How to make a Belle and Boo box frame

I've used the cute Belle and Boo papercraft range from Trimcraft in lots of different ways to make cards, tags etc but I thought the papers and decoupage would look great layered up together in this frame. I've shown all the stages in making it and included the measurements etc so you can try it for yourself.  

You will need;

Create Craft 3D frame 23cm x 23 cm

Trimcraft Belle and Boo Christmas 8x8 paper pack

                                      Trimcraft Belle and Boo Christmas 8x8 Decoupage pad
                                        Dovecraft Christmas Basics Wooden Christmas Trees
                                                    Dovecraft Christmas Basics Twine
                                                       Dovecraft Glitter Glue - Crystal
                                                             Dovecraft Crafters Glue

                                                                        white card
                                                                   3D foam squares
                                                                   double sided tape
                           Plaid Home Decor Chalk Paint - White Adirondack and Spanish Moss


                                                                    How to make it:

1. Remove the back, inner frame and acrylic from the front of the frame before painting the whole outer and inner frames with white chalk paint.

2. These are the two sheets you will need from the decoupage pad - you can save some pieces from the sheet on the left to use on another project.

3. Use 3D foam squares between the decoupage layers to make up the image. Make sure you cut off the little "pips" around the images after you pop them out of the page for a better finish.

4. Take two pieces of white card measuring 8cm x 5cm and score along the 8cm side at every 1cm.

Fold these as shown and glue one edge together. These pieces are used behind the main image to hold it up from the back of the frame, giving a little more dimension.

5. Pop out the bunting from one of the decoupage sheets and attach it to the little pegs on the top of the frame to show where the image should be placed.

6. Once you have marked where the main image should go, attach the card "square tubes" to the back of it with double sided tape making sure there is a space for the bottom line and pegs as shown.

Do not attach the line to the image at this stage - you are only marking where it should go.

7. To make the "Roman Blind"....Take a piece of striped paper and cut it to 11cm lengthwise by the full width of the sheet.

Score at 3cm, 4cm, 6cm and 7cm on the 11cm side and fold as shown. Take two pieces of paper from the same sheet (but with the stripes going the opposite direction) measuring the 20cm x 2cm. Score and fold these at 1cm (down the centre) and attach to the top and bottom of the blind with double sided tape.

8. Add double sided tape as shown and stick down.

9. Add a little tape on the back to hold it in place. Do not remove the backing strip.

10. To make the "curtains".. Take two pieces of green paper measuring 20cm x 5.5cm. Score diagonally from the top corners (on opposite sides for each curtain) down to 1.5cm at the bottom. Fold back and trim the bottom as shown.

11. Make a little tassel with twine and attach to the centre of the blind from behind.

Attach the curtains to the blind with double sided tape leaving them at least 0.5cm over the edge of the blind so that they will fir the frame. Add the "Merry Christmas" greeting from the decoupage sheet to the top centre of the blind.

12. This is what it should look like from the back.

13. Put the acrylic front back into the frame. Place the blind and curtains on top and replace the inner frame to hold these firmly in situ.

14. Cut two little cameo images from the 8x8 paper pack and attach one to each of the pegs on the bottom line.

15. Add a little Crafters Glue to the edges of the bunting and the little images from the 8x8 paper and glue in place to the main decoupage image. Add glue to the sides of the pegs and along the area where the bottom line of pegs meets the top of the square cylinder on the image.

16. This is what it should look like from the front. 

17. You'll notice that the paper curtains are just a little bit short for the frame - we're about to remedy that!

18. Cover the inside back of the frame with a piece of checked patterned paper and add Crafters glue to the back of the main image before closing the back of the frame. The Crafters glue will hold the image to the patterned paper once the back is in place.

Paint two little wooden Christmas trees with the chalk paint and add a little glitter glue. Glue these to the bottom right of the frame as shown. Pop out the little squirrels from the decoupage sheet and glue to the frame as I've shown in the photo above.

I hope you enjoy making this as much as I did!!