Final Christmas Explosion Box & TIPS for making them!

Today is the 10th box, my daughter's. I also went with a pastel theme but, candy & cookies instead of animals on this one.

I did use one Cricut cut and it was the candy tag from Very Merry Tags, cut and 1" and then trimmed off the hook at the top. I cut it using light and dark pink glitter paper from DCWV. Then I wrapped it with a piece of celophane to give it the appearance of real candy! The little pieces were cut using a mini punch from a Halloween set.


The other mat I loved was the Gingerbread mat. The 'mom' & 'dad' gingerbread are brads that came in a set from the Flower Factory and the two middle gingerbread buttons were from a pack I picked up at Michael's. I sewed one on with pink and one with blue to signify our family ;).



Before I go, here are some tips I have for you on making the boxes. The first is to keep in mind the scale of the boxes. I mentioned in one of the earlier posts that I bought several mini stamp sets to use on these. I also used some items that I had left over from making some mini trees a couple of years ago. The Christmas tree light garland on my son's box and the candy garland (below) were for mini trees. I also used some of the mini candy cane's on my niece's box. My last tip is concerning the lid to the boxes. In the instructions I have, it says to cut the box lid and 8"x8" and then score each side in 2". I did the first one like that but, the box lid is very tight and over time, it will probably show a lot of wear on the box. So, the rest of the lids I cut at 8 1/16" x 8 1/16" and then I scored them in 2" on each side. This makes the base of the lid just a little wider to have the lid go on and off smoothly. It did take me about 4 hours to create each box but, I tried very hard to make each one different and not repeat the same theme and embellishments. Good Luck in making some of your own!!!

An Exploding Five Year Old

We are almost through all of the boxes now. #9 was for my son who loves all things boy, including trains and the GRINCH. I found the Grinch layered stickers and foamies at Michael's, right before Christmas at 70% off so, they were like $1 each. Perfect for him! I didn't use any Cricut cuts because I was running out of time. I did use the Martha Stewart train border punch and bakers twine on one mat. Here are some of my favorites!

Gabby Girl Explosion Box

Box #8 is my other niece. I went with a pastel Christmas theme that included an animal theme. She's a huge fan of Webkins so what better?

I cut the seal from the Create A Critter cartridge. I cut it at 1" in light pink and dark pink. I ran the top, dark pink layer through the Xyron machine and then added pink glitter. I also added small black gems for the eyes. For the background, I cut this shiney, light blue sparkle card stock in the shape of a big ice cube and used the Martha Stewart drippy border punch on the bottom. Then I cut some smaller 'ice cubes' and used a corner rounder on them and inked them. I was very pleased with how the seal turned out!

A few of my other favorites were this deer cut out that came in the K & Co. Swell Noel grand adhesions collection. My little sis found a great deal on several different K & Co. adhesion collections at a local closeout store for $.99 each. They are super cute and I used many of them on this box. Not to mention they are about $3.49 in stores right now so, what a great deal!

I also used the EK Success tree border punch on this box. As you can see, I punched it on a light colored paper and then used green glitter glue from Studio G across the trees. I also used my snowman punch and then glittered it using Cotton Candy stickles.

My Explosive Niece

Explosion Box #7 today. My niece just turned 18 so, I wanted something fun but, more grown up as well. With these boxes, you have to use smaller embellishments and cuts. The largest 'mat' is only 4x4. As a note, I bought lots of the smaller packaged cling stamps (mostly Studio G) for this project. Most of my regular sized stamps are too big to use with the pictures. I will also add that my little sis and I went out shopping this week and got many more of these small stamp sets for $.40 each at Joann's in the Christmas stuff!

The only Cricut cut on this box is the polar bear from Joys of the Season, cut at 1". I put a little piece of tape over his nose and then ran him through the Xyron machine and then used some white fun flock to make him furry. I removed the tape and used a black marker on his nose and eye and then added some Glossy Accents to his nose so that it looks wet. I really like the fun flock and the way that the edges of the polar bear look furry as well. Make sure that you do rub the fun flock into the adhesive with your finger though.

I also used many different embossing folders and punches. One of my favorites was the 'weave' border punch from Fiskars. I used it on each side of this picture and weaved the ribbon through.

