Well, I'm now working on creating a small forest...I just can't stop the wheels from turning. Remember that when I was creating the first tree, Angela was teaching an exploding box class. Every time we teach this class we come up with a new twist. Last week Angela came to my studio with this really cute flower/bow/ornament and I saw it and told her it would great on the top of the exploding box she was teaching that day. We agreed since it could be made from the scraps leftover from the exploding box. The box topper was a huge hit. So we decided to make a Christmas exploding box with the great topper and the great addition of embellishments using my circle nestabilities dies. Tons of directions for these boxes have been on other blogs, so today I won't write directions today...since I have a ton of stuff to cover. If you would like for me to post directions for the exploding box, just leave me a comment at the end of the post. If you have not left a comment before on a post but would like to-simple click on the comment button at the end of this article and add a comment. Here is the box:
I love using the nestabilities on the side of the box for an embellishment. The snowflake in the center is a button. Since some of you may not know what an exploding box is - here is a photo of what happens when you take the lid off the box: You can put a ton of photos in this box - It's a great gift for dad's desk!!
Here is the box when you add the bow:
Doesn't it look great!! Thanks Angela for letting me share it!! Here is just the bow - which actually is also a great ornament too!!
I will post directions on how to make this bow/ornament later this week because after all this is a blog about Christmas Tree #2 ( The beginning of the forest). Angela was finishing her bow - when the light bulbs went off and I could see how the parts to her bow would be just perfect for the next tree if I used them upside down. To make Christmas tree #2 - You will need 2" x 2" scraps of Christmas Paper. We used American Crafts and Pebbles Inc paper for this tree too!! Turn your square 45 degrees so the corners are facing North/South/East/West. Now take the eastern corner and roll it toward the center of the square without creasing the outside. Now bring the western corner in to meet it and adhere these together to make your cone. I recommend making all your cones first and then assembling the tree.
Starting at the bottom of your cone add the first layer of cones using 1 1/2" straight pins about 1/2" from the top to the point of the cone. I used 2 7/8" x 7 7/8" cone to make your tree. Which took a total of 59 cones.
- Layer 1- is 12 cones-tips should be even with the base of the styrofoam cone.
- Layer 2 is 12 cones- place the following rows about 1 1/4" above the previous row.
- layer 3 is 10 cones
- layer 4 is 10 cones
- Layer 5 is 9 cones
- layer 6 is 6 cones
I bought red pearlized pins for the layer 6 of the tree since these pins will show. When you get to the last layer of your tree place the tip of your paper cone 3/4" above the top of the styrofoam cone (if yours is flat at the top like mine was). This layer should complete the point of the tree. The pin tops will look like ornaments. The 3-d Snowflake was a piece of an ornament from the Dollar Tree store- it came with a large 3-d Snowflake and 2 small 3-d snowflakes - the topper is the smaller 3-d snowflake. For added decoration I used a Snow writer from Deco Art to decorate the boughs of the tree, while it was wet I added crystal glitter from the Art Institute. For embellishments I added self adhesive rhinestones from KaiserCrafts and snowflake buttons. And my husband insisted that the tree needed a tree skirt. So I have added a doilie which I backed with red cardstock so that you could see the lace work. Check back in tomorrow for Christmas Tree # 3. Thanks for visting!!
