There's Gnome time like Christmas...

 There is a new 613 Ave C  challenge starting Aug 4th:  "ATG or the optional Twist: "Create an Exploding Box".  You have the month of Sept. to show your creative talents!   For details of the challenge and for some very creative ideas from the DT's inspirational contributions - click HERE!
It is interesting to see that even among the DT on 613, we had two different definitions of an "Exploding Box".   You can see the other version that card makers think of by checking out the Design Team's Inspiration pieces on 613 Ave C 's website.  At least two of us thought it was this version... we decided either is correct!
The measuring and cutting of these types of projects is something I don't really enjoy - I seem to lack spatial concept skills and it takes me forever to get everything to fit exactly.  So when dies became available to make these boxes I jumped on the bandwagon!  These make a spectacular gift/card at any Holiday when people like to decorate.  The fact that it folds flat is a bonus for storage.




**The box and all the layer dies to decorate it are from a die set named  "A2 Card in a Box" by the Stamp Doctor.  The owner/designer, 
Mechele Monet, creates beautifully done written instructions and for those of you who are more visual learners like me, there are videos showing the process start to finish.  What I like best about Mechele's instructions is she almost always has the most efficient and easiest ways to connect all the parts without measuring!  [Ginny likes that!]
**The Pine trees are actually all from one die - just cut from 3 different paper scraps from my stash [a dark green, a grey-green and the DP with the stars on it.  Wink of Stella has been applied to the stars.]   This pine tree die is one of several in a set from Stampin' Up called "In the Woods Framelets".  It even cuts the front of the tree so you can lift the boughs and make it 3-D.  Love this set!  Stampin Up changes availability and "current" catalogs so often - I don't know if this is still available or not.  I could not find this die with a search of the website.  I have used 5 trees on this project - 3 are cut shorter by just cutting off the top of the trees to the length I need.  The 5th tree is on the back - see picture below.

**The very tall grass is a die is by Stephanie Barnard from The StampsofLife.com

The box folds flat for mailing - it easily pops open to the display mode.

Create wildly and color with abandon!

~ginny

CHALLENGES:
Penny's Challenge #445 – ATG Always
Through the Craft Room Door - ATG Always
CHNC-X-mas #453 – ATG X-mas/Option: Something beginning with an 'S' [Song]
Gem of a Challenge - #17 - ATG
Crafty Creations - #397 – ATG Always Top 3
Simon Says Wed – ATG
Sweet Stampin' Christmas – ATG X-mas/optional: Snow People
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #113 – ATG Always
SheepSki Designs #30 – Die Cuts or Punches TOP THREE
Get Creative Challenges – #84 – ATG / No Twist WINNER
Crafty Hazelnut's DP Challenge – Always ATG
A Place to Start – ATG