Carolyn's Creative Corner: April 2012

The base for this card is created using the Cricut Cartridge "Wild Card" and the Gypsy.

The window shadow box is #49 on the overlay of the Wild Card cartridge.

I will use the window box for the front of the card.

The solid box will be trimmed and used as the card base.

The window base has been cut and scored.

I have applied 1/8th inch Tacky Tape on the flaps.

The background inside the shadow box is icon #9 from the Wild Card Cartridge.

The leaves are icon #25. The flowers are icon #11

The green background paper has been embossed with a Cuttlebug folder.

The flowers have been colored with Copic Markers and decorated with gemstones.

Placement of the background before closing the shadow box.

Butterflies on a branch from the Cricut Lite Cartridge "Botanicals" will be added to the background before closing the shadow box.

Butterflies on a Branch!

Dimension taple has been added for depth. Some gemstones and clear glitter Gel Pen are added for interest.

The butterflies are positioned on the background and glued with dimensional tape.

The white flowers are from "Wild Card".

Sheer ribbon has been adhered to the edges of the shadow box using 1/8th inch tape. Length was left to tie a bow on the side of the shadow box.

A Martha Stewart Butterfly paper punch and gemstones was used to complete the shadow box.

The solid box was trimmed to create the card base. The shadow box was glued to the front of the card base. The inside of the card using white and blue paper for the sentiment/message. The flower is from the "Wild Card" cartridge.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

Have a wonderful week!

I am an Exploding Box newbie!

I have wanted to make one of these for years, but was never motivated to create an

Exploding Box!

There is a challenge on the Exploring Cricut Blog

http://exploringcricut.blogspot.com/2012/04/new-challenge-starts-today_23.html

that inspired me to create an Exploding Box! After checking through my Cricut Cartridges, I found there are no Exploding Boxes on any of the cartridges that I have.

So, I had to rethink the challenge!

I made the Cricut box part of the surprise inside the Exploding Box!

More about that later!

The Exploding Box is labor intensive, but with clear instructions, the box

isn't really complicated to make.

I used Cricut Cartridge "Flower Shoppe" for the flowers and the Cuttlebug embossing folder "Kassie's Brocade" for the decorative layers on the outside. The lace and trim were some that I had in my stash.

I think it is time to open the Exploding Box!

Isn't this fun!

I had the best time decorating these little pages!

Notice the box in the middle! It holds lots of hope and encouragement!

The little popcorn box is created using the Cricut Cartridge "Tag, Bags, Boxes, and More". I decorated it with layers made using the Cuttlebug folder "Kassie's Brocade" inked with Versa Mark Turquoise pigment ink. The little box is permanently glued to the Exploding Box.

A close up of the little box. I have messages of hope and inspiration inside the little box.

The pages have scripture and inspirational messages.

Butterflies and gemstones decorate these pages.

Handmade paper, paper punches, and stamps decorate these pages.

More messages of hope and encouragement.

More pages!

An Explosion of Hope!

There are more messages of hope and encouragement inside the box!

These little messages are included!

I used this paper pack from Big Lots for the Exploding Box.

I used a variety of equipment to create the Exploding Box.

I used these stamp sets for the pages.

This ends my Exploding Box post!

If you would like have the instructions for making the Exploding Box keep reading!

I have created a picture tutorial!

You will need 3 sheets of 12 inch x 12 inch cardstock. A heavier weight paper is desirable for this project. I am using 3 different colors for the tutorial.

Cut 1 at 9 inches x 9 inches (lavender)

Cut 1 at 8 5/8 inches x 8 5/8 inches (green)

Cut 1 at 8 1/4 inches x 8 1/4 inches (yellow)

Score the 9x9 sheet on all sides at 3 inches (shown here)

I went over the score marks with ink so you can see how it is scored.

All three sheets should be scored as shown.

Score the 8 5/8 x 8 5/8 sheet on all sides at 2 7/8 inches

Score the 8 1/4 x 8 1/4 sheet on all sides at 2 3/4 inches

Following the score lines, cut off the four corners on all three sheets.

As shown in this picture.

Now is the time to ink the edges (if desired). Be sure to ink both sides of the paper.

If you wish to round the corners, do that now. I will not round the edges on this box. I did round the edges on the earlier Exploding Box.

It is time to adhere the papers together. Turn the smallest section (yellow) over and put double sided tape in the middle section. The tape is difficult to see in this photo, but it is there!

Turn the paper over, center it over the middle paper (green) and adhere together.

Put double sided tape on the back of the middle paper (as shown). Turn over, center on the largest paper (lavender) and adhere.

The three papers should line up like this.

Full view!

Fold up the sections to form the Exploding Box!

You are now ready to decorate to your heart's desire!

As many pages as you wish, however you wish!

To create contrasting layers, I used the following measurements:

Large layer--2 3/4 inches x 2 3/4 inches

Medium layer--2 5/8 inches x 2 5/8 inches

Small layer--2 3/8 inches x 2 3/8 inches

Center of box--2 5/8 inches x 2 5/8 inches

Cut as many layers as you wish!

The Lid!

To create the lid...

Cut 1 sheet at 6 1/4 inches x 6 1/4 inches

Score at 1 1/2 inches from all edges

Turn the scored paper over. Score from the tip of each corner diagonally to the corner lines.

(Shown above with ink)

Don't forget to ink the edges of the lid (if desired)!

Fold all scorelines, pinch corners, and fold inward.

Use glue to hold the lid together. Double sided tape may not hold over time.

I use Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive to hold the corners together. I put paperclips on the lid to hold the corners in place until they dry. The lid will be removed many times and will have decorations added to the top. Glue works better than tape!