’s captain, I’ll miss working with you all.

And while I want to keep tabs on them, they all want to keep tabs on me and my ventures too. With that in mind, and to satisfy my end of camp/writing-in-the-yearbook-was-my-favorite-part-of-school desires, I made little RDB K.I.Ts for each of my lovely coworkers.

It wasn’t until last week, when a customer asked me to die-cut a selection of 12x12 scrapbooking paper into the Accucut “Artistic Envelope,” that I realized how cute this style is!

Inside the K.I.T. is a handstamped good bye card (complete with sappy sentiments), and a Rachel.db calling card with contact information for current ventures.

Product Shoutout: Only the Portland store currently has an Accucut machine, and we have a varied selection of dies to choose from. The great thing about the Accucut is that as long as the paper is adequate size for the chosen die, we can cut all sorts of items from any of our papers! From favor boxes to wedding enclosures, ATC cards to recipe box dividers, start with a flat sheet of paper and end with a magical little object! The Accucut is a roller die cutting machine that cuts and scores the pieces for easy fold (and glue) assembly.

Each R.D.B-K.I.T., uses:

1/3- sheet of a scrapbooking 12x12

2- brads

2- 3/4”circles (punched from scrap pieces of the 12x12s)

1- 10” piece of baker’s twine (ribbon, raffia, or string will also work!)

Tools you will find helpful in assembly are:

Bone folder

3/4” circle punch

3/16” hole punch

Scissors

1. Come to the Portland Store and pick out paper and have us cut your envelopes (“eps,” in hip paper store lingo) on our Accucut machine. Ask for your scraps! ( If Portland isn’t your hometown Paper Zone, you can still order Accucut, there are just a few additional steps. Ask your favorite PZ Associate where their Accucut Sample Binder is, and see all the styles we can make!).

2. Fold and burnish all the sides of the envelopes (burnishing, as far as paper is concerned, is the act of smoothing a fold by applying pressure along the fold with a bone folder.)

3. Since you remembered to ask for your scraps (step 1), you have extra paper to punch out circles. Using your ¾” circle punch, punch two circles that will be used to loop the string/twine/ribbon around for closing the eps.

4. Use your 3/16” handheld hole punch to do just that, punch out a hole in the middle of your little circles. A brad will go through this hole, and through the pre-cut holes of the eps to secure the circle. (see the collage below)

Sometimes a contrasting color makes everything pop!

5. Cut 10” of string, twine or ribbon, that you like, to match your eps.

6. Locate the top flap of the eps. The top flap has the brad/circle dealy-bobber closer to the edge. Wrap the twine underneath the paper circle with enough of a tale to tie a knot.

7. Tie a knot to secure the twine and trim the excess tale.

8. Fill with your K.I.T. goodies and loop the twine under and around the brad circles, and give to your BFFs to whom you have to say TTYL.

Good-Bye Paper Zone. I miss you already. Let’s Keep In Touch. Love, Rachel.db

Teacher Giveaways

We’re getting close to that time of year again - time to unwind from the summer vacations and get geared up for going back to school. We are super excited to start this school year off right by giving back to our local schools and communities. I recently read that the average school teacher spends $356 out of pocket on school supplies for the classroom. That’s a lot of money, and we thought it would be great to help them out a little bit! The extra marker sets, glue bottles, pencils and paper really do add up throughout the year. We want to help show our appreciation for everything these teachers do for us and for the local community by having a teacher gift basket drawing at our stores. Each basket has some really cool school supplies, take a look at this list of everything that’s inside the basket – a perfect gift for a teacher.

Next time you’re in the area, stop in to Paper Zone and nominate your favorite teacher – we’re accepting nominations through the end of the month. We’re also hosting a school supply drive that we will award to a local school, we’d love for everyone to bring in school supplies or buy them at PZ and put them in the donation box. I know for me, my day always feels a little happier if I put a few minutes into doing something nice for someone else. We would love for you to help us spread the word about this drawing and the school drive! Tell your friends, let your kid’s school know, post it on your Facebook page or Blog, everything helps – and the more people who know, the more donations we will be able to award to our local schools.

Take a look at some of the teachers who won the gift basket during Teacher
Appreciation Week in May. Thanks for all your help and donations! --Lauren

On the Road

Is it just me or does it feel like fall is approaching way to quickly? I don't know what it is like where you live, but here in the great state of Washington there is an increasingly fall like feel to the air and I am noticing that even some of the leaves are starting to turn. With the back-to-school season officially underway, Jack Frost will be nipping at our heals before we know it. Holy moley, get out your woolens!

All that said, summer is not officially over and there is still time to get out and enjoy the longer days and all the fun activities that the season has to offer. Personally, I have been dreaming of taking a road trip for one last summer hurrah. I would just love to hop in my car, take off for California, and then meander all along down Highway 1, taking in the beautiful ocean views, eating good food, and staying in cozy little B&Bs.

Speaking of hitting the open road, have you come across Cosmo Cricket's Joy Ride line? In case you hadn't guessed, this line is all about travel, and I must say that it is really getting me geared up to make some cards to send from the road, even if, for the time being, that road only extends in and around Washington! Check it out!

Tiffany

Facets

I just wanted to share with you some simple cards I made using our Facets coordinated stationery. I am obsessed with Slate! I find myself using our dark gray Slate paper in almost all of my projects recently. I think it pairs really well with so many other colors... pink, teal, yellow... the list goes on. (And did you notice I used the new glitter cardstock? I am in paper love!)

Another great thing about Facets: If you buy 10 or more packs you get 10% off! What a great opportunity to stock up on some really nice colors of cards and envelopes.

Happy card making!
Christina

Sticker Chart

I am always making sticker and star charts for my 9 year old son. He is very hard to get motivated to do something he doesn’t want to do (not too different than any other 9 year old) and using an incentive works well for us.

This summer he needs to read, practice his multiplication tables, and his writing so he doesn’t lose any learning momentum before he starts 4th grade. We have currently decided his next goal is a new skateboard, and made the agreement that he can earn one sticker for ever hour of homework he does. When he gets 25 stickers, then he can have his skateboard.

On this chart that we made, he will put stickers on the number squares once he has completed the required work.

You will need the following items in order to make this chart:

1 12x12
25 square 2 inch diagonal punches
Letter and number stamps and stamp pads
Deckle scissors
Regular scissors
Poster board or other large paper.
3 sheets of 8.5x11 cardstock.
Adhesives
Stickers

1. Using letter stamps, stamp out the words you want to put on the chart and cut them out.

2. Punch out 25 squares

3. Stamp each square with a number, 1-25.

4. Adhere the number squares to the 12x12

5. Position the pieces on your piece of poster board and adhere.

6. Using a scoring tool, score an 8.5x11 piece of card stock so you have one inch at the bottom, and a square large enough to hold the stickers in the middle

Cut out the corners of the cardstock, and down the vertical score lines until you reach the top of your desired square size and stop cutting.

Create two one inch flaps on the outer portion of the box by cutting them with scissors.

Fold the flaps in and put adhesive on them in order to adhere them to the poster board.

6. Cut thin one inch strips from the scraps to use for the plus and equal signs

7. Adhere the strips to the sign in the desired space.

You now have a chart that you can hand up. We usually put it on his bedroom door using UHU Tack.

Product used for this project

12x12 - Max and Whiskers, Tater Tot by Basic Grey
Punch - 2 inch square punch by Marvy
Cardstock -French Construction in Safety Orange
Poster Board – Fabriano Tiziano Paper in Aquamarine
Stickers – Stinky scratch and sniff stickers by Peaceable Kingdom

Happy Crafting

Sandra