Exploding Box Graduation Card

I think this is my last graduation card for the 2023 season! I wanted to make something special for a former student I had in my Bible Study Fellowship class, so I decided an exploding box card would be fun for him. I used my We R Memory Keepers Exploding Box punch board to make the box and the tray it lies on when folded. 

I had some cute school-themed card stock, so I started with that for the tray and the mat layers for the box. I also wanted to use my graduation cap embossing folder for this card, so I stamped 2 squares of white card stock with "on your graduation" and then embossed them and matted them onto the red backside of the school-themed cardstock. I then die cut 2 "Congrats" die cuts from the same Hero Arts set as the "on your graduation" stamp (from the Congrats & Happy stamp and cut set) using black adhesive-backed foam for a bit of dimension. I alternated squares with the sentiment and squares with the school-themed papers. 

Then to make the confetti bits that pop out when the card is pulled from the envelope! I used my Silhouette Design Studio software to size up the graduation-themed confetti bits and then did a print and cut of them. 

If you scroll to the bottom of the pictures, I've included my first video using the new Go Pro my husband bought earlier this year. He helped me with the video, and I think it turned out great! It's so fun to see the card in action!

Here's a look at the mechanism that makes the box explode:

You can see the embossed graduation hats on the side of the card a little better in this photo:

Challenges I'm entering:

Stay Crafty with A Blog Named Hero: June 2023 Challenge | Hero Arts: Sentimental Journey (ends 7/2/23) I used Congrats & Happy Stamp and Cut

Anything Goes with a Fun Fold for Creative Creases #60 (secretstamper.com): ATG with a fun fold

613 Avenue Create (avenue613.blogspot.com): ATG with an optional twist of Nautical (1/8; ends at the end of the month)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (1/3; ends 7/15/23)

We Love to Create mixed media Challenge Blog...sponsored by Polkadoodles (welove2create.blogspot.com): ATG (1/2; ends 7/27/23)

Allsorts challenge blog: ATG (1/3; ends 7/7/23)

Can You Handle The Pressure? (cyhtp.blogspot.com): ATG with an embossing folder with an optional twist of butterflies (1/3; ends 7/5/23)

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (1/4; ends 7/14/23)

Dream Valley Challenges: Use dies and/or punches--I used a "Congrats" die as well as a punch board to create the card and tray. (1/3; ends 7/22/23)

Art Impressions Blog: Emboss like a BOSS! Challenge #354 Week 2 (artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com): Emboss like a Boss! (1/2; ends 7/5/23) I used a graduation cap embossing folder for 2 sides of the box

Crafty Catz (craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com): ATG with a twist of embossing (1/3; ends 7/7/23)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (1/3; ends 7/16/23)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (no limit of entries; ends at the end of the month)

July Mood Board Challenge (not2shabbyshop.com): Mood board includes a school theme in the last panel, and my card uses school-themed paper (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

Rabisco Challenge: ATG (1/5; ends at the end of the month)