Giving gift cards has become almost the norm but they can seem almost inconsequential just tucked in a card so what could be better than giving the card tucked in a keepsake box? So today I am sharing with you an exploding box. Whilst it is possible to buy the box components pre cut and scored they really are not difficult to make for your self using 12 x 12 card stock and here is how.

 

Take your card stock and score at 4" and 8" rotate and score the opposite direction thereby dividing the card into 9 squares. Now cut out the 4 corner squares using the score lines for cut placement - I find using a craft knife and metal ruler gives a better  result than using a pair of scissors. Reinforce the folds now using a bone folder  and there you go one base piece created.

Now for the lid. Take another piece of 12 x 12" card stock and cut down to make an 8" square. Score at 2" from each edge and then make 4 cuts in the coners created by the score lines.  I do two cuts on two sides which gives me 4 tabs for gluing the sides together. Now you have your lid formed in the easiest way possible. The measurements given here give a lid that fits quite loosely and of course you can adjust to make a tighter fit if you choose too. You can also reduce the size of the side pieces for the lid again by reducing the size of the cardstock - start with 4" and add  2 x depth of the side pieces you want and that will give you a starting square.

To decorate my box I have used 8 x 8 Romantic Journal papers by Stamperia. You will find that these boxes are definitely paper heavy - my make has used almost the entire pack so it is worth having a new pad of papers before you start. All of my paper elements were adhered with Multi Purpose Glue using a pen applicator for ease of application. In addition I scuffed the edge of the mat and layered papers with the edge of a pair of scissors but if you feel this is too dangerous then you can use Tim Holtz Distress Tool. I then added faux stitching around the edges of the papers with a brown fineliner pen.

Cut the base layer of paper for each panel to 3 7/8". Distress and add faux stitching and then adhere in place. You can cut all of these from one piece of paper.

Then the fun begins decorating each panel and creating the central focal diorama. I have added Crafty boards from ATC Overlays set, Heart Mandalas and Flowers sets. In addition I have added scraps of gauze and broiderie anglais type ribbon plus some paper flowers from my stash. 2 opposite panels have been created using the mandala chipboard cut in half. To keep the top panel flat I added scraps of cardboard to the back of it creating added dimension.

One of the remaining panels was created using chipboard flowers. I added a scrap of gauze, then the focal image mounted on cardboard before adding a scrap of lace on top, the chipboard flower and then flowers fussy cut from the papers.

For the final panel I created a pocket into which a gift card and/or message can be slipped.To make the pocket I cut a piece of cardstock3 7/8" long by 1 1/2 wide and then added a panel of paper on top leaving a border.This was adhered in place along 3 sides. I then added the topper being careful to only put glue on the piece that was going to be on the pocket. On top of the topper element I added chipboard flowers, gauze and then floral elements from the collection.

 

To make the concertina element I took an A4 piece of card stock and cut it into 2 3" strips. These were then scored at 3" intervals and the shorter end piece adhered to the back of the second panel removing the shorter panel of the second piece then gave me 6 "pages" to decorate. I adhered the concertina panel to the front and back panels.

The panels were then decorated with papers, gauze, ribbon and elements cut from the papers. I added chipboard feathers to some of the panels tucking them in behind some of the paper elements.

The album was then placed in the center of the box and more elements from the papers, gauze ribbon flowers and chipboard leaves from the flowers along with two bottles containing Burnt Umber and Bronze Glamour Sparkles. I also added some of the glitters to each panel of the box and the more dimensional pages of the mini journal.

The lid of the box was decorated with a mandala chipboard, gauze, paper elements, faux flowers with chipboard leaves. Finally some shabby ribbon and string was adhered around the top of the box using hot glue with a flower placed in the center of the bow. 

I hope you have enjoyed reading my blog this week, stay safe and enjoy some crafting time.

We have lots of new Studio Light arrivals being added to the website - dies, papers, stamps, planner pages and covers to name but a few. We hope to have everything on the website by the end of today. :-)

 

Hello

At the time I did share photos on my social media but for some reason, I never shared the A4 journal as a Blog post.  As I looked through photos from 2020, this journal caught my eye and thought it was a good opportunity to share.

The journal comprises MDF covers with greyboard inserts along with metal rings. This journal is perfect for incorporating further pages whether cardstock, more greyboard, fabric panels, etc.  

For this page, I was seeking to evoke the sense of when life is a struggle, the storms of life, when we feel as though we are bending and swaying but that is okay, this ensures that we do not break, just like a tree bending and swaying in the strongest of storms.

That's Crafty! Clear Stamp Set The Language of Trees Set 2
That's Crafty! Surfaces A4 Journal MDF Greyboard Journal
That's Crafty! A4 Stencil Hex Net TC40005
That's Crafty! A4 Stencil Words TC40001
That's Crafty! Medium White Gesso
That's Crafty! Medium Walnut Crystals
That's Crafty! Pearl Inks Black
That's Crafty! Multi-Surface Paints: White, Black, Grey
Extras: old book text 

The greyboard was prepared with white Gesso and onto this, torn pieces of book text were adhered.  From the outset, I had the idea of torn pieces of book text appearing on each page, to bring interest and also because I wanted the feel of a storybook. The effect is very subtle at times but I like knowing that they are there!

Then, in a very "slap dash" manner and keeping a spray bottle of water and damp cloth beside me, the multi-surfaces paints were applied.

Taking the stencil, with the focus towards the upper left corner, dipping a damp cloth into Pearl Ink in Black, the cloth was rubbed through the stencil, almost a wiping on/wiping off motion, to bring a subtle stencilled effect. Where the tree would be stamped was the area where I wanted the most light to appear, as the backdrop to the stamped tree.

With Jet Black ink, I stamped up the tree which to me represents the phrase "bend and sway" so well.

Life was stencilled from the A4 Words stencil with Multi-Surface black paint, again I opted to use a piece of cloth to stencil with.

I will be sharing further pages throughout February.

Thank you for your visit.

Wishes

Lynne

Bling it all up as much as you want!