Fruit Crate Fun!

Today I'd like to share a cute project that we did at a recent stamping party. It has a lot of steps, but the end result is worth it!
If you look closely at the Fruit Stand Suite as introduced on page 148 you'll see the adorable little paper fruit crates that were created!

Here's my version:

I went on YouTube and watched a couple of tutorials and then adapted them to what I wanted to do--create a little card carrier!  I narrowed mine from the tutorials and widened it just a touch so my cards would fit inside it.
•I cut my Kraft cardstock (#133674) to 2 1/2  by 7 1/2 and scored with the long side up at 1 7/8--flipped it and scored the other side also.  This created the sides of the crate.
•I cut 4 slats at 3/4 by  4 1/4 and scored each of those at 1/4 inch on both sides to create little flaps to attach them.
•I then stamped the crate sides and slats using my Hardwood stamp (#133035) and Soft Suede ink.  I sponged the edges to age it and make it look a little more "woody."
•Punch your handles in the sides- I used the retired small oval punch --the word window (also retired) or the new Classic Label punches were too wide to look good when I narrowed the box.  **If you attach the slats you may not be able to punch out the handles.
•Fold on your scoreline and add Tear and Tape (#138995) to the 1/4 inch scored parts on the slat pieces.  Fit them into the crate and attach to the sides starting at the bottom (matching up the sides and not leaving much of a space on the bottom of the crate) then add the top slat matching it up to the top of the box.  Do the other side.
•Add your doily and a piece of Fruit Stand DSP cut at 2 1/4  by 2 1/4.  The doily and DSP are folded in half and glued on the front of the crate.

I reinterpreted an idea presented at the last SU convention that used the note cards (#131527) cut in half.  Here's what I did:
•I folded the card on the scoreline and cut it in half at 2 1/2" and then keeping each folded trimmed off about 1/8" from the bottom of each card.
•I then cut the envelope in half, sealed the flap and punched a 1/2 oval with my retired small oval punch on the opening side so the card can easily get in and out of the envelope.
•I stamped and decorated the cards with the Fresh Fruit stamp set (#141770).  I stamped 3 strawberries/tops using Watermelon Wonder and Cucumber Crush ink on a scrap of whisper white cardstock and cut them out and also stamped one strawberry & top on each card.
•I used my Wink of Stella (#141897) to jazz the strawberries up a bit, added some strips of Fruit Stand DSP (#141660), a cute bow out of Whisper White Baker's twine (#124262), curled the ends with my scissors and BAM!  You have 2 cute little cards to tuck into a present or slip into someone's mailbox at work.
•I just attached an extra strawberry or 2 onto toothpicks with glue dots and added a sign- the words "For You" are from the Jar of Love set.

If you'd like to order any of the supplies needed to create this project you can go here and get started!