An Explosion with a Melody

My 6th box is for my other niece. She's a teenager, very into music and the twilight series. I created this box with the music theme in mind as I had several good paper options and some embellishments that went well. There are no Cricut cuts on this box. The silver flourish embellishments are from Making Memories and the bird tape at the bottom of the one picture is from the dollar bin at Michael's. On this box, I also made the lid a different base color than the base of the box and I liked how that looked as well.

MPS Design Team Challenge

Robyn, My Pink Stamper, is having a challenge over on her blog to pick two Design Team members for her blog, for the next term. The challenge is to make something using pink, green, brown and another color if you choose, along with your favorite Cricut cartridge. Check the challenge out and all the submissions, there are lots of great entries! The link is http://www.mypinkstamper.com/2011/01/my-pink-stamper-design-team-2011.html. You must have a blog and a Cricut to join the challenge/be picked as a Design Team member. Good Luck to all!

For my submission, I decided it was time to bust out with some Valentine's creations. Christmas is over and after making 10 explosion boxes for my family, I was ready to move on. :) My favorite cartridge (although so hard to choose) is Create-A-Critter so, I decided on the owl (second key) at 3 1/4" along with the accessory key branch and then I decided on a 5x7 easel card.

The paper I used is from the latest Martha Stewart V-Day stack. I embossed the pink base of the owl with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder and I added some craft paper behind the eyes to change the color, after I decided to use brads for eyes. I cut the beak by hand and then used Cotton Candy stickles on the beak and the inner ears and I used Star Dust stickles on the front, white feathers. The eye brads are from Eyelet Outlet. After I assembled it, I chalk inked the edges with Color Box pink pastel chalk. I also inked the brown branch with the Pink Pastel chalk and then embossed the leaves only with the Cuttlebug Floral Screen folder and then inked it with the Versa Ink 'tea leaves' chalk. I glued the branch down but pop dotted the owl.

The sentiment bubble was cut from the phrase function on the seal key at 1 1/2" and then I printed the sentiment on my computer. I border punched all three mat layers using the EK Success scallop border punch.

On the inside, I border punched the red mat and then mounted the sentiment on more craft paper and then the MS patterned stock and then the rest of the printed sentiment. The hearts are brads from a Recollections set. The sentiment was pop dotted so that it will stand up to create the easel.

I think the card turned out super cute and I know just who I will send it to when the time comes!! The challenge closes on Wednesday and Robyn will pick the two Design Team members on Friday. Good luck to everyone who enters the challenge!!

My sister's boyfriend Explosion Box

On to #5! My sister's Michigan loving boyfriend. There were no Cricut cuts on his becuase I was able to find a sheet of Michigan stickers that I used to embellish his. I tried to keep the Christmas theme but also incorporate things that each person loves. A couple things I liked best about his was the button snowman I made. I used a snowman punch to add the arms, scarf, and hat. I also love the blue glitter tree. It's actually just a piece of a decorative pick that I cut off. Love it!

Little Sis Explosion Box

Day 4 - My little sis's box. I did a silver, black and red theme. I did a few Cricut cuts on this one because she is new to paper crafting but, I always know that she will appreciate all the details! I cut the owl from Give a Hoot; the city skyline from Plantin Schoolbook; and the Eiffel Tower from Destinations.

On the mat with the owl, I cut the owl at 1" using cream and silver shimmer paper and then used gold stickles on the branch. I embossed velum using the snowflake Cuttlebug folder and then a piece of American Crafts ribbon.

On the city skyline mat, I cut the skyline using Core'dinations black glitter paper and then cut snowflakes out using the Martha Stewart snowflake border punch. I used silver and gunmetal stickles on them as well. The shimmery background paper is from the latest DCWV Luxury stack.

Last, the Eiffel tower. On the destinations cartridge, this cuts in a rectangle frame with 'Paris' at the bottom. I cut the city name off and used it on a gift tag for her. I also cut the remaining part of the frame off and added small scraps of black paper on the back to appear as a black out.

Big Sis Explosion Box

Day 3, this is the gold and black themed box for my older sister. The only Cricut cut here was the steamy mug from the Child's First Year cartridge, it's an icon cut from one of the winter themed main cuts. I did emboss quite a bit and used some great papers for hers as well as snowflakes from the MS snowflake border punch.

