Altered Cricut Cartridge Box

Hi Everyone!
Thanks for stopping by today.  Last Saturday, me, my mom, my sister-in-law and my bestie Cindy spent the day together crafting.  The idea was that we would make Christmas presents.  Tonya, my SSIL made the CUTEST mini album from black envelopes (I should have her teach you how :)  Are you reading this Tonya!!!  My mom made cards, which she does a LOT and Cindy worked on the prettiest magnetic calendars made using the flat floral marbles.  Maybe I can get her to share a picture with us sometime.  Well, I decided it was time to learn how to alter Cricut boxes.  I have enough to give to people for years in one form or another!!!!  It took all day to figure it out and work out the details but here is the one that I completed.

The papers are from a Leaving Prints kit and the stamp is from K. Andrew Designs, Positive Thoughts set. I like her stamps because she donates to charities on every set she sells.  Nice girl! 

Before I started I sanded all of the edges because the cover of the box is slick.  I read on another blog that this is important, and IT IS!!!  Then I just used brown acrylic paint to paint all of the edges.  This is messy and time consuming but necessary.  I have made a lot of altered things that I wrap the paper around the edges and it is not always pretty so this time I tried this and I like the way it looks. 

 I made all of the flowers with the Flower Shoppe cartridge.  It was the first time using this cartridge and I love it.  The only thing is you have to experiment a lot to get the layers to all fit together nicely.  Not sure I like all of these but the paper makes them really cute.

 This black one actually turned out to be my favorite.  I got the sizing down by the time I made this one.  Then I used crystal glaze to add dew drops and used stickles on the flourish that I cut from Cindy Loo.  Love, love that cartridge. The tag was cut from Tags, Bags, Boxes and More.  Easy peasy!

So on the inside, I put 6 cards and matching envelopes cut from Just Because Cards.  It is the "carrot" card on page 72 cut at 3 1/2 inches.  I learned that if you want the finished envelope to measure 3 1/2 square then that is what you set your cut size at.  Then I just cut white cardstock at 3 1/2 x 6 3/4 to fold in half for the note cards.  The flowers were cut from the Mother's Day Bouquet cartridge.

I will be making more and sharing with you.  These will be gifts for teachers and co-workers.  Here are the dimensions I cut my papers.  It will save you a full day of experimenting if you use these :)

Outside of the Box:
Top 7 3/8 x 3 3/4
Bottom 7 3/8 x 3 7/8
2 long sides (this is the pink polka dot paper) 7 3/8 x 1 1/4
2 short sides 3 3/4 x 1 1/4

Inside of the Box
Long notched side (use the same pink polka dot to match the sides) 7 1/8 x 1 1/4
Long magnetic strip (covered to match inside of the lid) 7 3/8 x 1 1/4
Inside top 7 3/8 x 3 7/8

I hope this helps!