prod griper: ?Exploding? Box Scrapbook

Hi ? poki here with another project that allows you to use pre-made layouts to create a gift! ?I love making mini books as gifts for family and friends, but this time I decided to make one just for me! The format is a small box, and when you remove the lid the sides fall down revealing 13 places to attach your photos or layouts.

To create the artwork for my ?exploding? box, I used the beautiful Boutique Collab called SLAINTE?which is part of the ?Digi Chicks Around the World ? series for 2013.The kit is so full of beautiful patterned papers in shades of green, blue, brown, and gold. ?Being as ?fond of green as I am, I headed straight for the greens in the kit, and I was not disappointed! ?I found a quote that perfectly reflected what I wanted this book to be ? a tribute to the 13 family and friends who are a blessing in my life everyday! ??Love overflows and Joy never ends, in a home that is blessed with Family and Friends.? ?I used the quote to create the artwork for the top of the box!

Using a similar format and background, I created the 13 artpieces for inside the box, with photos of my family and friends! ?Here is the layout I did with a photo of me and my BFF Mike!

The base of the box is made with 2 pieces of ?cardstock (one is 12? x 12?, the other is 10 1/2? x 10 1/2?). ?The 12? x 12? pieces is scored at 4? and 8? both directions, which gives you 9 blocks that are 4? x 4?. ?The four blocks in the corners are removed, leaving what looks like a square cross. On the 10 1/2? x ? ? ?10 1/2? pieces of card stock score at 3 1/2? and 7?, giving you 9 blocks which are 3 1/2? x 3 1/2?. ?Remove the four corner pieces, leaving another square cross ? Here are some mock-ups of the way the two square crosses are completed:

FRONT OF 10 1/2? X 10 1/2? piece

Back of 10 1/2? x 10 1/2? piece

Front of 12? x 12? piece

Back of 12? x 12? piece (the outside of the box!)

The base for the lid of the box is an 8.25 x 8.25? piece of cardstock, scored at 1? and 2? all around the outside. ?After scoring, 2? slits are cut on opposite sides of the piece. ?Arrows in the example below show where slits are cut. ?Fold up the left and right sides, and fold tabs toward the middle, and then fold top and bottom sides over the tabs and adhere. ?Artpiece is added to the top of the lid, and a strip is added around the 1? side of the lid! ?Two holes were punched in the edge of the lid ?to insert ribbon and tie a bow.