Two Dollar Templates - Explosion Box
November 20, 2010
I'm introducing something new. And cheap! It's a template (plus assembly instructions) for two dollars!
First up we've got the Explosion Box. I posted a Christmas version of this box the other day and promised that I'd show the same box in a completely different theme.
I created another box using Stampin' Up! supplies, this time in a floral/birthday theme and using the Pop-up Cake die.
The box, when closed, measures 5.75" square on top, and is about 5.5" tall with the lid on. I designed it to be constructed out of three pieces (or half a pack) of Stampin' Up! #114320 On Board Long Board chipboard. You could also use 3 sheets of Sizzix matboard, any color, or any other chipboard you have on hand.
When you lift the lid straight up, the four sides will fall open. This box will accomodate pretty much all of the Sizzix pop-up dies, including the cake. Simply build your pop-up in the usual manner on any of the interior folds and it will pop-up when the box falls open.
Here is a close-up of the cake, which was constructed using the Reinforced Cake Instructions (available in this blog's sidebar) and Whisper White cardstock. The side tiers are made from Designer Series Paper (Sweet Pea) with two layers of white lace ribbon on the bottom and top tiers. The center tier is covered in felt flowers.
Now I know what you're thinking. You're thinking "Why do I need to build the cake over a card fold? Why don't I just construct a static cake and stick it in the center of the box?
Good question! You could certainly center the cake in the box as a static object, but by taking advantage of the fold-a-bility of the pop-up cake, it will end up positioned diagonally inside the box when closed, leaving you room to add a small gift or gift card next to it inside the box! (Plus, it's just fun when things pop up!)
All Supplies Stampin' Up! with exception of: ribbon lace (Wyla), pink ribbon (source unknown), big buttons (general craft)
Want to make your own Explosion Box and don't feel like measuring? How about an inexpensive template set with some pictorial instructions to walk you through creating the box? The templates are for the box itself - not the pop-up parts, which are dies that have their own instructions included in the packaging.
(However, I do, within the Explosion Box instructions, tell you where to place the base piece if you're using the O Christmas Tree pop-up die inside the Explosion Box so it fits properly. From there you would just follow the instructions that came with the die to complete the tree.)
After your payment of $2, you'll be e-mailed the 5-page PDF file. The first 3 pages are pictorial instructions and the last two pages are templates.
Reiterating - this template set is only to make the Explosion Box itself, as shown in the diagram above, in whatever colors/themes you choose. It does NOT include templates for the pop-ups - those are made using my pop-up dies and a Sizzix Big Shot die-cutting machine. The pop-up dies come with their own instructions and can be purchased through your Stampin' Up! demonstrator or, for non-SU! dies, wherever you normally purchase Sizzix dies.
Delivery of this template set is via e-mail upon payment.