Enchanted Lantern Gift Box

It's my turn to share again on the Cutters Creek blog, and I had a lot of fun making this project:

Today I have a different kind of gift box to share with you. The other day I used a new cut file for an Enchanted Lantern (see post below this one), and I decided I just HAD to make the open-window version, but with a twist. I basically closed up all of the windows and turned the "lantern" into a gift box.  With Mother's Day fast approaching, a small box like this is always handy for an elegant presentation of a gift card to a favorite store or lunch spot. At any rate, I was excited to measure the window openings and discover that the "trading card" images on my 8x8 Graphic 45 paper pad fit almost perfectly.  Here's what I did:

 

Even though the lantern itself is not an Asian style, I think it lends itself wonderfully to these papers. And would also look wonderful with many other G45 papers, due to its simple style. Since I was planning for Mother's Day, I chose 4 images and words I thought fit the theme well.  I used the Pagoda Cricut cartridge to cut the Kanji words to match each picture. The "photos" are all from the 8x8 paper pad, and the script paper forming the main box of the lantern is from the 12x12 pad.

"Mother"

"Wisdom"

 

 

"Happiness"

 

 

"Beauty"

 

 

For some added dimension, the "photos" were adhered behind the windows with two layers of the ASI Kool Tak clear adhesive squares. I also added a frame around each opening with Distress Stickles in Fired Brick. I added additional Stickles dots along the base of the lantern on all sides.

As a helpful hint, since the Kanji characters are fairly intricate and I was cutting at only 1", I cut them from vinyl instead of paper.  It made them easier to cut and adhere to the shadow base. I then added more Stickles over them to tie in with the rest of the lantern.  The shadow is cut from metallic cardstock.  The American Crafts Specialty Cardstock - Foil is a great option for this.

Here are the Cutters Creek supplies I used for this project:

• Graphic 45 papers in 12x12 and 8x8
• Scor Tape in 1/8"
• Glossy Accents (to adhere Kanji characters to lantern)
• ASI Kool Tak clear adhesive squares
• Distress Stickles in Fired Brick

Other supplies:

• black cardstock, suede texture
• gold metallic cardstock
• Pagoda cartridge for Cricut
• Cricut indoor vinyl
• Enchanted Lantern cutting file from Creations by AR