Explosion Box Album

There are four small pages for photos on each layer and a fifth one on the last layer in your album. So for a three layer box you will need approximately 13 photos or journaling spots.

To Make a 4" or 10cm square Explosion Box album, here's what you will need:

• Four pieces of A4 cardstock in the same colour or in coordinating colours
  
  
• A paper trimmer
  
  
• A bone folder
  
  
• A ruler
  
  
• A pencil
  
  
• Strong adhesive such as double sided tape
  
  
• A corner rounder
  
  
• Embellishments of your choice - eg: ribbon, cord, string, stickers, designer paper, paper or silk flowers, brads, etc
  
  
• Your photos or sentiments/journaling treatments
  
  

• Decide which colour cardstock you want for the outside layer (Layer 1) and make a square out of it that measures 21 cm x 21 cm (8 1/4" x 8 1/4")
  
  

• Decide what colour you would like the next layer (Layer 2) to be and make a square out of that .5cm smaller than Layer 1 (20.5 cm x 20.5 cm or 8 1/8" x 8 1/8")
  
  

• Decide what colour you want the next layer to be (Layer 3) and cut a square .5cm smaller than Layer 2 (20 cm x 20 cm or 7 7/8" x 7 7/8")
  
  
• Now use your ruler and pencil to divide, mark an score each Layer into 3 equal columns:
  
  
  • Score Layer 1 at 14cm (5 1/2") and 7cm (2 3/4")
    
    
  • Score Layer 2 at 136 mm (5 11/16") and 68 mm (2 11/16")
    
    
  • Score Layer 3 at 134 mm (5 1/4") and 66mm (2 9/16")
    
    
• Turn each Layer 90 degrees and divide them into 3 equal columns
  
  

• You should now have a pattern like the one below on each Layer:
  
  
  
  
  
• Now cut the corner blocks out of each Layer like this:
  
  
  
  
  

• Save the cut away pieces - you can use them to mat your photos or otherwise embellish the exploding box and everything will coordinate!
  
  
• Next, score and then fold in the flaps for each Layer, creasing them well with your bone folder
  
  
  
  
  
  
• You should now have three Layers for the base, with Layer 1 forming the outside of the Explosion Box album, Layer 2 on top of that and Layer 3 placed in last. You can now decorate the Layers as you wish before glueing them (or double-sided taping them - make sure your adhesion here is strong) all together in the centre.
• Rounding the corners of the flaps seems to add a lot to your project
  
  
  
  
  
• I usually save my centre panel on Layer 3 for a special sentiment or message, but you can decide if this suits your purpose. A special photo surrounded by sentiments (on the flaps) might be just the thing, for example, or maybe you would like to just use photos
  
  

  Here's What To Do to Make the Explosion Box Album Lid:
  
  

• Take the fourth colour of cardstock to make the lid. Cut a square 14 cm x 14 cm, or about .25cm larger than the middle square of Layer 1
  
  
• Score a line 30 mm or 1 3/16" from each edge
  
  
• Flip the lid over. Now using the bone folder, score a line in each corner from where the lines intersect to the point of the corner, like this:
  
  
  
  
  
• Flip the lid back over again. Pinch each of the corners in like this and crease well with the bone folder:
  
  
  
  
  
• Almost done! Adhere the corners to the inside of the box so you have a nice smooth surface inside the lid
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Your lid will now hold all your Explosion Box album flaps in place. Embellish the lid and you're done! I tied mine with a pretty ribbon but you can also use a paper butterfly or paper flowers or anything else you would like to use to decorate the top

• Decorate some of the inside flaps of your Explosion Box album with stamped images
  
  
• Place a gift inside the Explosion Box album, such as a small piece of jewellery or chocolates (yum! I used Lindt squares here - my favourite!) or pack wrapped lollies/candies inside and make several Explosion Boxes as party favours
  
  

  By the way, there are more great ideas for making chocolate favours at Chocolate Candy Mall. If you love chocolate as much as I do, pretty paper packaging with chocolates inside are a match made in heaven!
  

  
  
  
• Place a real flower or a small book or tickets to a special event in the centre of your Explosion Box
  
  
• Add more layers and shape them like flower petals and use a pretty centre to give someone a beautiful handmade treat
  
  
• Cut a fancy border for the box lid