Christmas Explosion Box

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.

Step 1.  Create the lid of the Explosion Box.  The lid must be slightly larger than the bottom of the box.

Step 2.  Use a piece of 12x12 white card stock.  Using a ScoreBoard, score all four sides.  With the card stock on the ScoreBoard, move the card stock over 1/16 inch and score at 3 inches.  Complete this process on all four sides.  Fold ends in on score lines and crease well with a bone folder.

Step 3.  Cut on the sides along score lines on the opposite sides and fold to create flaps that will be used to glue to the inside of the lid.

Step 4.  To decorate the lid, use the ModaScrap Christmas Holidays design paper.  For the top of the lid, cut a piece 6 1/8 inches square.  For the side panels, cut strips 6 1/ 8 inches by 2 7/8 inches.  Be sure to keep the wood grain on the design paper going in the same direction for the side panels.

Step 5.  Glue the design paper strips to the lid as shown.  The four corners will not be covered.  Use a circle punch and punch a half circle on two opposite sides.  This will make it easier to open the box.

Step 6.  Glue the end corners to the inside of the side panels, being sure to keep the edges even so the lid will be square.  It is best to use glue, rather than double sided tape, for this process because you can slide the panels to get the perfect fit.

Step 7.  Decorate the lid.  The die sets used on this box include:  Garden Notes Poinsettia, Whitepine Bough & Pine Cone,  and Berry Branch die sets were used for the floral arrangement.  The A Way With Words Noel die set was die cut 3 times and each glued together for added dimension.  The Reindeer die set was used to die cut the deer 3 times.  The 3 deer were glued together for dimension.  Snowflake die set was used to die cut one white snowflake.  Gold Line Peel Off Stickers were used to go around the edges and corners.  Gold Glitter Dot Peel Off Stickers were used to add to the center of some of the snowflakes in the design paper, in the center of the large snowflake and one small dot for the eye on the reindeer.

Step 8.   For the bottom of the box, use a piece of 12x12 inch card stock.  Use the ScoreBoard and score at 3 inches on all four sides.  Use scissors and cut out the four corners.  Use a bone folder to press score lines toward middle.

Step 9.  Create the panels for the inside  of the bottom.  Cut the pieces 5 3/4 inches x 2 3/4 inches for the side panels.  Cut a piece of card stock 6 inches square to fit in the center.  You can use the Lots A Dots embossing folder to create a design on these pieces.

Step 10.  Glue the embossed panels to the inside of the bottom, as shown above.

Step 11.  To decorate the inside.  Cut a piece of red card stock 6 inches square.  Use the largest Garden Notes Frame It/Stitched Squre die to die cut an opening in this piece to create a frame.  Use strips of dimensional tape along the edges of this frame and attach in the center.

Step 12.  Use the Garden Notes Poinsettia die set and create one poinsettia.  Use the Whitepine & Pine Cone die set  and the Beautiful Baubles die set for the pine branches and pine cones.  Use the Garden Notes Leafy Berry Branch die set to die cut one branch.  Add Autumn Red Nuvo Crystal Drops for the Berries.  When the berries are dry, make the floral arrangement in the lower left corner of the frame.  Add a small gingham bow below the poinsettia.

Step 13.  Use the Winter Sentiments stamp set and stamp the sentiment using VersaFine Black Ink and clear emboss.  Die cut the sentiment using the Dotted Scallop Rectangle die set.  Use the same die and die cut an additional rectangle and glue to the back of the sentiment to add strength.   Attach in the upper right corner using dimensional tape.

Step 14.  For the top panel, use the Snowflake Border die set.  Die cut three borders and glue together.  Glue to  the top panel.  Use Christmas Wishes Gold Peel Off Stickers for the sentiment, and one Gold Line Peel Off Sticker at the bottom of this panel.

Step 15.  For the left panel, use the ModaScrap Christmas Holidays paper pack and cut out the tag.  Glue to a piece of red card stock and trim around the edges for a background.  Use the Snowflake die set and die cut two large snowflakes.  Layer the snowflakes using dimensional tape between them.  Attach to the top of the tag. Add Gold Glitter Dot Peel Off Stickers to the points on the snowflakes.   Add Gold Corner Peel Off Stickers on the four corners.

Step 16.  For the right panel, use the ModaScrap Christmas Holidays paper pack and cut out the 'believe' tag.  Trim down and back with a piece of red card stock.  Attach to the middle of the right panel.  Use the Snowflake die set and die cut two snowflakes.  Add Gold Glitter Dots to the snowflakes.  Add Gold  Corner Peel Off Stickers on the four corners of this panel.

Step 17.  For the bottom panel, Cut a piece of white card stock a little smaller than the embossed panel.  Score around the edges for a finished appearance.  This will be the space to write a personal message.  Add one die cut snowflake in the upper left corner of this panel.  Add Gold Glitter Peel Off Dots to the snowflake.

The finished Christmas Explosion Box

You can create a decorated gift box using these same instructions by not cutting off the corners on the bottom piece.  It would be assembled the same as the lid.

Merry Christmas!