Create Your Own Explosion Box and Lid

I've been seeing explosion boxes here and there on different crafting communities and blogs. Have you come across one yet? The concept is very fun and opens up a lot of creative opportunities. Now, at first this may appear to be very difficult, but I assure you, if I can do it, you can too.

What you will need:

Scor-Pal

12" Paper Trimmer

12x12 Cardstock - 2 (one for lid and one for box)

4x4 squares - 10 total (I used Stampin' Up! White cardstock)

2x4 strips - 4 total

Spellbinders Pendant Dies - Fluer de lis and Renaissance Hearts

Cuttlebug Embossing Folders - Fluer de lis and Swiss Dots

Stampin Up! Butterfly Punch
Adhesive Glue Runner
1/8" 3-D Adhesive Dots
Tacky Glue

Adhesive backed half pearls

Sheer Ribbon 22"

Ribbon tag / slide
Paper clips

Creating the basic lid:

Using your Scor-Pal take one of the 12x12 pieces of cardstock and score it at 2", 4", 8" and 10" marks. Do this on two edges of paper so that you create a grid pattern.

Trim your paper at the 2" inch score lines and the 10" score lines.

Now fold at the 4" score lines and the 8" score lines.
Bring the corners toward the center, pinch together creating a triangle.

Add tacky glue to the inside of the corners, press together.

Add tacky glue to one side of the triangle, fold to one side of the lid, secure with a paper clip and allow to dry thoroughly.

Creating the basic box:

You will score a 12x12 piece of paper at the 4" and 8" lines.

Turn paper 1/4 turn and score again at the 4" and 8" lines.

(You should have a grid that looks like a tic-tac-toe board.)

Now cut away all for corners.

You now have your basic explosion box.

(See, I told you this was easy!)

Decorative touches for this project:

Run your 2x4 strips and 4x4 squares through your embossing folder. I chose the Cuttlebug Fleur de lis for mine, but you can use what ever you have on hand.

Now that these are all embossed, use your adhesive tape runner and adhere the 4x4 squares to the outside and inside walls of your box. You will also adhere one 4x4 square to the inside bottom of the box and one on the top of the lid. (Your lid should be dry now so remove all the paper clips.)

The embossed 2x4 strips will be adhered to the outside edges of your lid.

It's just gorgeous already isn't it? We aren't done yet though...we still have the embellishing to do!

Create your own exquisite Spellbinder Pendant embellishment and decorate the top of the lid and the bottom of the inside of the box. (To get the depth on my pendants I used 1/8" 3-D Dots. For the inside pendant I also cut two large shapes of the Renaissance Hearts and did an accordion fold on one, creating the wreath.)

My butterflies were run through the embossing folder Swiss Dots by Cuttlebug. I used a silvery ink to give the base of the butterflies a silvery shadow. Put adhesive tape runner on the body of the top butterfly layer and place on the body of the base butterfly. Now add any embellishments to the body, bend wings up and adhere to the inside of the box walls as desired.

Do any finishing touches that makes your project more appealing to you or the person who will be receiving this fun suprise. (On my example I added an additional butterfly to the top of the lid.)

Now carefully bring the walls up and secure your lid into place. Your box is absolutely beautiful isn't it? (Now, if you made this as a gift, remember not to make it too pretty or you will never want to part with it. hehehe)

(In case you are wondering, the rolled up paper in the rings says, "Marry Me?")

I would like to thank the following persons for the inspiration that their projects gave to me: Sheryl, for her beautiful white on white card and RoyalThings for her ornament made from spellbinders pendants. Both are followers and participate in our weekly challenges. Two very talented women! Thanks!

Thanks also to my friends, Dawn and Eric who recently got engaged. This gave me the inspiration for the purpose of my box.

Also, Mom. Because when my dies weren't working she saved me by letting me borrower her Fleur de lis. (Still wish you live closer Mom but I'm happy the drive is shorter now...LOL!)

If you find yourself in a creative mood why not give it a try? Leave a comment to this post with alink to your box. I will be drawing a winner from those who participate on Sunday. The winner will get a $10 gift certificate for use at the DCRU Store!

Don't forget to come back tomorrow and start on our Blog Hop! It runs through the 28th, so if the holiday has you busier than a one legged man in a can kicking contest, you still have time after the Big Day to hop on over and play along.

While I'm on the subject of fun...fun...fun...at the DCRU DT Blog don't miss out on the Epic Six Give Away. We still need to hit that 500 mark and we are getting closer every day. So, get registered to win and spread the word. Claudia really wants somebody to win this Fantabulous Prize. For all the details click HERE.

Smiles!

Gwen