Mailing Box Birthday Card

I am so impressed by the pop-up box cards made recently by Eunice and shown on her blog site, A Star for Chiemi. I knew that when the moment and occasion was right; I would have to try to make one, too.  Here is my attempt at a pop-up box card for someone who collects Kaiju toys (colorful monster-like toys from Japan). Since the toys usually are purchased online and mailed in boxes, I thought that a mailing carton with monster toys and bubble wrap popping out would make the perfect birthday greeting for this collector.

I started the construction by cutting two 4-1/2" x 12" pieces of card stock, one in white and one in kraft brown.  Next I scored the pieces into four panels to form the sides and across the top of each panel at 1-1/2"  for the flaps so that the sides of the box would measure 3"x 3".  I cut the flaps apart and then used various rubber stamps on the outside of the unfolded white box.  Using double stick Merikan tape, I adhered the unfolded boxes together and then formed the double thick box.  By taping two layers of card stock together, the box becomes stronger and the kraft brown card stock as the interior makes the mailing box more realistic. The seam was connected with regular tape (for strength) and then covered with red, white, and blue striped washi tape (from Ben Franklin Crafts) for a postal look.

The monsters were stamped using Darcie's and Hero Arts cling sets. For the color I used Hero Arts Neon ink pads.  For two of the creatures, the ink was rubbed onto bubble wrap and the bubble wrap was used as a stamp for background color before the image was stamped over the bubble wrap print.  Uninked bubble wrap was taped inside the box along with the monsters and birthday greeting. Be sure to pop the bubbles before inserting them into the box so that there will be less bulk. (Rolling a bottle over the bubble wrap is an easy way to quickly pop the bubbles.)  The above photo is a view of the flattened pop-up box card ready for mailing (probably needs a large pouch envelope).

Shown below are some of the stamps that you might find useful if you decide to make a mailing box card like this one. I believe that I purchased most of them at Ben Franklin Crafts.  Please go to Eunice's blog site to see her marvelous pop-up creations. I'm sure after seeing them, you will be eager to make one of your own.  Blogland is the best place to get inspired and meet the nicest, craftiest people. Thanks for visiting with me!