Cauldron Box

~ sproatmeyer

I made this black cauldron box for the 12th Day of Halloween Challenge at Simply Betty Stamps. Of course, it’s not just a box… it’s an explosion box! After making my first explosion box on Saturday I decided to make a bigger one that included all six Emo Halloweenies. This is the last and final challenge in the series and I went for a grand finale.


While searching for ideas, I came across a beautiful beehive explosion box created by Shoshi. She has some wonderful step-by-step photos if you’re interested in making one. I used her box as my starting point inspiration and this is what I ended up with… Ka-boom!


There is so much detail to go over so I divided up the pictures into groups. This first set shows the inner box walls that surround the pumpkin patch. Each gravestone flourish and dates were drawn by hand and I used a border stamps to fill in the bottom. Metal tags or circle punches were used to get the shapes.


The center of the box is a pumpkin patch with London Pumpkin and an alteration of Betty Witch. For Betty Witch, I wiped away one arm and the entire lower portion of the stamp then drew in a newer version flying a broomstick. I wanted to make the box in stages so it was easier to work on and the center part was glued in very last.


The outer box walls have the rest of the Emo Halloweenies. Lola Mummy’s color scheme was based off a monster we have in our front window. Millerstein has one brown eye and one blue eye – always a fun combination! For Christian Vamp I covered his face and hands in sparkling diamonds glitter which never show up in the photos. Lastly, I gave Rio Devil a glowing blue staff with three diamonds in the center.


Also around the outer box, each corner was decorated with more Halloween surprises. The first one is a Witches’ Hut I grabbed from Dulemba’s Coloring Page Tuesdays. She always has something fun to color and they work well for stamps. I’m sure you recognize the ghosts! That’s Casper and with two of the not-so-friendly ghosts. The third panel features the scarecrow which is only a portion of Haunted Halloween House from Make it Crafty. I cut out some of the crows from the paper I was using and placed one of them on the scarecrow. Lastly, I made another spider web and added three Lego spiders!


Here’s another view of the box open and a better view of the spider web. Each ring is held on by a looped string that is glued between the wall layers. This made it easier to thread the web and it also tucks in the box nicely.


Looking at the open box from the top shows most of the details. I attached Betty Witch in the center so that she actually pops up when the box opens. The rest of the tabs gently fall down provided the spiders don’t get tangled.


Closing the box takes a little more effort than the last box, but using the rubber bands makes it easier. I first close the inner box then I can focus on the outer box. Just before adding the lid, I remove the rubber band from the inner box; and once the lid is on, I can remove the second rubber band.


Challenge: Simply Betty Stamps – 12 Days of Halloween
Main Stamp: Emo Halloweenies… Lola Mummy, Millerstein, Christian Vamp, Rio Devil, London Pumpkin (digi) and [altered images of] Betty Witch (SBS), Witchy Hut (EOD), Borders 2 (Kelly Panacci Sandylion Designs), Casper & Ghosts (123Coloring) and [portions of] Haunted Halloween House (MiC)
Patterned Paper: Blackbird (MME)
Metal Die: Whiff of Joy Magical Tag, My Favorite Things Die-namics Cloud Trio, Spellbinders Nestabilities Circles, and Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Two
Copic Colors:
-mummy: V91, V95, V99, YG91, YG95, YG99, E40, E42, B91, B93, B95, B97
-witchy hut: G21, G24, G28, W2, W4, V12, V15, V17, YR12, YR16, YR18, Y32, Y35, E50, E51, E53, YG93, YG95, YG99, E43, E44, E47, E49
-frankenstein: YG91, YG95, YG99, W00, W2, W4, W6, W8, B91, B93, B95, B97, E55, E57, E59
-ghosts: C00, C1, C3
-vampire: W00, W1, W2, W3, W5, W6, W7, W8, V91, V95, V99, R24, R29, R59
-gravestones: W2, W4, W5, , YG91, YG95, E44, E47, E49
-scarecrow: YR12, YR16, YR18, Y32, Y35, R20, R24, R29, R59, C1, C3, W1, E43, E44, E47, E49
-devil: E00, E11, R20, R24, YR20, YR21, YR23, W3, W5, W7, B91, B93, B95, B97, R22, R29, R59, BV20
-witch: E00, E11, R20, R24, B21, B23, B26, V12, V15, V17, W2, W4, W6, Y32, Y35, Y38, YG91, YG95, E50, E51, E55, E57, E59
-pumpkin girl: YR12, YR14, YR18, W2, W4, W6, W8, YR20, YR21, YG93, YG95, YG99, E43, E44, E47, E49
-sign: E55, E57, E59

