Challenge Accepted!

My good friend recently saw a project that was made using an electronic crafting machine, she sent the picture asking if I would be able to recreate it? My response was, leave it with me and I will see what I can do! It took me a few hours as I figure out the measurements - the inside box was the hardest thing and I have now thought of an easier way to create it - next time!

This is not my first explosion box - this is what this style of project is called - you lift the lid and the sides fall down to reveal what is inside. I started with a piece of 12x12 real red cardstock, scoring at 4", 8", 12" on two sides. You cut off the four corners and burnish all the lines. For the lid I cut a piece of real red 6 1/8" x 6 1/8", scoring 1" on all four sides. That is the basic box made, fairly easy - now time to decorate!

I added some Plush Poinsettia Specialty paper to the outside of the box - this paper is beautiful and looks so luxurious, perfect for the outside of the box. I added some strips of Granny Apple Green cardstock to the side of the lid. For the top, I cut a circle of white glimmer paper (retired), I cut a slit in the centre and threaded some real red ribbon through to form a loop. I think the loop invites you to lift the lid so see what is inside:)

For the inside, I matted each of the flaps with white glimmer paper (retired) and then added silver foil snowflakes to two of the flaps and holly and berries to the other two.

Now for the tricky part - the inside box - my first attempt did not go well. So onto the second attempt, I made the box in Granny Apple Green, its a brighter green and it gives the explosion box a bit of a pop of colour when the sides fall away. I cut out a square using the largest square metal die on the four sides and then covered with a window sheet.

I made the 3D Christmas trees using the pine tree punch, punching out three of each colour, I scored each of them down the middle and used liquid glue to adhere them together to form the trees. I used three different greens; Garden Green, Old Olive and Mossy Meadow. I used a glue dot to adhere each of the trees to the bottom of the box and added some white glitter to make the winter effect.

I knew I wanted something big and bold for the sentiment and I think this one from the Christmas Means More set is perfect, especially when it is stamped in real red ink and then cut out with the circle stitched die.