Custom Shadow Box and X-ACTO Giveaway!

X-ACTO recently contacted us to do a giveaway here and try out a few new products.  Since the X-ACTO knife is one of my favorite tools I said "Yes!"

We use X-ACTO knives all the time in the Art Department at Hambly. I also use them at home for different projects. (such as helping to remove stabilizer backing when doing embroidery, and cleaning the kiln wash off the back of my glass pendants after I fire them. Plus my husband is always stealing them for his hobbies. He likes the grip on the designer series.) You can see more ways to use them in the X-ACTO Creative Knife Uses Guide. 

Of course they are a must for any papercrafter or scrapbooker. Here's an easy home decor project I created with just a few supplies using the X-ACTO knife. 

Supplies:

• Shadow box (this one is martha stewart crafts)
• Washi Tape
• Assorted chipboard letters
• X-ACTO (I prefer the retractable knife now that there's a baby in the house)

1. Using a mix of chipboad letters pick what you want to cover in tape.

2. Cover the front of the letters with washi tape. 

3. Flip the letter over and use the X-ACTO to follow the sides of the chipboard and cut the washi tape. 

4. Do the same thing and use the X-ACTO to trim off all the extra washi tape. 
5. I applied a layer of crystal glaze to help seal the letters. 

6. Glue the letters to the outside of the shadow box, and then decorate the inside. You can use this technique to cover any peices of chipboard you have with paper, or washi tape. Then add the custom made letters to any project or layout. 

*Giveaway* 

X-ACTO would like to giveaway an X-ACTO prize pack containing a Retract-a-Blade knife, Designer Series Gripster craft knife and Self-healing mat to 1 lucky reader. Leave a comment below to enter. (open to US addresses only, giveaway ends Nov. 10)

Comments

[Sheri Twing]

I love what you did with those letters. I have a bunch like that I don't use because they look outdated. What a great idea to give them new life!

[Lynn Trussell]

That frame is adorable! Love the idea of placing the altered letters along it's edge!Thanks for sharing <3

[Chunyuan]

so adorable. Love the shadow box. I have to try that technique.

[Katie]

I love my x-acto cutting knife! I use it all the time! :)

[Joanne Pineda]

lovely idea. love the washi and cutting it out genius.

[Renee Zwirek]

Great giveaway! Thanks for the chance to win!

[Jen Rzasa]

I love how those letters look with the pattern! Thanks for the chance to win :)

[Melinda Wilson]

Awesome job on the shadow bow!

[Carrie Rosalind]

LOVE this project and would love to try out this x-acto knife! :)

[Jill T.]

I love my x-acto knife, but I haven't tried the retractable... would love to win!

[Heather V]

Great giveaway! I could really use an x-acto knife!

[christi]

I would love to win. My x-acto knife is so old.

[Chris Dring]

I love this idea! Thanks for sharing! This is a super cool giveaway!

[jpscraps]

Cute shadow box with an adorable subject. I used to have a craft knofe but it disappeared....

[Cynthia Lloréns]

Just a great giveway !!!!! I would love to win!!!
That frame you use is adorable! Love the idea of placing the altered letters along it's edge!
Thanks for sharing you really inspired me!!
Kisses and huges
Cyndi

[Darius B'Alexander]

I honestly don't do a whole lot of scrap-booking, but having an X-Acto in my toolkit is essential. It works well for Kirigami, cutting out stencils, trimming excess resin from a casting mold, fine detail cutting when assembling collages, and of course papercraft http://www.flickr.com/photos/13706164@N04/3371519147/in/photostream/. The self-healing mat that I have is nearing the end of its life, it would be awesome to have a new one.

[Michelle Bazeley]

I don't use an X-acto knife nearly enough! Maybe a new one will inspire me ;)

[Stephanie Sisemore]

Love your blog Allison!

[Kate vickers]

Great tutorial! Love the baby pic! What a cutie!

[cindy barriga]

Fabulous tutorial. Thanks for sharing. Adelle is beautiful.

[bears jersey]

Thanks for informative post. I am pleased sure this post has helped me save many hours of browsing other similar posts just to find what I was looking for. Just I want to say Thank you very much!

[leeann Pearce]

I just want to say it's a smashing project!!!

[Doris]

Cute project and cute baby. I liked the idea of covering letters with the washi tape and sealing them.

[April Derrick]

I love the Washi Tape on top of the letters, and I would certainly love to win the Exacto prize package!

[Kelly Massman]

what a cute photo and frame! thanks for a chance to win!

[{vicki}]

I don't have an X Acto---would love to win!

[upstatelisa]

what a great idea!

[Barbara]

I couldn't live without my X-acto knife - I keep several on hand so that I don't have to switch blades in the middle of a project. Would love to try the Designer Grip!

[conniemelancon]

I love how you used the washi tape. great idea. Thanks for a chance to win.

[Raven]

Love what you did with the letters! And thanks for the chance to win.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=502113430]

I don't know how you could "scrap" without one!

[Jingle]

This is a beautiful project! Thanks for the chance to win!

[Andrew Buchanan]

I love the color scheme, very cute!

[Barbara Thompson]

Love your idea for covering letters with the tape. Love exacto products!

[Rosanne]

Wonderful. Love washi tape. Thanks for the opportunity to claim my prize :)

[Heather]

I love the washi tape, but this project has me sold! I'm buying some!

[angie gutshall]

Beautiful job with frame and I love the use of washi tape!

[laura stewart]

cute project!