Making An Exploding Box Happy Birthday Card (Free SVG)


Cliff Notes:
Sizes & Numbers:
  • 1 - 11.5 "Cross" out of card stock
  • 1 - 11.5 "Cross" out of patterned paper (then glued to the outside of the card stock)
  • 1  - 5.2 x 5.2  Lid
  • 1 - 10.319 "cross" our of card stock
  • Optional - 3.2 squares to decorate the inside & outside of the outer layer (4, or 8)
  • Optional - 3.0 squares to decorate the inside & outside of the inner layer (4, or 8)
  • Optional - 3.7 square to decorate the lid

Starting With the Box Form:

This is the time consuming part.  But once you have this all uploaded and saved in design space, you can use it over and over!

http://thecraftchop.com/entries/svg/exploding-box-template

There's no need to have a dropbox account (although it's a great place to back up your free svgs & fonts!) you can close the pop up and on the top right choose "direct download"

This will upload as solid black.  I chose select all and changed it to white, to better see the lines.  It didn't help a lot, but it was better.  Later I realized that the score lines were sent to the back.  By ungrouping and selecting the cross shape, I was able to send the shape to the back, and the score lines were then visible on top.

Then Select all the lines in the bottom section and change them to score.


With the score lines visible - 

This is sized to all fit on one 12x12 sheet.  Each inside box is 2.972.  
I wanted to start with a slightly larger size.

So my next step was to ungroup, ungroup, and ungroup some more.

Then I selected the cut lines and attached them to my score lines, and then attached my score lines and my cut lines to the shape.

Then I moved the "lid" behind the "Cross" so I could see how they are sized.  The 4 little squares in the corners of the lid should show around the "cross" piece.  I then chose select all, and resized to 11.5 x 11.5

That made the lid 5.2 x 5.2


Next I selected the cross piece, made it black, and then chose "duplicate" and made the new copy white.  That way I could see how they will look stacked.

The new cross, in white, is sized 10.319 x 10.319


Now be sure to save all of this - this is the "base' for your explosion box cards.

USE CARDSTOCK - Avoid My First Fail - 

Without thinking this through, I decided to cut this in scrapbook paper.
Not only did my score tool rip the paper, but it's really not sturdy enough to hold up nicely.

Re-cut in card stock, it worked beautifully.  I glued the scrapbook paper to the outside of my card stock, so I got the pretty paper, with the stability of card stock.


Decorations:

This is where we get into those "optional" sizes.
  • Optional - 3.2 squares to decorate the inside & outside of the outer layer (4, or 8)
  • Optional - 3.0 squares to decorate the inside & outside of the inner layer (4, or 8)
  • Optional - 3.7 square to decorate the lid
You can decorate these SO many different ways!  But this is what I used to make mine today:


Love SVG  (FREE SVG) Balloon Options


I resized to 3 high, and deleted the strings
I really liked the shape of these balloons, but I wanted to add writing, so the cut outs needed to go.  The Contour Button (bottom right in design space) allowed me to remove those easily.  Cut two of these, glue flower wire between two balloons, then tuck into a slit in the middle of the smaller cross.  Tape securely, before gluing the smaller cross to the larger one.







1st birthday


I Wish You A Sweet Sweet Birthday

Birthday Turtle
The PNG works perfectly for print then cut!


Adding Photos - 
Remember, for print then cut, if you are adding text, or adding it to a shape, be sure to flatten!  I used sticker photo paper for my photos - just because I happen to have a few packs of it that I picked up at our thrift store.  Any paper would work fine - although photo paper is better -  then just glue them fast!

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Where To Find Free Card Making SVGS
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Find More Cricut Project Tutorials Here:

https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2019/04/cricut-step-by-step-project-tutorials.html

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Free Templates for Large Paper Flower Leaves


Where To Find More:

This is the best collection I have seen so far.  Links to download all of them are all the way at the bottom of the post.  Site is ad intensive and it take a minute to scroll, but the files are all there and are all free!


Most of the sets here are not free, but at almost the middle of the page, there is this freebie.
https://www.abbikirstencollections.com/2017/03/you-know-its-all-about-that-leaf-freebie-friday.html




Leaf Template For The Paper Flowers
http://ashandcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/LeafTemplate.pdf
Tutorial  - http://ashandcrafts.com/paper-leaves/





Some great leaves are included with this rose template
(Note the fancy ones shown in the top right here)
https://www.dreamyposy.com/giant-rose/





How to convert simple free clipart to Cut files in Design Space:


Not an SVG - but a great "how to".  It's meant for smaller leaves, but could easily be adapted to a larger size-


Also not an svg - but more how tos


Free Cut Files For Valentines Day Projects

Where To Find Free Valentines SVGS

Affiliate Disclosure - As an affiliate for a variety of sites, if you click on the links in this post and choose to make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.  This in no way effects the price you will be charged.  [This IS a list of freebies, but since some of these sites have options to purchase other items, I am required to post this disclaimer]

Related Links:
Valentines Themed Free SVGS
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There's a selection of Free Valentines SVGS at:
When the price shows $0-?  The $0 is free for personal use, the cost is if you want to make items to sell using the svg, then you need to purchase the commercial use license. 

A selection of free Valentine SVGS here

There's a large selection of free Valentine svgs at:

Another large selection of Free Valentines svgs - earrings, cards, candy holders, layered projects, sayings, and more - 

The latest designs on this site are all sublimation, but scroll back a bit, their earlier designs include lots of great svgs and even a few paper projects



Paper Cut Valentine Bear SVG Free From
Although any svg can be cut from any material, those designed for layered paper designs are not always ideal for vinyl, as you would be layering vinyl on top of vinyl, adding thickness you may not want.  That doesn't mean you can't do it, and when it's only 2 or 3 layers, it will work great!  But for some designs that are designed to layer 7 or more sheets of paper for dimension, you may not be happy with the results if you try to use that svg on a t-shirt, or as a sticker on a cup.








There are quite a few Valentine SVGS on this site - although it can be a little misleading.
They are FREE.  I had no trouble receiving the free download, and there was no need to enter my CC info.  But it advertises "700 Free Valentine svgs"
A Ridiculous Number.
What actually downloads are 50 free files, and they look nothing like the ones shown...  This is what downloaded:






These are just a few of the great FREE svgs from:

You're My Lobster Free SVG

15 free Valentine SVGS From






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Free svgs & Project Ideas for EOS Lip Balm cards




12 wine bottle bags for $7 here:





https://www.wherethesmileshavebeen.com/hand-scripted-love-cupcake-toppers/

This is a quick and easy class valentines day idea! I know some Dollar Trees have had these bags in the party supply aisle, but I cannot find them on their website. You can buy 50 bags for $13 on Amazon here - https://amzn.to/2QSQ6kl Or Michaels has them on sale $3 for 5 bags. Find the free svg here - https://www.printablecuttablecreatables.com/diy-tic-tac-toe-valentine-gift-free-svg-file/
You could customize the other side with "Happy Valentines Day From" your childs name...


There are 27 free Valentines files in all here!







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