Several people have asked me to create a Christmas Explosion Box. These boxes are easy to create and always fun for the recipient to open. Below is a tutorial on how to create this project.

This is a picture of the top of the box.  I used Secret Garden Graphic 45 design paper to cover the top and sides of the box;   The Grid framing "Secret Garden" was die cut using Susan's Garden Patch - 7/8-inch & Mini Leaves die set.  Four squares were cut out of the center of the grid and centered over the words in the design paper.  I love the size of the flowers in the new collection from Susan.  I die cut the Garden Notes Hydrangea  using four shades of light purple card stock and mixed the colors on each flower.  I used black Elizabeth Craft Design Black Corner Stickers, tulle and a ribbon to complete the top.

sponsors: WorldWin Papers and StencilGirl

For  this challenge I created a 6"x6" Explosion Box. This is a larger explosion box from any others I have seen or made. I created a larger box so I could enclose a a "chest" in the center, with four drawers.   Below I have a tutorial to show you how I created it.

I used a 12"x12" piece of card stock for the bottom of this explosion box. Using my Scor-Pal, I scored at 3" from the edge of the card stock, on all four sides.   Crease each score line well with a bone folder. The corner squares were cut off as shown. If you haven't made an explosion box before, the sides fall down when you remove the lid from the box.  These measurements will create a 6"x6" explosion box. 


Close up pictures of the small box inside the Explosion Box.  Susan's Garden Hydrangea flowers decorate the top of this box.

This is a picture of the products Tombow sent me to work with on my project:  The Tombow Stamp Runner Dot Adhesive, Tombow Dual Brush Pen Set, and Irojiten colored pencils.  Thank you Tombow; I loved working with these products.

For my project, I decided to design an "Explosion Box".  I love creating flowers from card  stock, so my box contains many flowers.  

This is a picture of the top of the lid.



This picture shows the die cut pieces used for the small roses using the Susan's Garden "Mini Petals" dies.  On the left, shows the petals and the base used for creating the small roses.  Each package of Susan's Garden Flower Sets includes all pieces needed to complete the flower including the leaves.  The second picture shows the next step -- glue petals on every other point on the base and the picture on the right shows the completed layer which will be used for the bottom of the flower.  I created two layers like this and glued them together to form a rose.  Next I created a small rose bud to attach to the center.  For the buds, some of the petals (6 or 7) were shaped around self closing tweezers.  I have many tutorials on my blog on how to create these flowers.

For the Explosion Box lid I cut another piece of card stock 8" x 8" and scored each side at 1 7/16" on all four sides.  The lid must be slightly larger than the box in order to fit properly.  The sides were cut up to the score line as shown above.  A small "V" shape was cut off on the outer piece (the piece that will be the flap that is attached inside to form the lid).  I used the Tombow Stamp Runner to attach the flaps inside.

I want to show you how I created the design on the side of the lid.

 I used Liquitex Modeling Paste and The Crafters Workshop "Mini Birds of a  Feather" template on pieces cut to fit each side.  As soon as the modeling paste was dry, these pieces were added to the side pieces of the lid with Tombox Stamp Runner.  Right under these textured pieces I added a Spellbinders "Flourish Trim".  The sides of this Flourish were a little too wide, but were trimmed off to fit. 
I hope you enjoy this project I designed for the Tombow "100 Day Celebration".

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I showed you the lid to this explosion box a couple of weeks ago and promised to show you the inside later.  I forgot to do that, so I am doing it today.  This box was created using the following stamps/dies from Heartfelt Creations:  HCPC 3325 Daisy Patch Bouquet PreCut set; HCPC 33324 Daisy Patch Swirls PreCut Set; HCPC 3318 Daisy Patch Flowers PreCut Set; HCD 703 Daisy Patch Diecuts; HCPC 3363 Inspire Me Sentiments; HCD 702 Decorative Butterfly-Border Die

I designed a Tea Cup explosion box for Joan's Workshop last week and it had a larger base in order to accommodate the tea cup.  This explosion box is 11.25” square when opened out. Start by scoring at 3.75 inches from all 4 sides then cut out all four corners so you have a “t” shape. The lid is 5 7/8” square. Score at 1” from all 4 sides. Cut a 1” slit up toward the middle section on both score lines on one edge. On opposite side, do the same thing. Cut corners diagonally. After decorating, fold on score lines and attach corners with ScorTape to create lid. Use the largest Classic Square Nestability to cut 10 squares. Emboss 5 of these with your favorite embossing folder. Use the second largest Classic Square Nestie to cut 5 more squares and emboss these also. Cut five squares with the Nestability, next to the largest, Lacy Square die using a coordinating color.

The Daisy Patch Swirl was stamped in green on the smallest squares for the inside of the box, using Olive Pastel Chalk Ink. The Daisy Patch Bouquet was stamped in green three times using the same ink. Two of these will be layered for the inside middle of the box and one for the box top. All the leaves were colored with a green chalk pencil. Using the three smallest single daisy stamps, many were stamped using Rose Coral Chalk ink. They were cut out with the matching dies. All the flowers were shaped and layered then placed over the images that were stamped with green ink. Pearls were added. On the lid two Decorative Borders were layered on top square, then the arrangement placed between them. A punched border was added around the bottom of the lid then trim added along the top of it attaching both with ScorTape. For the front of the closed box, embossed squares were added to each side, then the sentiment was stamped and cut out and a Decorative Border placed on top.

Explosion boxes are so fun to create.  Hope you will give it a try.

The products used to decorate this box are: as mentioned above the Sizzix Big Die "3-D Tea Cup;  JustRite "You Inspire Me" and "Mother Nature's Gifts" stamp sets; Martha Stewart "Monarch butterfly trim" punch; Martha Stewart "Monarch Butterfly" punch; Sizzix Corner Flourish #2; Sizzix Branch with Leaves; Nestabilities Lotus Pendant; Pink and Purple vellum for the flowers.  The saucer that comes with the die was too large so I used two Nestability ovals:  the smallest Petite Oval Lg and the second smallest Classic Oval Scallop.  The cup was embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder.  I did not emboss the handle to make it look more realistic.  The trim on the lid was something in my "stash".  It was attached with ScorTape. All products used for this project can be purchased from Joan's Gardens.

Two other projects were completed at the workshop and I will show them tomorrow.  I think every one had a great time working on this project.  Joan's next workshop will be in June.  These workshops usually fill up even before she announces them, so if you would like to attend, be sure and email Joan for date information and to make your reservation.  There is no charge for her workshops.  You can see the other projects and read about the workshops she had this weekend at Joan's Gardens.

A few weeks ago, I showed you a lid from another explosion box I made.  That one is a different size and I will post that box again showing the inside, and will give you the dimensions.  Watch for that one later this week.