Dad's Explosion Box

Day 2, here is the box I made for my father. His has some Slovak sentiments that I printed on my computer as I am first generation American on my father's side and he still is very heavily involved in the Slovak community. The only Cricut cuts on this one is the 'God Bless You' sentiment from the Wild Card cartridge and I cut the shadow function of the cross from the Easter cartridge, in two different colors.

Christmas Explosion Boxes

Merry after Christmas everyone!!! Christmas was great for me and my family! Right after Thanksgiving, I decided to make an explosion box for every member of my family that was going to be at my house on Christmas day for dinner. That was a total of 11 boxes in three weeks! A very ambitious project considering I also work full time and had other things going on with my son's school and other Christmas get together's. I was able to finish 10 of the boxes (my hubby didn't get one but, he did get a personalized calendar so, he was happy). So, I am going to start posting some pics of each one. The outside's weren't anything very special because I simply didn't have time to do more than the inside. I was happy with them though!

Here is the first....my mom's box. I didn't use any Cricut cuts on hers but, I did use a lot of these vintage cut outs from Making Memories

Christmas Goods

I love presents...giving them especially and always getting them from my husband! Along with all of my clothes, perfume, makeup, etc., I got new Cricut mats, blades, 3 Scrappy Moms stamp sets, a ribbon holder, the current DCWV mega stack and 10 cartridges!!! Woohoo! I have added Winter Frolic, Birthday Bash, Wrap it Up, Dinosaurs, Ornamental Iron, Winter Lace, Trim the Tree, Serenade, Lacy Labels, and B is for Boy, to my cartridge collection. Can you believe I have been trolling on line today, looking to buy Paper Lace??? It's now an addition!!! Merry Christmas all!

Ice Skate Snowflake

Ah, a winter card. I didn't make Christmas cards this year because it's very time consuming and I am working on some other things. I did, however, make a couple of cards for the 'special' people on my card list. The red snowflake paper is from The Paper Studio. The ice skate snowflake was cut using DCWV white glitter paper at 4" using the When It's Cold Outside cartridge. The sentiment was in a vintage set that I got at Archiver's from Making Memories and then I mounted it on a green sheet and pop dotted it on the snowflake.



Inside, I added a strip of the snowflake stock and then used the MS snowflake border punch at the bottom. The sentiment is a set I got from Archiver's as well.

Very Merry Deer

Christmas is almost here and I have been very busy with some projects that I am working on. Not to mention shopping and wrapping and getting everything ready. I love the holiday! I made today's card for my little sis. The red and black mounted paper is from the Paper Studio and then I embossed gray vellum with a Sizzex Christmas folder (not sure which one but, it came in a double pack). The reindeer was cut from Very Merry Tags and then I stickled the hoofs and horns. I added a black gem for the eye and a piece of ribbon across the top from Michael's. I LOVE the embossed vellum!
I stamped the sentiment on the inside and then punched the bottom with a MS border punch!

Gingerbread Snowflake

So, I thought I would try my luck at the CC Challenge this week with making a round Christmas card, not using red or green. Hmmm. I cut the brown base using the Wild Card cartridge, round card, blackout function. Then I cut the layers just a little smaller each time and cut them apart to use on the front and then on the inside. The snowflake is the Gingerbread man cut on When It's Cold Outside, cut at 4 1/4" in brown and then the blackout in pink. I decided it was too plain so, I added some candy cane stripes and eyes & buttons to the gingerbread men with pink G Studio glitter glue. It's not my favorite but, it's cute. ;)

Family Name

Well, today is the first gift I have made using the Cricut and I am very pleased with the way that it turned out! My uncle and his family lost their home in March to a house fire and have just rebuilt and moved into their new home. The day after the fire, my mom found five bible pages outside, where their house was and she picked them up and kept them...for her, symbolizing the five people that were in the home at the time of the fire and all made it out safely. So, I got the pages from her to use in my gift for their new home. The frame was a Black Friday deal at Michaels that I got like 60% off. The only issue was the mat was black but, the frame was a PERFECT match to their decor. So, I cut down a piece of white 22x17 paper and then inked it with the Tim Holz antique ink pad. I used my ATG to glue each page to the paper...carefully because they are very delicate at this point with the burnt edges. Then, I used the font on Nursery Rhimes to cut the letters of their last name at 4 1/2" and adhered them to the bible pages. I was pleased with how it turned out and they were very touched. So happy for them to finally have a real home again!!!