Other Challenges: There is a lot of time into this project and the bonus part is that it fits into many other challenges so I’m going to pile it on. Some have prizes and some don’t but the main point was to share my creation. Hope you enjoyed it. ;D

Copic Creations Challenge #38 – Make a Scene
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge – Halloween
Anything Goes Challenge Week #22 – Halloween
Little Red Wagon Challenge #52 – Halloween
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge #66 – Anything Goes
One Stop Craft Challenge #104 – Anything Goes
Wee Memories Challenge #29 – Anything Goes
Digi Doodle Shop’s Best Challenge #31 – Anything Goes
Cards for Men Challenge #22 – Anything Goes (As long as it’s male)
Simon Says Challenges – Punch ‘Em
Four Crafty Chicks Challenge #9 – Punches or Dies
Meljen’s Designs Challenge #31 – Use Two Images
Penny’s Paper Crafty Challenge #41 – Black, Purple & Orange
AiFactory Challenge #54 – Halloween
Copic Oz Challenge #4 – Feathering Technique
There She Goes Challenge #79 – Something Gifty
The ABC Challenge ‘G’ is for – Glitter
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #136 – Transparent Element
Dutch Dare Card Challenge #89 – Purple, Black, Orange & Green
PaperPlay Challenges Week #43 – A Haunting We Will Go
Secret Crafter Challenge #107 – Anything That Flys

Did you know? An explosion is defined as a rapid increase in volume and release of energy in an extreme manner, usually with the generation of high temperatures and the release of gases. An explosion creates a shock wave. If the shock wave is a supersonic detonation, then the source of the blast is called a “high explosive”.
[Explosion, Wikipedia.org]
“On the 12th day of Halloween my Ghoul love gave to me… 12 Witches Cackling!”
Update: I won the whole shebang at Simply Betty Stamps for the 12th Day of Halloween Challenge!

I was featured at Little Red Wagon for this project!

I made the Top 5 at Meljen’s Designs for this project!

I was the selected winner at Wee Memories Challenge for this project!

61 thoughts on “Cauldron Box”

  1. Just Fantastic! Every detail is just perfect! The tomb stones, the many witches..I counted 6, but are there more? The grave yard with it's fence and the spider webbing…I can't wait until you have more pictures….You really out did yourself!!!Just love it 🙂

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  9. Wow this is amazing! I have never ever seen a box made like this and it totally rocks! So many details. Great use of punches. Thanks so much for sharing your great inspiration with us at 4 Crafty Chicks.

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  21. This is just fabulous!!! So many images. Great coloring and clever design! I might just have to try and make an explosion box!! Thanks for playing at Meljen's Design this week!melissa

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  24. Wow this is an amazing exploding box and I love the Simply Betty Emos , thanks for joining us at Secret Crafter:107 Anything that Flies, Good luck, Hugs Bridget 😉 x. SCSC DT

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  25. Wow this is an amazing exploding box and I love the Simply Betty Emos , thanks for joining us at Secret Crafter:107 Anything that Flies, Good luck, Hugs Bridget 😉 x. SCSC DT

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  30. I saw this yesterday and it took my breath away! It's awesome! It's so much work and really can't imagine how you did it, but it really is WOW perfect!!! Thanks for sharing with us at DDSB

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  39. Super great project, LOVE IT !Thanks so much for joining us at Digi Doodle Shops Best, hop to see you again :DI am one of the DT members and I want to tell you about group I have opened at PCP \”Fan's of Digi Doodle Shop\” and you are so very welcome to join us there :Dhttp://www.papercraftplanet.com/group/fansofdigidoodleshopAll the best to you, Jóna

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  47. Congratulations! You won the TOP FIVE honor with this entry at Meljen's Designs! Go grab your badge and display it proudly on your blog! Hope to see you again this week, too! Nicole – Meljen's Designs Design Team Coordinator

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  48. This is just absolutely amazing!!! Love all the details, it must have taken you ages to create this! By coincidence I'm doing an explosion box of my own and was searching google for examples the other day but didn't find a lot of explosion boxes I liked, yours is absolutely the best I have seen until now! Thank you so much for the inspiration!!!xxxMariska

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