I had so much fun playing with the new Octagon die templates from Spellbinders.  These were previewed on Becca Feeken's blog last week if you haven't seen them yet.

Whenever I encounter a new shape I want to do more than 'the expected'.   For an octagon, a stop sign is an obvious choice.  And with Nestabilities in general, layering the nested shapes would be the usual way to employ this shape.  So I started playing with the shape using origami-folding techniques.

Using the largest die template in the set, I made an adorable small gift box.  And then I stopped about halfway in creating another one, and left it as a flower shape. 

As you can see from my box, I used embossing foil (in gold) for layering on top of my box.  I love the contrast the metal provides.

I liked both of these pieces immensly, but wanted to use them to decorate something, so I made an origami octagon box and lid from two 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of double sided patterned cardstock.

Instead of trying to get out my camera and show you a step by step – I found a very easy to follow (and pause frequently) video online. 

You'll need a bone folder, or even the back of a butter knife will do, for crisp crease lines and folds.  It's a lot of fun and I am happy to share it with you.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1073581/octagon_paper_box_no_glue/

Use all of the steps in the above video to make your largest box.  Use the steps AFTER the initial octagon is made (the first fold-out reveals the octagon shape), to make them from your Spellbinder's Octagons.

Have a great Monday!