Sunday, January 30, 2011

Kraft Explosion Box

I want to show you a fun project today.  It is an explosion box using kraft paper, brown paper and cream paper with just a little bit of red.  I really pushed myself on some of the techniques but I'm so pleased with the way it turned out.  It just goes to show, trying something new can be very rewarding.  The cuts were all done using my Cricut (it requires a 12 x 12 mat) and SCAL2.  I used an SVG from SVGCuts.  You can find the explosion box here.

First the top.  I have never made paper rosettes before.  I love them, I've been eying them but I hadn't tried them.  I must say, I think I'll be doing more.  This rosette is two strips of kraft paper, each 2 inches wide.  I then scored them every half inch, glued them together and pushed the middle down so it would fan out for the rosette.  I then glued a one inch circle to the back of the rosette and the heart with the twine through it to the top of the rosette.

Here is a close-up of the top.

On the edge of the top, I glued a piece of velvet ric-rac from Creative Charms.  I love the way the velvet ric-rac looks with the kraft paper.  It is elegant with out being inappropriate.  I also used Crackle paint along the sides of the top. I used Rock Candy so it would have texture without adding color.


I think this side is my favorite.  You can see the velvet ric-rac again.  I heat embossed the LOVE stamp on the pocket.  I also heat embossed a great Tim Holtz stamp to the tag.
Isn't that fun.  The final thing on this side, I used Versamark to give the kraft paper a little bit of texture.  I stamped the LOVE stamp under the pocket and through out the side.


This is another side.  The flower is part of the cuts from SVGCuts.  The brad in the middle is one of the very fun ones from Creative Charms.

Here is the explosion box opened up.  Doesn't it look fun.  All of the pictures were taken at one sitting this last Thanksgiving. 

You can see more of the velvet ric-rac and the brads in the middle say "We Love You".  They are from the Spare Parts by the Paper Studio.  It is the Hobby Lobby line of products.
Here you can see more of the mats.  I put pictures on the back of each side, in addition to the front.  I never print pictures at wallet size (and normally don't know that to do with wallet sized pictures when I get them) but this was the perfect size.  On the inner pages I really couldn't frame or mat them but the second and third level was perfect for matting.
One last shot of the pages.

I think there will be more explosion boxes in my future.  They are sooo much fun.  Thank you for looking and let me know what you think.

14 comments:

FerrellGraph-x said...

I can only imagine how fabulous the velevt brown ric rack ribbon must be in person!

Tracy said...

Fantastic project! You added great embellishments and the touch of red really pops on the kraft. Thanks so much for joining our challenge this week at The Kraft Journal!

Bee's Zen Garden said...

It looks great and I like your choice of colors! :-D

Audrey Pettit said...

Oh, how fun!! I just adore explosion boxes! They are so amazing when you pull the top off. Such an unexpected surprise. Love all the scallops you used on the photo mats, and adore your accordion flower on top. Thanks for sharing with us at the Kraft Journal.

Cathy said...

That is amazing, I think I may have to try doing the explosion box.
mexicopetshop@hotmail.com

IslandV said...

I love the simple elegance of your explosion box! I need to try my hand at this soon! I don't have SCAL...but will have to see what I can do. I think you are part of Lindy's Stamp Gang Blog hop? you were on the list...but didn't see info on your page...but love LOVE your projects! TFS!!

Tamara Theisen said...

Love how this pops open with so many photo spots. I might have to try this. TFS

Luann said...

I really want to try to make an explosion box. Thanks for the inspiration to do it. I enjoy viewing yours.

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh..I made a very similar box, right down to the scallop fold flower on top. I added a gift card holder in the center.

Love what you did with the photos!

Kari Seals said...

What a great box!

Howsewears said...

I love making explosion boxes as gifts. I made one for a friend who moved far away. I inserted pictures that I "stole" from her Facebook of her dearest friends. When she opened it up, she was absolutely undone. I love it when that happens! Next, I'm going to make an explosion box for a young couple of friends that just got married. I'm excited! Thanks for showing yours. It's great!

Annie said...

oh my goodness this is just fantastic. I must have a go at one of those rosettes - aren't they fabulous and the box is just precious.
Ann xxx
Bah! Humbug! DT

DonnaMundinger said...

WOW! Is this ever pretty! Love the kraft with the elegant touches. Yummy! xxD

Leigh said...

That is so cool! I love this photo album!
--Leigh