This was a one off labour of love, made for a very special friend’s 60th birthday. I made up the template for the outer box in a similar way to how exploding box cards are made, I sized it to fit the 3D hat which was made using a template found online. I used contrasting mats on the inside and outside of the box which were distressed with ink and faux stitching drawn on with a dark brown fineliner pen.The outer layer of the box was layered with burgundy card stock, embossed using the Tattered Lace Lattice embossing folder, inked, faux stitched and gilded with pebeo gilding wax. I embellished the box using various printed images, some of which I heat embossed with clear embossong powder and gilded with Pebeo gilding wax. I made the Handle using the Antique Handles 658462 Sizzix Bigz Die & Matching Embossing Folder cuting 4 times from thick black card, all glued together to create a sturdy handle which I then gilded with wax. The lock and key were made in the same way using the Sizzix Framelits Die Set 6PK w/Stamps – Gypsy Findings, I cut 4 locks and 4 keys, glued together for strength. I stamped, heat embossed and gilded these before attaching them to the box. I wrote a personalised poem which I printed onto parchment paper and distressed with ink. The wax seal was made from 2 die cut chipboard circles, triple heat embossed with ultra thick embossing powder and stamped with Monogram alphabet rubber stamps while still hot. These were then glued back to back with the gross grain ribbon in between.