As I considered a wedding shower explosion box for my soon to be daughter-in-law, Amber, I began buying cardstock pads and looking for inspiration. My youngest daughter told me she didn’t think it was appropriate. My oldest daughter agreed she might be right.
Undaunted, I pressed on and finished the gift box. After their comments, I had second thoughts, but picked up the pretty box and headed to the shower.
Amber opened all of her lovely gifts and left the little box for the last. She sat down and began to release the ribbon and open the box.
There were many comments. “Where did you buy this?” was the first I remember.
“That is so neat.”
“Where did you get the idea for this?”
Amber kept pulling money out of the pockets and envelopes with glee and commenting on their pictures in the little frames.
My youngest daughter told me it was really nice. She had thought I was talking about one of the boxes I had made that jumped up and threw confetti or the balloon with a money tail! Then, I understood her hesitance.
You’ll see that this is a unique and memorable way to gift money.
Planning The Box
The most challenging part of this project is selecting the decorative cardstock you want to use. There are so many different pads of cardstock. The great thing about using one of the decorative cardstock pads is that all the patterns go well together.
In retrospect, I wish I had bought two of the Stamperia Ceremony pads.
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This is the same inexpensive jig for creating exploding boxes by We R Memory Keepers that I used for all of the explosion boxes I’ve created. This set gives you all the dimensions and allows you to easily create boxes and lids in 7 nesting sizes. It also comes with a scoring tool and includes a variety of heart templates, giving you more options.
Wedding Shower Explosion Box
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Supplies Needed:
- 12″ x 12″ pad of Wedding Shower Cardstock
- We R Memory Keepers Explosion Board
- Paper Cutter
- Tacky Glue
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Sharp scissors
- Tim Holtz Ephemera
- We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board
- Tim Holtz Distress Ink Kit
Cutting and Scoring the Paper for the Explosion Box
The next thing you need to do is decide what size your largest box will be. Using the We R Memory Keepers explosion board, the largest you can make is a 4-inch square box, and you need 12″ x 12″ cardstock for it.
First, use the Explosion Board chart to determine the size to cut each of your papers. Although this allows you to make 7 different sizes, you can choose to create fewer.
Use a ruler and a paper cutter to measure and cut the different sheets of paper. To keep things straight in my head, I use a pencil to mark the box and lid measurements on each paper lightly. Then, use the paper cutter to cut each to size. If the pencil mark is visible, use an eraser to erase it.
Scoring The Papers
Place one of the cut paper squares in the corner of the Explosion Board. Start by scoring the vertical line at the box size indicator. Score the diagonal line just to the vertical line! It’s just that easy!
Place the heart template in one corner of the largest box, center on the scored lines, and trace around the top of the heart. Then, with sharp scissors, cut around the rounded tops. Repeat for each corner.
Fold the hearts to the inside on the scored diagonal lines. When creasing the boxes, crease on one side. Then, flip the box cutout to the opposite side and crease each of the creases in the opposite direction. You want the box sides to fall easily. This loosens the sides and allows them to fall more freely. Use the scoring tool to press over the fold lines and set this layer aside.
The Explosion Gift Box Lids
Use the Lid Chart included, select the lid size you’ll need for each of the boxes, and then cut the decorative paper to the matching paper size.
Crease And Fold the Lines
Once again, rotate the paper counterclockwise and repeat this step for each of the remaining sides.
Glue The Lid Corners
Fold on the scored lines. Use the scoring tool to press and rub the edges of the folds.
Fold the score lines inside or outside. It’s your choice. I like the tabs on the inside. Then, glue the corner tabs. I first glue the flaps together on the inside of the diagonal. Next, dot some glue on one side of the flap. Use a toothpick to spread the glue. Note that I glued the flaps on just two opposite sides of the lid. Paper clips are handy for holding the flaps while the glue dries.
Tacky Glue securely glues the corners together. You can use double-sided tape, but I use trusty Tacky Glue. I think it makes a sturdier lid.
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Make a lid for each of the boxes. Decorate the lid of the largest box.
Time to Decorate the Layers
At this point, you want to decorate the boxes. It will be easier to decorate before assembling. You can decide whether to decorate the inside, the outside, or both!
Make Money Pockets
Cut a piece of cardstock slightly less than the size of the flaps, plus a quarter inch on the bottom and each of the two sides. Then, score at 1/4 inch and fold the excess on the edges and bottom to the back. Make an angled cut-out on each bottom corner so the cardstock folds flat. Then, glue each to one of the sides to create a money pocket.
Make Money Envelopes
Decorate the Explosion Box
Gather stickers, memorabilia, numerous pads of wedding cardstock and paper, and cutting dies to decorate these boxes. I made copies of some of their engagement photos and included them, too.
I made the smaller of the two envelopes by cutting 4-1/2 inch square of paper. Then I used the 2-1/8 inch mark to begin the punching and scoring. (This is not on the punch board. I just experimented to create a smaller envelope. It won’t work for every measurement, but it does work for creating a 2-1/2 inch x 3 inch envelope.)
If you want more ideas for making little envelopes and pockets for money, check out this post on a little girl’s junk journal.
What can you add to your wedding shower box to make it unique? Here are a few additional ideas:
- Postcards or photographs
- Ticket stubs or memorabilia from trips or events
- Dried or silk flowers or leaves
- Old book pages or sheet music
- Handwritten letters or notes
- Fabric scraps or lace
- Stickers or washi tape
- Trinkets or small objects that hold sentimental value
- Collages or mixed media art
- Pockets or envelopes to hold additional treasures.
Assembling the Boxes
After you have the layers decorated, lay the largest layer out on a hard surface. Apply glue to the bottom of layer 2 and place it in the center square of the largest layer. You’ll probably want to fold the box sides inward and add the lid when you glue each to the bottom of the next larger box. It makes it easier to center the base.
Next, place your money gifts in the pockets, envelopes, and the smallest box.
I rolled up a $20 bill and tied it with a ribbon. Then, I cut a strip of decorative paper and wrote a personal message to the bride, Amber. I rolled and wrapped it around the rolled $20 and tied it with a ribbon, too. This, I placed in the smallest box.
Place the lid on it, fold up the remaining boxes and place the lids on each, ending with the largest lid on the largest box.
I topped it with a one piece ribbon bow. You can find directions for making the ribbon bow ◄ here.
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