Winter - a decorated box card

I do think that those of us with birthday's close to Christmas miss out - the shops put away all but the most basic selection of cards and so if you want something special making it is most definitely the way to go. I like to make these using chipboard decor boxes and for this make chose one that is approximately 15cm square.

 

I collected the elements I wanted to create my box and then constructed the base lining the pages with papers from Northern Lights papers which have been teamed together in a kit with co-ordinating shabby ribbons making the process of creating a cohesive project really easy. Before covering the front of the album I sandwiched in a piece of shabby ribbon to act as my closure.

 

When I create shadow boxes elements I like to work in layers and for the first layer of this box I chose Wild Meadow from the huge selection in the shop. I also added some small snowflakes.

I then layered cut paper elements ontop of the chipboard - yes I know that means that you cover lots of it but I really do feel its the layering that makes these projects so special. Ontop of the paper elements I added more snowflakes and then a piece of dark silver twig followed by some cheesecloth which has been pulled about to give it a more frayed appearance. I then tucked some mint gillyflowers.

Ontop of the cheesecloth I added  more paper elements from the paper collection and then snowberry clusters separating out the twigs in the pack into individual snowberry/ leaf clusters. Across the top of the box I added an intricate chipboard decorated with dimensional nuvo drops - this one is no longer available but I think  christmas ornament which is in stock would work well.

For the inside of my box I added a layer of paper then a smaller mat with distressed edges leaving an approximately 1cm border of the first paper showing. I then tore a piece of paper and adhered it on two sides to create a pocket. This way I was able to add in a 4" square piece of white card with a punched out circle and some thread tied to the top which means that there is a space to write a special message and of course the pocket itself can hold a gift card. On top of the cornere I added another snowflake, more of the silver twig and lots of paper elements.

Having covered the front of the box with a piece of paper from the collection I then added a large frame made with extra light clay and frame mould - the one I have linked is smaller than the one I actually used however if you cut the moulded piece into two and straighten the pieces slightly they will then give a very simillar effect as most of my large piece is in fact hidden by my embellishments. I highlighted the texture of the mould using a silver wax. On top of the frame I layered more paper elements, snowberry clusteres, dark silver twigs, mint and graphite gilly flowers. I added the word winter form a maxi chipboard set and added texture using silver nuvo drops. 

To finish my piece I wrapped ribbons around the spine of the book and gave everything a dusting with artic ice.

I do hope you like this winter themed decor box and I look forward to seeing your makes that are inspired by it.