Another Card in a Box

This is my second version of the "Card in a Box" . The last one fits in a 5 x 7 envelope so I wanted to change the sizing so it would fit in a standard A2, (5 3/4 x 4 3/8) envelope. I also made some other small changes that I thought improved the overall appearance of the card.

To make this card start with Basic White Thick Cardstock cut to 9.5" x 5.5"

Score at 2 1/4, 4 1/2, 6 3/4, & 9 inches along the long side.

Turn your paper and score the short side at 2 3/4".

Burnish multiple score lines along the long side to ensure crisp corners on the box and to ensure that it folds flat when finished.

You will also need to cut two tiny strips for inside the box. These are cut at 3 1/4 x 3/4 inches. Then score 1/2 inch from each end.

Next step is to cut out the small section from the 2 3/4 mark along the 9" score line to the end and remove it. The remaining tab is used to put together the base of your box but don't secure it yet

You can next cut your pieces of DSP (designer series paper) for the base and tops of the box. For the base you will need 3 pieces cut at 2" x 2 1/2"

You will also need 6 pieces cut at 2" x 2 1/2" as well as 1 piece cut at 5 1/4" x 2" in a coordinating pattern for the lids and the back.

The long back piece on this box will be the one next to the tab. This means that the tab faces forward inside your box and makes for a neater back panel. Decorate the bottom (outside) and lids (top and bottom) of your project with the DSP. Make sure the DSP on the top of the lid faces in the proper direction as the lid flops downward when the card is open. I like to use liquid glue to allow wiggle room to make it straight.

Next adhere one side of each short piece of cardstock to the side of the box to form the beginning of a bridge. There are two of these pieces so space them evenly from front to back. Make sure they are straight and use a strong glue such as Stampin' Up's tear and tape to affix it close to the lid of the box. Also adhere a piece of tear and tape to the opposite tab but leave the backing on for now.

You can then close the sides of your box by laying it flat with the tab facing upward. Affix tear and tape to the tab and bring the opposite side on top of the tab to close the sides of the box. Once that is done you should have a basic box. Next burnish the 3 lids open but leave the area that will be the back panel.

You can then bend the other side of your bridge (with the tear and tape backing) away from the side of the box, pull off the backing and stick it to the side of the box. If you flatten the box as you're doing this it will ensure that the bridge lays flat when the box is closed for mailing.

You are ready to decorate. Choose whatever you have in your stash to decorate with. Try to vary the heights and angles of the decorations. I used acetate strips to adhere these to the bridges and dimentionals to add depth.

Important:

In order to ensure that the decorations will fit inside your envelope, fold the card flat as if you were about to mail it with the flaps folded down. You can then line up the decorations on the bridge positioning them so they fall within the perimeters of the card before you glue them in place. This will allow you to have some things hanging over the edge without it going past the boundaries of the envelope.

For my decorative items:

I used the snail, love and label from Paper Pumpkin.

Hearts were from Kangaroo and Company stamp and die set

Flowers, leaves and strawberries were from the Sweet Strawberry stamp set.

I also used the Strawberry Punch.

Some extra things that I did with the decorations to improve their look:

I used a blending brush to lightly color the "love" with Flirty Flamingo ink

To color the hearts I used Flirty Flamingo ink and Wink of Stella to add a slight glitter as well as a Copic marker to color the red hearts.

The leaves and flowers were coloured with Shaded Spruce, Granny Apple Green and Just Jade as well as Flirty Flamingo and Wink of Stella then fussy cut out.

Cut a piece of white cardstock 5" x 1 3/4" for the greeting and affix it to the back. If you would like you can add a matching piece of DSP as a backing in under the white. The DSP would measure 5 1/4" x 2".

Your box is ready to mail!