Explosion box with K & Co

Good Day every one!  Today I am showing off my very first attempt at an explosion box.  There are several videos on youtube that I consulted prior to beginning.  I found this one the best:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYCUdE_Rtcc

But keep in mind it is not the only one I used.

This box was for a trade with a partner.  My partner was Nikki and I will show off what she made for me later.  But first she told me she wanted to put pictures of her and her husband in the box I made.  I also had a list of her favorite colors.  I chose some Amy Butler K & Co papers and layered stickers that I have had for a while (like a couple of years but I don't think it looks outdated).  I also had some K & Co bird stickers.  Although they are not "love birds" that was the idea.  The top also includes layers of the paper cut with Spellbinders scalloped circles.  Queen & Co bling is used throughout the box.  I used a Bazzil Swiss Dot blue paper for the outside and cut an ivory border with my new Marvy border maker set from Tuesday Morning.  Side note:  with a little notch these same cartridges can be used with the Creative Memories border maker.

Exploded!  I added several smaller Spellbinders scalloped circles in the middle with each layer on pop dots.  I added another bird an more bling.  The scalloped edges on this section were made with the Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Label 11 and cut in half.  I also rounded all the corners of every page.

Close up of my center piece.

More Grand Label 11 and some washi borders with bling.

Layers of Grand Label 11 and a paper strip with washi and bling.

Some of the Swiss Dot paper and more scalloped circles.  I purposely placed the die on the center of doilies and flowers.

More "pages" more die cuts

I also lightly distressed with Quick Quotes Powder Puff Chalk Feather Gray.  I wasn't sure how much edging Nikki would like, but I just couldn't leave it "naked"!

Here is the box I received from my swap partner, Nikki: 

Quite a coincidence we both used Swiss dot for the outside.

I told her I liked purple and green! She did a great job!

I love the center flower and the one on top of the box!

She also added some cute little tags!  (I didn't think of that)

The most lovely feature of her box is the beautiful flowers.  She used a stamp and embossed the image in black then used Alcohol inks to color the flower.  It is gorgeous!!

There are two on the project!

Some die cuts.

Thanks for checking out our explosion boxes today!  Nikki does not have a blog, but she should show off her gorgeous work!

I would like to enter my project in the following challenges:

http://sparklingblackrose-craftmylife.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/all-crafts-challenge-augustseptember.html until Sept 30

http://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2014/08/challenge-33.html until Aug 30

 http://corrosivechallengesbyjanet.blogspot.com/2014/08/challenge-206-b-unique.html use 3 "b's" bling, birds, box, blossom, banners until 8/30

http://fattastictuesday.blogspot.com/2014/08/fan-tastic-tuesday-challenge-50.html until Sept 1

http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/2014/08/use-your-stash-at-try-it-on-tuesdays.html Sept 3

http://pdelinkyparty.blogspot.com/2014/08/pde-linky-party-17-with-team-b.html until Sept 1

http://oldiebutagoodiechallenge.blogspot.com/2014/08/anything-but-card.html until Sept 2