This is the template for making the octagon exploding box... right click and save it to your computer. You will need to insert the picture into a Word document to be able to use it. Once you have it inserted into your Word document you need to make three different sized templates from it. In your Word document, if you right click the picture of the octagon you will get a drop down box and one of the options is size. Click on this and you will get a window like the one in the screen shot... The largest octagon is 15cm so using the height option, change it to 15cm. Print this off. Repeat this to make the medium size of 11 cm. Print it off. Repeat once more to make the smallest octagon of 9cm. Print it off. Cut your templates out. Take the largest template and stick it to your 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock with temp Herma. Now take your ruler and lay it across the template at opposite angles and draw lines to make the 'legs' of the shape as in the picture above. The largest template has legs 3 1/4" long. The medium template has legs 2 3/4" long. The smallest template has legs 2 1/4" long. The scribble bits will be removed when you cut it out. Repeat this for the other two sizes. Score the legs so that they fold upwards. Are you still with me? ;) Your three sections are now ready to be decorated with pattern papers. You will need to adhere the medium section to the centre of the large one, and you can either offset them as I have done or keep them lined up. I like the flower effect of the offset look. Now adhere the smallest section to the centre of the medium one. To make the lid, I used the large template and added an extra 1/8th" to each side so that it would sit on top of the bottom bit nicely. To make the lip of the lid I used the width of my ruler and drew lines as in the photo above. Now... when you see the next photo... don't have a hissy fit... it is simpler than it appears!! Place your ruler across the template just like you did to make the 'legs' and draw in the straight lines. these are the score lines. You need to cut one, score one, so that you have small triangles to glue to connect the pieces and form the rim. I decorated the rim with ribbons glued down with DST and this also ensure that nothing comes apart when you start to use it. I also cut another smaller rectangle out of cardstock and sat this platform onto the top of the lid with foam pads. Add your papers and decorations and it is ready for the photos and journalling.
