Thinking outside the box....literally!

I have a love affair with boxes. There. I admitted it.

Boxes can hide secrets, contain fragile items, or my favorite, hold precious memorabilia. Using KellyCraft Get-It-Straight Laser Square meant lining up all those rectangles and squares was as easy as pie.

Here's the side view showing the trim.

The finished box, which began as a Goodwill find, is designed to holds precious memories: a child's small toy, pretty rocks from special places, travel souvenirs or just about anything you can think of.

Here's how I made it:

Supplies
Makin's Clay, Black, white and yellow (I knew I was going to paint it so wasn't too worried about the base color.)
Makin's Clay tools (texture sheets, cutters, misc. tools)
Box
KellyCraft Get-It-Straight Laser Square
Viva Décor Inka Gold (Orange, Lava Green, Violet, Steel Blue, Gold, Silver)
Sophisticated Finishes Copper Paint, Triangle Coatings
Brush
Mold N Pour
Buttons
Tim Holtz' Alterations dies, Vintage Lace and Tattered Florals
Big Shot die cutting machine
Martha Stewart Glaze, Black Coffee
Green card stock, Bo Bunny Olive Dots card stock
Burgundy paper, My Mind's Eye
Black card stock
Aleene's Original Tacky Glue
Black acrylic paint
Wooden knobs, 4
Fancy Knob, Advantus - Tim Holtz - Idea-ology Collection - Curio Knobs

Directions
1. Trim burgundy paper to fit 1/2" inside box lid edges. Trim Olive Dots to leave a 1/2" border of burgundy paper. Trim black card stock to leave a 1/2" border of Olive Dot.
2. Condition one pack of clay  (I used white), run through pasta machine and apply texture sheets. Trim out rectangles to cover black card stock and overhang edges at least 1/4". Be sure to cut and texturize one extra piece of clay for your title tag. Set aside to dry.
3.  Roll out 1/2 package of clay (I used yellow) and run through pasta machine on #2 setting. Sandwich between two pieces of waxed paper  and use Textured Florals die to cut flowers. Apply texture sheets to each flower. NOTE: Be sure to remove any clay that may become lodged in your die immediately.
4. Roll out 1/2  package of black clay and add texture with texture sheets. Trim to 1/2" strips and set aside to dry.

The Get-It-Straight Laser Square makes it easy
to line up the rectangles.

5. Press clay scraps into Mold N Pour molds created with vintage buttons (or use buttons or embellishment for flower centers). Mold N Pour allows you to create molds from jewelry, buttons, etc.. Check it out here.
6. Die cut Vintage Lace trim from scrap paper and apply orange Inka Gold.

7. When all clay pieces are dry, apply Martha Stewart Metallic Paint to all clay rectangles for the box top. Paint Tattered Florals die cuts with Sophisticated Finishes Copper Paint Allow all to dry, then apply Inka Gold to all pieces, including the black strips.

Line up and adhere the paper layers, then add the clay layer last.

8. Arrange rectangles on the black card stock, using the KellyCraft Get-It-Straight Laser Square to line up the pieces. Glue pieces to black card stock and set aside to dry. When dry, flip the card stock over and trim the excess clay. Touch up visible trimmed edges with copper paint.
9. Assemble paper and clay layers and adhere to box lid.
10. Adhere floral die cuts to box lid.
11. Create "Memories" tag on printer and adhere to the extra piece of clay from step 2.
12. Adhere two strips of Vintage Lace paper trim to each side of box. Trim black clay to 1/4" and lay over trim seam. Attach glass knob to lid.

13. Paint wooden knobs black and adhere to box bottom.


I think you will agree with me that the Get-It-Straight Laser Square is one of the best inventions of the year.