Sunday, September 2, 2018

Shark Explosion Box!

My grandnephew, Landon, is turning 8 on Friday.  His current love is sharks and so I made him a special Explosion Box card for his birthday!
Here it is all closed up and innocent looking 
 (accept for that ominous looking shark!)
Then you take off the cover and the box sides 'explode' open and the shark and whale wiggle on their acetate strips that hold them up!  I added the acetate tags to the whale and shark stickers, folding the acetate strips on the bottom edge, attaching that folded edge to the center square with glue.
I also added glue to the bottom of the layered flora sticker between them - the sticker is 3 layers so it held enough glue to allow it to stand up by itself when the glue dried.  I used Tombow glue which dries quickly.
I decorated each sqaure of the sides of the box as well.  
The sentiments in the punched circles are from Salt Air Sentiments by PTI
I used a Numbers Die set from PTI for the 8 -  I stamped 'Landon is' using small alphabet stamps from Karen Foster (retired) and layered it over the 8.
The white coral on this panel is from Reef Builder Die set from PTI.

 All of the stickers came from a Michaels Recollections Sticker set.  They turned out to be the perfect scale for my little Explosion Box!
Here are the measurements I used for the box and cover to create this 2 1/2" square "Explosion Box".
You can make any size box just by changing the measurements.
The Box:  
cut a square 7 1/8" x 7 1/8".  
Score at 2 3/8" and 4 3/4" on one edge, turn the panel and score that edge at 2 3/8" x 4 3/4" - that creates a grid of 9 squares.    
Cut off the squares in the corners.  
(You can trim these cut out corner squares and layer them onto the panels inside your box before decorating.) 
Decorate the panels and center square however you wish.
The Cover: 
Cut a square 4 1/2" x 4 1/2".
Score 1" on all sides,  
Cut in 1" on one side of each corner - being sure there is a tab left on the end of each edge of the cover.  Fold the cover edges down and adhere the tabs to the sides to form the cover. 

When everything is done -  fold up the 4 sides and fit the cover over the top!

I used watercolor paper for my box and cover.  Coloring it by smooshing the panels into Ranger Distress Inks spritzed with water.  I used Twisted Cintron, Mermaid Lagoon and Hickory Smoke, doing one color at a time and drying in between colors.

I think Landon will be surprised with this little Shark Explosion Box when he opens the cover and sees what is inside!  



15 comments:

Patricia Alvarez said...

This is amazing!

Mac Mable said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mac Mable said...

Oh Julia this is such a creative, personal and unique exploding box....he's going to love it. Fun all the way and so very clever. Love how you've personalised it and that you got the whale to stand up. One special and stunning project X Brought a wonderful smile to my face X

DIANA L. said...


This is so awesome, it looks like it was a lot of fun to make to I love it.
Thank you for the inspiration. Have a blessed day
DIANA L.

DL.ART
DIANA L.

Jo said...

This is so impressive, you have such talent when it comes to 3D dimension. Your grandnephew will definitely be thrilled and HAPPY. Bravo! xx

Sharli Schaitberger said...

Eek!! Awesome and terribly frightening box!! *giggle* - he will LOVE it!!

Christine Alexander said...

OMG Julia, what a great underwater scene. Those shark are terrifying I love them :)

nancy littrell said...

OMG...You are so amazingly creative, Julia. Landon is going to be shocked by his surprise pop up box and Love it! TFS all your details and photos. Hugs...

Bonnie said...

Whoa! That's a mean looking shark! This is so perfect for a shark loving little boy!

Redanne said...

Oh how fabulous is this exploding box, it is so impressive! I am sure Landon will be absolutely delighted with this! Hugs, anne xx

Papercraft Boutique said...

Wow, what a fantastic shark explosion box you created, Julia! It's a gift of love, isn't it? You personalized and decorated each square, and the shark and the whale look awesome! I can imagine Landon's surprised face with the wide open mouth and eyes! He'll love it! Hideko xx

jdmommy - Anne Harmon said...

I can't believe he's turning 8! He will LOVE this, Julia, and will open it over and over again! what a fabulous Auntie you are!! Hugs, mf.

Karen Dunbrook said...

totally awesome...wow...he's going to love it!!
xx Karen

Jo said...

Wow, you are a champ at detail. At 8, I'd be thrilled to get this special box. Like Karen D said, this totally AWESOME! xxx

Mary Marsh said...

this is a fabulous idea for an 8 year old- I am sure that Landon loved it-what boy or girl wouldn't