I was recently asked for instructions on how to make this card, so I thought I would blog about it. Even though I always keep at least one of a 'Fancy Fold' project for future reference, this did make me have to think and I had to play about with it until I fathomed it out again....old grey cells aren't what they used to be !!!!
The last time I made this card was a few years ago, around Christmas time. I stamped and coloured a nativity scene for the card on the inside and was told by the recipients that it looked fabulous on their mantelpiece.
I began with a sheet of 12x12" double sided paper, because when folded you do see both sides and the inside becomes a fold back feature, so plain would not look the same. When selecting your paper, try to choose one without a direction, or some of it may appear upside down when folded. Smaller prints also work better on the whole. I cut mine down to 30 x 24 cms. Save the wider strip you cut off, to make a belly and to hold it closed flat for posting.
In the landscape position, score at 3, 9, 21 & 27 cms.
In the portrait position score at 6 & 18 cms.
Looking at the first diagram, you now need to make the diagonal creases in the directions and positions marked in red. Don't sharpen your creases just yet.
When you have scored all your lines, in a landscape position, fold in the sides, turn back the ends, and make sure these meet in the middle before you use a bone folder to sharpen your creases (photo on the left below) Then fold the corners in (the diagonal score lines should help you do this - centre photo below), and re sharpen all these folds (photo on right below)
Now taking hold of the turn backs, you should be able to gently ease it apart so it becomes a free standing, open box. With your fingers in the middle at the top and bottom of the box, push in towards the centre until it looks like the photo on the left. Use a bone folder to sharpen all creases.
Here's the 'for instance I had kept from before (not decorated). You can see that the card nestles in the base, but also becomes your card focal point when free standing. Because the base area is a 12 cms square, you will need to make this 'feature' card a fraction smaller, but don't reduce too much or it will fall out too easily.
I had put photo corners on mine out of some of the left over paper ***after the belly band has been made, ready to frame the image. Alternatively, use a complimentary colour of plain card.
On the belly band below, I have cut a narrow strip, and reversed this on a broader strip (showing both sides of the double sided paper used) The centre fluted circle (this can be plain or a different shape), simply covers the join, and possibly bridges a gap, depending on the thickness of the paper used.
So....what are you waiting for???? Get cracking !!!
Christine
Whilst this is a square exploding box, they can be made in a variety of shapes, and with fewer or more layers...so have a play !
The basis of this square box is made up of 9 equal sections, but again, you might have shallower or higher sides, so experiment once you've made this one.
Because I aren't one for wasting, I decided to make my largest layer 21 cms square, as an A4 piece of card is 21cms wide.
This was then scored into thirds - 7 cms wide sections. The other pieces were cut into 18 cms square (scored at 6 cms), 15 cms square (scored at 5 cms) and 12 cms square (scored at 4 cms) The four corner squares were then removed to form a cross shape.
I made the lid slightly larger than the base area, otherwise you will find that it squashes the sides in, especially when you have multiple layers. So I started with a 12.5 cms square and scored at 2.5 cms and 10 cms. This allowed a nice depth to enclose the base and sides within. The notches were removed to create flaps ready for shaping and securing the lid. I did however do all decorations before I made the lid up, and indeed before I fastened all the layers together.
Once you've cut all your layers you should have something like this. They don't have to alternate in colour, this is entirely personal preference.
And this is the lid waiting for the notches to be attached to the inside of the lid sides
All the layers are decorated (below) before attaching to each other at the base section.
Whilst I have only decorated with papers at this stage, it is ready for me to personalise when I decide on it's recipient. These particular papers I feel would work equally as well for a male as well as a female.....so I have plenty of scope.
This is a Christmas themed one, using the classic 'Twas the night before Christmas' poem, spiralling around the layers among the embossed pictures.
And the blue one was something I made eons ago .... when peel offs were all in fashion !!!
Christine
This card is made from a single sided gate fold and a smaller square card, that partially interlock.
So the main part is 6" x 9", scored at 6" to make a 6" square for the back panel, with a 3" x 6" panel at the right hand side. The smaller card is 4 1/2" x 9", scored in half to make a 4 1/2" square. This is matted centrally on the back panel and opens as normal, with the spine at the left hand side.
If
you are covering your back panel with patterned paper, do this before
attaching your smaller card. I matted plain card to stamp verses and
sentiments upon.
Then it's simply a case of decorating....have some fun !!!! I added a couple of folded ribbons with brads to the front card, so I disguised them on the inside with a punched flower and leaves in similar colours to those of the patterned papers I had used.
And this is a finished version, although there is plenty of scope to add more if I choose.
Christine
I began this project with two large tags - they don't have to be a fancy die cut shapes, rectngles with snipped triangular corners would work equally as well. (mine are approximately 12 x 8 cms) They are joined together with a panel that is 7.5 x 30 cms, scored at 7.5, 15 & 22.5 cms, thus creating 4 x 7.5 cms square sections. When I joined the outer sections to the insides of the tags, I came in about 1/2 cm from the edge.
The patterned paper mats were cut to 7 cms squares, and the white sections were cut to 6 cms squares. The verse was something I found on the internet. I played about with it, changing the size, font and 'bold' for certain words, and printed onto copier paper until I was happy that I could cut into 6 cms squares. The final square I have left to be able to write my own personal message on. The white squares were also edged with a pale blue ink to draw it altogether. The blue circles are there purely to cover the holes that the die made when cut. I could have added ribbon as an alternative.
The front cover was a mixture of stamping, punching and die cuts to create a bit of a collage. And to tie all this together, I added a dictionary quote to complete.
Christine
The last time I made this card was a few years ago, around Christmas time. I stamped and coloured a nativity scene for the card on the inside and was told by the recipients that it looked fabulous on their mantelpiece.
I began with a sheet of 12x12" double sided paper, because when folded you do see both sides and the inside becomes a fold back feature, so plain would not look the same. When selecting your paper, try to choose one without a direction, or some of it may appear upside down when folded. Smaller prints also work better on the whole. I cut mine down to 30 x 24 cms. Save the wider strip you cut off, to make a belly and to hold it closed flat for posting.
