Autumn Bouquet 3d Box Card Assembly Guide

Fresh to celebrate the splendor of autumn

is a new 3d box card full of fall foliage.

The box base with side and front flaps,

and a back flap that stays erect,

is built with three center bridges.

Opened as shown, it is a dimensional focal point.

But if you need to send (or store),

it folds flat.

Follow the step-by-step assembly guide

to use your purchased and downloaded cut file

from SnapDragon Snippets,

available soon through SnapDragonSnippets.com,

SVG Attic, and the Silhouette America online store.
Consider also purchasing the 7x7 envelope
that coordinates with this design.

ASSEMBLY:

1. Identify and cut the shapes.

Left side, top to bottom: flap accent shapes with tall back shape/wheat arch pre-assembled; box body shape; outer flaps (front and sides only shown here).

Right side, t to b: bridge strips (one is inadvertently showing backside); folliage shapes roughly front to back order, sign layers and "Autumn" word cut out.

2. Assemble the box body and attach front and side flap accent shapes (offset except top edge), also back tall accent with wheat arch. NOTE that the white stripe paper for the card box body is the inside of the box.

It is easier to do as much of the flat assembly before folding the body shape into a box the joining the side seam.

3. Attach the outside accent box shapes on the front of the box body shape.

4. Fold the box on its perforations to form the box shape, outside box accents on the outside, of course. Bring the side tab to align with the lower portion of the box back's side edge, and glue in place.

NOTE that during this side seam joining, it is possible to fold the box body flat to apply pressure to the seam edges until secure.

5. Prepare the back bridge assembly by folding the side tabs of the bridge back. Attach the prepared leaf shapes (distressed, edge curled as desired, etc.), beginning with the lower right leaf and working upward. 

The leaf outlines will align on top of the shaped upper portion of the bridge shape.

6. If desired, add some curl to the leaf tips of the back bridge assembly.

7. Apply adhesive to the outside surfaces of the bridge tabs, then insert the bridge into the box interior space. Line up the bridge to be approximately one-quarter of the space forward from the box's back. Make sure that the top of the bridge is aligned even with the top of the main box, where the flap perforation line is. The bridge should be parallel to the box front and box back.

The other bridges will further divide up the space into roughly quarter divisions, front to back.

8. After the bridge is positioned and held in place long enough for the initial "grab" of the adhesive, fold the card flat and press where the tabs are attached to help the bridge adjust to its best flat arrangement.

Repeat this step after each bridge is attached, but before it is "hard" dried.

9. Position and attach the second bridge in a similar manner (with no assemblage on it at this point), placing it approximately another 1/4 of the interior's space measurement forward in front of the first bridge. 

It may be helpful to use a tool or pencil shaft to reach in to the narrow space between bridges and/or front and back, to apply pressure to attach tab and box side.

10.  Position and attach the leaf branches left and right, behind the second bridge, arching outward from box interior as shown.

11. Assemble the berry fronds with the berry circles cut from the three sizes, with a different shade of red or other choice for each size for variety. 

12. Position and attach the three fronds near the center, on the front of the second bridge.

13. Position and attach third bridge as with previous bridges, approx. 1/2 of the remaining space forward from the second bridge.

14. Position and attach the two oval leaves on the front of the third bridge, pointing outward, or as you prefer.

OPTIONAL SHAPING:

If you like, use oversize stylus and mat such as the one shown from McGill to round and curl the leaf edges, working from the backside.

15. Bend the ends of the pairs of larger and medium maple leaves that will be placed overlapping the side flaps. 

16. Add glue to the leaf seam ends. Position the large leaf in the back third, and the small leaf in front of it, with the stem hook over the side flap fold so that the stem will glue on the inside of the box, between the bridge tabs.

17. Position and attach the two front maple leaves on the front flap as shown.

18. Carefully fold the box flat to make sure it will fold correctly, in case you wish to enclose in an envelope for giving or mailing.

Here is the finished card, front view.

And side view, showing the bridge arrangements.

What other box cards would you like to see created?
Leave a comment if you have an idea or more.