Christmas Explosion Box

Hi.  I am very excited to share my latest project. An explosion box I made with the new imagine cartridge “Santa’s Village”.  This cart has some wonderful images that print/cut in multiple layers for a three-dimensional affect.  Here are some of the first cuts I made.

I had been planning an explosion Christmas box, as a gift to the grandparents (with photos of the kids) for a while.  I had my layers all cut (directions below) but was unsure of how I wanted to decorate until I saw this cart.  I noticed it on the Hello Thursday release, ordered it Friday and had it in my hands by Wednesday.  Since I had all layers and mats already cut, I didn’t get to use the cute patterns that came on the cart (although they would have worked), but the papers I had already chosen coordinated perfectly with the colors and images on this fantastic vintage looking Christmas cartridge.   

For the Christmas tree in the center I cut out six trees at 4 ½ inches (three of them are flipped images).  I scored all six down the center and alternated flipped & un-flipped trees gluing each half to a different half of another tree.  I made sure not to glue the base”skirt” of the tree; with those, I folded out to make a stand and wrapped fringed around it.  I added some stickles and a tiny tinsel garland to the tree and ta da – I love how it turned out!

Next, after gluing all my mats to the layers, I added ribbons, decorative brads, paper clips, and gems to spruce it up.  Then on the inner layer I glued the 3D images I had print/cut on my imagine.  

I real like the finished product.  Now I just need to add some picture of my boys, and I’ll have one gift down – that is if I can part with this – I really like it.   

Supplies Used

Cardstock (open stock) – dark olive green, dark red, soft yellow
Printed papers – Graphic 45(Christmas Emporium) and Simple-Stories (25 Days of Christmas)
Thumb tacks (large) - for feet
Handel/knob from Memory Makers (I think)
Generic ribbons, swirl paper clips, gems, and gel pens
Creative memories corner rounder, adhesive pop- squares, and glue dots
Martha Stewart’s and G-Studio inks
Martha Stewart’s scoreboard (must have tool)
Glue gun
A piece of decretive medal (jewelry salvage) for handle base embellishment
Tiny garland
Gold Stickles
1-inch square chipboard  for support under lid knob
Big bite crop-a-dile for hole in center of chipboard piece & metal embellishment
Snatas' Village Cart
Celebrate with Flourish cart
Cricut Imagine

Box Instructions

Start with 12 X 12 – score at 4’ and turn, score at 4” and turn (repeat four times)
--I say “turn” because on the remanding pieces this will be important to get the square center.
Second piece – use a 11 x 11 sheet – score at 3¾ (turn) and repeat four times (don’t forget to turn)
Third sheet – 10 X 10 - score at 3½ and turn (repeat four times)
Lid – 8 x 8 sheets – score at 2’ turn and repeat four times.

For the three base pieces you will need to cut out the 4 corners on each piece, leaving a pulse sign.  The corners you cut out can be trimmed and used at photo mats on another layer.

For the lid, only cut one side of the corner piece so it will fold in and glue to the next side of the lid. DO NOT cut out the corners altogether on the lid. 

Decorate and add photo mats before you glue centers bases together, as it is a lot easier to work with while they are separated.

I used three solid colors with four different coordinating patterned papers for this box. 

Hope you enjoyed this project. 

God bless & happy scrappin’

A Halloween and a Fall Layout

 Trick-or-Treat

The spider was cut from the Designer Calendar cart and her head is an apple shape from the Celebrate with Flourish cart -- pop-dotted for depth. The spider has 2 red brads for eyes, a scrap of white for fangs, and a mini pom-pom for her egg sack. She is covered with paper glaze to get the shiny look. I used the same Celebrate with Flourish cart for the title “Trick-or-treat”. Various sizes of a card base from A Child’s Year were used for the photo mats. The layout was topped-off with brads and spider ribbon. I belive the patterned paper is by Creative Imaginations.

Happy Fall Y’all!
This layout was originally for a challenge on the cricut circle board a month or so ago, but I was not able to post it in time. .

I used the Old West cart for the nice box lettering. The scarecrow, tree, and fall leaves all came from the Celebrate with Flourish lite cart. A jack-o-lantern was cut from a sheet of paper and used for the scarecrow’s head. The moon is just a plain circle, cropped. A “ribbon hole” punch was used on the layered rectangle frame and a soft sage green ribbon was weaved thru for the final touch. Sorry, I do not recall who the fall patterned paper is by.

Fathers Day Cards

Here are the cards I created for Father's Day 2010

This was made with Lifes a Beach cart

 Both made with Celebrate with Florish Cricut Cart

This one made with Everyday Paper Dolls cart