Think Outside the Album: Graduation Explosion Box
Hey-hey-hey, it’s May – which means it’s time to celebrate big endings and new beginnings. That’s right – it’s time for graduation!
If you’re looking for a way to dress up a small gift – especially the size of a check or cash – an explosion box is the perfect way to do it. I found a template in the Cricut Design Space software to create a 3d commencement cap that opens into a 4-panel explosion box with envelopes and a small box in the center that’s the perfect size to hold a monetary gift.
Project “Graduation Explosion Box” as found in Cricut Design Space.
While the template is cute as-is, I decided I wanted a little more customization … and the digital scrapbooking supplies available for sale in the Sweet Shoppe are the perfect way to do it!
Details of Project “Graduation Explosion Box” as found in Cricut Design Space.
Rather than use the template’s die-cut designs for the four inside panels, I simplified them in the Cricut Design Space software and, instead, broke out Photoshop.
For this project, I used two bundles of themed scrapbooking supplies: the graduation themed Scholar: Graduation Collection by Meagan’s Creations and the general congratulatory-themed Congrats Bundle by Kristin Cronin-Barrow and WendyP Designs. These kits include some adorable journaling cards that were almost perfect for those four interior panels.
I say “almost” because the colors weren’t just right. My graduate will be wearing red and light blue. But when you’re a digital scrapbooker, you know the power of your software means you never have to settle for colors that aren’t just right.
I used a combination of color fills, blending modes, and image masks to recolor part or all of the supplies and here’s what I wound up with:
To learn more about how to recolor your digital scrapbooking supplies to get them in the perfect shade for your project, check out these tutorials for detailed instructions on recoloring objects in your design software:
Recoloring With Color Overlay in the Sweet Shoppe Tutorials
EZ Recoloring by Traci Reed in the Sweet Shoppe Tutorials
Using the Replace Color Tool in Photoshop by SugarBabe Sheri in the Sweet Shoppe Tutorials
Each of those four interior panels are actually pockets, perfectly sized for small notecards. I dug a little deeper into my digital stash, and whipped up four coordinated cards for “words of love” and “words of wisdom” for our graduate.
Heart Paint from Hello February by Studio Flergs
Squiggly Border (left) from Brain Power (retired)
Paint from Note To Self: The Struggle is Real by Kristin Cronin-Barrow and Studio Basic
Light bulb pin from All Booked Up by Erica Zane
Border (right) from Love You Berry Much by Laura Wilkerson
Fonts used: Mr Eaves XL Mod Nar OT and Beloved Script
Once my recoloring and design work was done in Photoshop, I printed, cut, and assembled my explosion box, and here’s the results:
Graduation Explosion Box template from Cricut Design Space
Graduation Explosion Box template from Cricut Design Space
Digital artwork from Scholar: Graduation Collection by Meagan’s Creations and Congrats Bundle by Kristin Cronin-Barrow and WendyP Designs
Graduation Explosion Box template from Cricut Design Space
Digital artwork from Scholar: Graduation Collection by Meagan’s Creations and Congrats Bundle by Kristin Cronin-Barrow and WendyP Designs
Graduation Explosion Box template from Cricut Design Space
Digital artwork from Scholar: Graduation Collection by Meagan’s Creations and Congrats Bundle by Kristin Cronin-Barrow and WendyP Designs
Graduation Explosion Box template from Cricut Design Space
Digital artwork from Scholar: Graduation Collection by Meagan’s Creations and Congrats Bundle by Kristin Cronin-Barrow and WendyP Designs
Graduation Explosion Box template from Cricut Design Space
Digital artwork from Scholar: Graduation Collection by Meagan’s Creations and Congrats Bundle by Kristin Cronin-Barrow and WendyP Designs
Graduation Explosion Box template from Cricut Design Space
Digital artwork from Scholar: Graduation Collection by Meagan’s Creations and Congrats Bundle by Kristin Cronin-Barrow and WendyP Designs
Graduation Explosion Box template from Cricut Design Space
Digital artwork from Scholar: Graduation Collection by Meagan’s Creations and Congrats Bundle by Kristin Cronin-Barrow and WendyP Designs
Whatever you’re celebrating this month, I hope today’s post has given you an idea or two for using your digital scrapbooking supplies to dress up your next gift, card, or explosion box. Be sure to take some photos and share it with us in the Gallery, because I can’t wait to see what you create when you Think Outside the Album!
