Covering the PaperTrey Large Heart Box
My PaperTrey exclusive heart tins arrived yesterday--what fun they were to play with! I snapped a couple of pictures as I was covering the large heart tin because I thought that it might save some of you from needing to reinvent the wheel. I
didn't take pictures of the whole process, but I took pictures of the more unusual parts. I'll try to explain the rest as well.
First, set the bottom of your large heart box on the back side of a sheet of patterned paper. (The paper-weight patterned paper is easier to work with than the cardstock-weight.) Draw an outline around your tin bottom as close to the edge as you can. Carefully cut out the heart and lay it right side up on top of your lid. It should be about the perfect size if you have trimmed right on your line.
Carefully holding the heart in place, feel for the groove in the metal right next to the window. Now take a small embossing stylus and put it in the groove. Slowly and carefully follow the groove around the tin. (You are embossing a track that you will follow when you cut the window out of your paper.) Can you see the track in the picture to the left? By the way, I moved the patterned paper slightly so that you could see the tin below it. It was exactly in place when I embossed the track. Please note: Before you start embossing, make sure that you are in between the two metal pieces; you don't want to emboss the window.
After you have the track embossed all the way around, emboss back over your groove several times to get a nice, deep track. This will help you later. Remove your heart from the top of the tin and use small, sharp scissors to cut right in the deepest valley of your track.
Now take the outline of the heart and dry-fit it to the box. (If it isn't perfect, fix it before you add any adhesive.) While I used my Xyron to adhere the band around the outside of the tin, I was a little hesitant to use it for the tin top. Permanent Xyron isn't meant to be forgiving, and you may well need to adjust the heart after you lay it down. For that reason, I chose Tombow Mono Multi adhesive. I ran a thin line of it around both the inner and outer edges of my tin's lid, then I carefully laid the heart in place. I had a few seconds to shimmy it into the perfect position before the glue started holding.
Because you have a small lip that turns down where it was embossed, you should be able to get a perfect inner edge. Gently run your fingernail or a very small embossing stylus down that same track. Your paper should go right down into the track. (Ahhhh, I love it when a plan comes together!) If your outside edge isn't perfect (or even if it is) you can take a piece of sand paper and sand the outer edge. This whole process didn't take long--I'd say less than 10 minutes to get the lid right, and that was figuring it out as I went.
Covering the rest of the tin is a breeze. If you have redline or super sticky tape, run a length of it around the tin top's outer rim and peel back the liner. (Mine was 1/8" tape.) Now take some of your 3/8" or so ribbon and lay the ribbon right at the bottom lip of the tin. Continue around the tin, following the tape around. (I let mine end in the top indented area of the heart; it is not noticeable.
For the bottom band, you will need a couple of 1-1/2" strips paper. (I used 12" x 12" sheets; it took one full 12" strip, and about 7-1/2" of the second strip, I think.) I ran these strips thourgh my Xyron, peeled the liner, and made sure that I stayed right down at the bottom of the tin. Please note: You probably don't want to cover all of the way to the top of the tin, or the lid will fit rather tightly and you might damage your paper taking it on and off. That's why I stayed right below the rim, using a 1-1/2" wide strip.
Embellish the top as you see fit and fill with good things!
Celebrate Today Gift Tin
Stamps: PaperTrey Mixed Messages, Beautiful Blooms, Borders and Corners {Rectangle}
Paper: K&Company Classic K Margo Fushia Skinny Stripes Flat, and Margo Pink Flower Patch Flat papers
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White
Ink: Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress ink; SU Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, River Rock, and Wild Wasabi; Ranger Adirondack Cranberry
Accessories: Wild Wasabi Grosgrain; Jonquil Swarovski crystals
Tools: Cuttlebug tiny tags and flowers dies


I've never felt more like a "stalker" until tonight! This is the 3rd time I've checked your blog since the mid-nite PTI release! I love this project! Thanks for sharing the awesome tutorial!
Posted by: Beth | January 15, 2008 at 12:35 AM
Thanks for the instructions! Looks easy enough. I can't wait to get my tins!
