Lighted Christmas Mixed Media Box Display


Hello all, and thanks for stopping in. Today I wanted to share another holiday home decor project and tutorial with you. It's a sweet Christmas display that actually lights up. I created something similar to this for Graphic 45 to teach this past September, shown above.


Tim Holtz "Reindeer Flight" die has been cut from Grungeboard and painted with Antiqued Bronze Distress Paint. A bit of Picket Fence Distress Paint adds a snowy effect on the deer's body.



This mixed media box is 5" x 5", so it's a sweet little decor piece which doesn't take up a lot of space.



This one has a battery-operated lantern by Tim Holtz inside as well as a little tree. Aren't those little gift boxes cute? I'll share how to make those in a bit. 



Lots of the papers are frosted around the edges. This was achieved by dabbing Picket Fence Distress Paint on the edges and quickly sprinkling Distress Glitter over it.



Other papers, like this fussy-cut holly cluster, was brushed with a thin layer of Glue & Seal then sprinkled with glitter for a frosty coating, reminiscent of vintage Christmas cards.



The same was done on the pattern paper that covers the front of the box.



Pinecones and more holly cover up the hole punched through the top to accommodate the battery pack and cord.



Okay, since we can all figure out how to cover a box with paper, I thought I'd share how I made the little Christmas presents inside the box.


Inside each Graphic 45 Mixed Media Box are six thick card stock inserts with rounded corners like the one shown on the left in this photo. You can use these for photos, to create a mini album, cards, whatever you like. I decided to use three of them to create the Christmas presents bases. For mine, I cut and scored the inserts as follows:

Small: Cut 2 1/2" square, then score 7/8" all the way around
Medium: Cut 3" square and score 1" all the way around
Large: Cut 3 3/4" square and score 1 1/4" all the way around

Once you've scored, cut away the four corners of each square and discard. Easy so far?



Now you can fold on the scores and tape the card stock boxes at the corners to hold them in place to get them ready for paper. You'll simply cut strips and wrap them around the boxes. I like to use my Xyron sticker maker so the strips are good and sticky. My strips measure:

Small: 3 1/2" x 7/8"
Medium: 4 1/2" x 1"
Large: 5 1/2" x 1 1/4"

I gave a little extra length for overlap.




For the lids, you'll follow the same basic assembly, but first the measures for each are:

Small: 2 3/8" square
Medium: 2 5/8" square
Large: 2 7/8" square

Score each piece at 3/8" all the way around, then again at 3/4" all the way around.
Watching your score lines, make a snip at each corner (as shown above on the right) across two scores, then rotate the paper and do the next snip. Do this all the way around, in a pinwheel fashion.



Now you'll cut the outer corners away as shown in the far left photo above. After that's done, I find it helpful to trim about 1/16" off the outer flaps, then give them a slight diagonal cut to reduce bulk when folding them inward later.

Put a small square of sticky tape on those little square tabs, but don't peel them up yet. Flip the lid to the inside and put more sticky tape on the outer flaps as shown in the middle photo. 

Now you can peel up one of the small square's sticky tape and bring that square tab inward and attach to the lid as shown in the far right photo. Do the same with each of the little square corners until you achieve the same look as in the photo. Now you can peel and stick the outer flaps down. 



These make nice secure lids to the packages. They should fit snugly. Now you can add some ribbon. 



I attached them from the top down. I don't care how the bottom looks because I'll be hot-gluing them into my box. But if you were making them for another use and might see the bottom, simply work from the bottom up and cover the raw edges with something decorative.



You can add brads, buttons, pinecones, bows, chipboard, or whatever you have on hand.



Here's another look at the inside of the box with the Christmas presents and lantern.


I hope you enjoyed the project. Let me know what you think. And since I won't be posting again until after Thanksgiving, here's wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving Day. I hope you're sharing it with those you love and enjoy.






Comments

  1. Love the lighted box, but those little teeny tiny pressies are just the cutest!!! So clever of you to just make your own!

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  2. Your projects are always so amazing and loaded full of wonderful details! I love this Media Box and the little gift box tutorial!!

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  3. What a wonderful Christmas scene box Annette! I love the papers and the lovely lit lantern inside! thanks for sharing how you made the sweet presents too! Wishing you a Blessed Thanksgiving tomorrow!

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  4. Oh my........Annette this is such a gorgeous scene box. The gift boxes are so cute and I love the tree too. Fabulous! Karen.x

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  5. OMG!! Just beautiful, Annette!! LOVE the bright festive papers you've used to create this gift within a gift!! The Christmas scene inside is so sweet with the piled gift boxes and that lantern shining a light down upon everything--YAY!! So fun!! XOXO-Shari

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