Exploding Box by Terry Garrett!

When I was asked to be a blog guest I said yes – not knowing where I would go with this.

Then I decided I wanted to do something 3D. I don't do that often and so wanted to challenge myself.

I have long been curious about the exploding box. It's a fun way to have something be both flat and 3D.

I found a template online for the exploding box and there were several to choose from.

The photo below is of the blank pieces. I used a 140# watercolor paper for this project.

I decided I wanted to make my box look like an old city building with brick showing out from peeling paint.

This I thought was perfect to use some of Seth Apter's stencils.

So I started with a coat of some light colors put on with a credit card and then using

Carolyn Dube's Buildings stencil I stenciled on the bricks.

 Once that was dry I used a technique I learned from a friend of mine, John Arbuckle.
I put Vaseline over parts of the brick pattern and other areas and then painted a mixed gray over it. 

When that was dry I rubbed off the paint that was on top of the vaseline revealing some of the brick pattern. Then I found some windows and door online that I wanted to use and glued those down. 

Next I worked on the inside insert. The photo below is the back side of the insert. I painted the background and stenciled with some of StencilClub stencils and collaged with some things from TumbleFish Studios. 

Then I flipped it over and using my eBrush – I used Seth's stencils

and used rubber stamps for the center message. 

The next photos are of the finished exterior.

I used my eBrush with Seth's stencils for what I feel is an authentic looking graffiti.

The eBrush is an airbrush that uses art markers – it takes several different kinds – I used Copic and Spectrum Noir alcohol markers. Here is a link for the eBrush. http://www.craftwellusa.com/products/ebrush 

The photo below is of the inside of the exploding box.

This was a lot of fun!

~Terry Garrett

To see more of Terry's work, please visit his BLOG at whisperwoodartworks.blogspot.com!