NUTCRACKER CHOCOLATE BOX by Judy Cullen

 Hi Bee Arty Lovers,

I was immediately drawn to this gorgeous Nutcracker paper collection designed by Sue Smyth and decided "off the page" was the way to best share this collection with you. I started by making a gorgeous chocolate box which can be used after you have eaten all the yummy chocolates as a Christmas lantern by just adding a battery operated tea light. With the left over papers I made some cute placemats and table place cards. So firstly lets get started on this chocolate box.

Constructing the Walls

• Cut 2 pieces of cardstock 8 inches by 8 inches.
• Place in your scorer and score them at 1/2 inch and 5 inches 
• Turn them on their side and score 5 inches from the top (this will be the bottom of the box).
• Label the sections A to F as shown.
• Draw a line across the top 1 1/2 inches down.
• Mark the centre of pieces B and E at the top with a pencil.
• Draw a line from  this centre point to the pencil line as shown to create the roof line.

• Cut out the hatched area as shown and snip up the vertical scored lines on the bottom to the bottom to the horizontal scored line. 
• Glue the 2 piece together by placing A over F.

Decorating the Walls

• I found it easier to decorate this before forming it into a box.
• Choose your background papercut to fit and glue onto sections E,F,Band C as shown. (you could do the triangles at the top of E and B in different paper). Note: Ink all your edges and fussy cut pieces.

• Pencil a door 1 3/4 inch high by 1 1/4 inches wide and cut out top, bottom and one side making sure you leave one side attached for the hinge. NOTE: cut the bottom slightly above the score line.
• Glue a small piece of plastic/film/ vellum over the door hole from the inside. This is where the light will shine through from your candle. (also to stop your chockies from falling out). If you don't want to do this you could just make a fake door.
• Now fussy cut and decorate till you are happy. I've done lots of layers, used foam tape to give some dimension and  added some sneaky bits (can you see the cat and dog?). I've also wrapped some pieces around the corners.
• I've matched the door to the roof, both inside and out then added a small brad for the door handle.  NOTE: Leave the little green awning until later.

Constructing the Box

• Glue the sides together with the narrow strip on the inside..
• Tuck the side bottoms in first, add some glue to the bottom of them and fold the back bottom over them. Then glue the front bottom to the base. Cut a piece of cardstock to  4 1/2 inches by 3 inches and glue it to the inside of the bottom of the box.

Constructing the Roof

• Cut a piece of card stock 7 inches by 4 inches then with a pencil draw a line 1/2 inch around the edge.
• Choose you paper for the roof and cut to fit just inside the above piece of cardstock.
• Score both piece down the middle.
• Fussy cut the half lollipops from the front page of the paper leaving an additional 1/2 inch on the top so you can fold this over the roof. You can also use this as a pattern if you want to use a different piece of paper for you roof decoration.  Score as shown.

• Glue this to the top of your roof cardstock then glue your chosen paper over the top.
• Cut this trim in the centre at the roof so it can bend.
• Turn your roof over so you are now looking at the inside where you have the lines drawn.
• Cut 2 pieces of cardstock  6 inches by 1inch and score down the middle. Snip this in the centre as shown so it can fold with the roof. Glue these along the front and back lines on the roof inside.
• Cut 2 pieces of card stock 4 inches by 1 inch and score down the middle. Mark 1/2 inch at each end of bottom as shown and cut out.
• Glue these inside the side lines and attach the side bits to the front and back pieces. Note: This all needs to fit inside your box so do some tests as some small adjustment may be needed.

• 

Completion

• Add some decorations to your roof top and an additional awning if you wish and then fill it with Chocolates. Yum! 

Placemats

• Create your project on an A4  landscape size piece of paper.
• When complete take it to Office Works and ask them to enlarge it to A3 and laminate.
• Note: I have cut around the photo of the girls.

Place Cards

• Make your own place cards for Christmas with those little left over  bits. I love the way the tin soldier is sitting down on the job.!
•    Cut a piece of cardstock approx 4 inches square, score in the middle and decorate.

Thanks for watching and a Merry Christmas to all. 

Cheers Judy