Posted by: Felicia Escalante | January 15, 2008 at 12:37 AM
This is such a pretty project. I ordered both sets tonight, plus those great heart tins! You girls are awesome!
Posted by: Kiko | January 15, 2008 at 01:11 AM
Beautiful projects as always Debbie!! Just love them!! Can't wait to get my tins and start playing!!!
Posted by: Jana Weaver | January 15, 2008 at 02:09 AM
Everything is gorgeous !!! You are one talented person.
Posted by: Janine | January 15, 2008 at 05:58 AM
Oh my goodness, Debbie! This is GORGEOUS! Beautiful altered tin.
Posted by: Beate | January 15, 2008 at 06:30 AM
Do you ever sleep? My goodness, one fabulous project after another.....you've done it again......FABULOUS!!!
Posted by: Michele | January 15, 2008 at 06:32 AM
What a pretty tin! thanks for explaining how you did it all, especially getting the heart shape with the stylus, great idea!
Posted by: Etha | January 15, 2008 at 07:17 AM
Debbie,
Thanks so much for the awesome tutorial. It is fabulous and I love it. You always put so much time into these projects and then explaining it all too.
Very Much Appreciated
Dawn B.
Posted by: Dawn Burnworth | January 15, 2008 at 08:16 AM
Gorgeous!
Posted by: Ruth Gore | January 15, 2008 at 08:18 AM
Debbie,
Thanks so much for the awesome tutorial. It is fabulous and I love it. You always put so much time into these projects and then explaining it all too.
Very Much Appreciated
Dawn B.
Posted by: Dawn Burnworth | January 15, 2008 at 08:21 AM
MAGNIFICENT! JUST GORGEOUS! Love this heart tin, you made it sooooo special! :D
Posted by: diane mcvey | January 15, 2008 at 08:23 AM
Wow! These last two posts just leave my jaw hanging open. Beautiful! Just beautiful. I especially love the card with the moon and saying. And, the heart tin is just perfect. Can I come over and play?
Posted by: Susan Moore | January 15, 2008 at 08:37 AM
this is just about the most beautiful thing you've altered! LOVE IT to pieces!
Posted by: Karen Sullivan | January 15, 2008 at 08:44 AM
Beautiful!!
Posted by: Candy aka cwilliams | January 15, 2008 at 08:53 AM
YOu did a fantastic job here. LOVE IT. I've got to go buy a stylus! ;-) Thanks for the continued inspiration. I love coming here!
Posted by: Joanne B. | January 15, 2008 at 09:00 AM
Debbie this is BEAUTIFUL! I love the way you altered it! AMAZING!!
Posted by: Julie Brooks | January 15, 2008 at 09:19 AM
OMG Debbie,
You never cease to amaze me with your talent. This is absolutely STUNNING!!!!! I see a lot of paper tins being bought up!! Chris
Posted by: Chris Mott | January 15, 2008 at 09:23 AM
Lovely! I wish I received such pretty tin. :o) Love the paper and the cut out flowers. TFS!
Posted by: Monika/buzsy | January 15, 2008 at 09:47 AM
Wow this is so beautiful. I love everything about it! :)
Posted by: Ellie Augustin | January 15, 2008 at 10:01 AM
WOW! This is totally stunning!
Posted by: Michelle R | January 15, 2008 at 10:33 AM
That's gorgeous. Thanks for sharing your art.
Posted by: marciad | January 15, 2008 at 11:04 AM
These are so amazing!!! Thanks so much for your indepth instructions-- makes life so much easier for those of us who are challenged with this type of thing!!! :)
Debbie
Posted by: DeborahLynneS | January 15, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Wow... This is so gorgeous. Thanks for the tutorial and for sharing! You blow me away by your creativity!
Posted by: Kelly watts | January 15, 2008 at 12:04 PM
This heart tin is absolutely stunning - I love it! Thanks for the directions. I just ordered mine.
What are you going to do with yours?
Posted by: Michelle Nadraszky | January 15, 2008 at 12:42 PM