Explosion Box

by Beate Johns

Take the lid off of this box and the bottom folds flat like a card.

Supplies

  • Paper cutter with scoring blade
  • One 7 1/2" square of cardstock or patterned paper for box bottom
  • One 4 1/4" square of cardstock or patterned paper for box lid
  • Sticky Strip™
  • Additional cardstock for inside message and embellishment for lid (optional)
  • Stamps
  • Ink

Step-by-Step

  1. Step 1

    Take the 7 1/2" piece of cardstock and score at 2 1/2" and 5" on one side.

  2. Step 2

    Turn the cardstock 90 degrees and score at 2 1/2" and 5". There will be nine 2 1/2" squares scored on your cardstock.

  3. Step 3

    Score the four corner squares diagonally from the outside corner in towards the middle square.

  4. Step 4

    Stamp the box bottom.

  5. Step 5

    Prefold all scores. Fold the diagonal scores in towards the middle of the box.

  6. Step 6 (Optional)

    Add a message or saying to the box center.

  7. Step 7

    Take the 4 1/4" piece of cardstock or patterned paper and score it at 7/8" on each side.

    >
  8. Step 8

    On two opposing sides, cut the vertical score lines until they intersect with the horizontal ones. That will make the glue tabs.

    Optional: Cut the glue tabs down a bit to make sure they won't show when the tabs are taped to the sides of the lid.

  9. Step 9

    With the right side of the lid facing up, add Sticky Strip™ to the glue tabs.

  10. Step 10

    Prefold all scores and adhere glue tabs to the sides of the lid.

  11. Step 11

    Decorate the top of the lid with cut out image or tag, add a little ribbon, and your box is done.

Video!

Variations

    Change the size of the box
    Make it bigger or smaller. The size of the bottom cardstock has to be able to be divided by 3. A 9" square would be scored at 3" and 6", a 12" square by 4" and 8".

    For the lid the box with a the 9" square bottom would have to have a 5" square, scored 1" all the way around.
    The box with the 12" square would have to have a 6 1/2" square, scored 1 1/4" all the way around.

Your Turn

You've seen the tutorial, now you try it! We've got a section of the gallery set aside for Explosion Box. Try this technique, then upload your artwork to the gallery. Show us your creations!

***Please note - Internet Explorer/Edge is not a supported browser, and will not allow you to see the videos. Please use Chrome, Firefox or Safari to view our tutorial videos.

Questions and Comments

We'd love to get your feedback or questions. Leave your comment below.

I'm a new stamper, and still building up my supplies. What kind of suggestion can you give me as i don't have a scorer. Any ideas will help! Thank you!
annie_mae  |  Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 4:48 AM
You can use a bone folder to make the crease or you can use the cutter tool, but you'll have to practice so as not to push too hard to cut the paper. If you have a paper cutter, stores sell the scoring blade and it's definitely worth it as it saves you a LOT of time.
Noreen  |  Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 6:37 AM
I love & use this pattern allot. So many nice little items can go in here.....like hubby putting in my latest pair of diamond stud earrings.!
Susan  |  Wed May 7, 2008 at 6:01 PM
I have a cutter that does not come with a scoring blade. I sanded down the cutting edge on a dull used blade with sand paper and use it as a scorer. Be careful and test it thoroughly before using it! But, mine works great!
Good luck!!
Jeanne  |  Thu May 8, 2008 at 3:44 AM
If you have ever bought any pampered chef stones and gotten the little brown scrapper that works great as a scorer too.
sherri Mullenix  |  Sun Mar 29, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Hi, love this little box but cannot get the lid to fit...any ideas? What I am doing wrong? I have followed the instructions...I think but it seems just a we bit too small....
Clare  |  Mon Sep 21, 2009 at 1:38 AM
I'm going to attempt to make on of these today, I've printed off your tut .......... so here goes!
Thank you
Kduff  |  Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 4:58 PM
I made many of these boxes at Christmas.I had a bit of trouble with the lid also so I made the pattern for the lid i/8 inch larger and it worked great. I think i/16 would have worked just as well. I also made little sleighs and reindeer and put them on acetate strips that were glued down and they looked like they were flying when you open the box and then put a gift card on one of the side flaps. It was great too.
J.M.  |  Wed Jan 13, 2010 at 12:03 PM
I also found I had to adjust the size of the lid (discovered after I had cut out 5 lids at 4 1/4 inches and they caused the sides to buckle in). I increased the lid paper to 4 3/8 inches and still did the scoring at 7/8 inch and found it fit perfectly. I must mention that I was using heavy weight bo bunny paper so maybe the thickness of the paper is a factor in the lids not fitting well.
Sheena B  |  Wed Feb 3, 2010 at 6:21 AM
The lid needs to be cut at 4 3/4 inches to fit correctly! Only wasted one piece of card! Looks gorgeous now, wonderful Mother's Day gift for my daughter from my grandson who is 15 months!
Paddymaggie  |  Sat Mar 6, 2010 at 3:51 AM
Has anyone made an Explosion Card? If so, is there a tutorial to make one? Thanks.
tutu1960  |  Sun May 30, 2010 at 1:17 PM
Love it! Soooo quick and easy! What a fun little happy. I made it with a SU! prints pack. Use the 6" square for the bottom, scored at 2" all the way around, and a 3.5" top, scored at just under 3/4" all the way around for the top. I'll make these at our next swap- thank you!
Christine  |  Wed Jan 12, 2011 at 2:41 PM
I will have to try this pattern soon! Also like the explosion box that opens out completely flat -- no folded in corners. Both are fun!
Mrs O  |  Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 11:01 PM
Hi,

I want to make an explosion box and I have a questions. I have looked online and seen many that have plastic like strips to adhere to the bottom of the box so objects pop when you open the box. What are these strips made from and where do I get them?
tracey hazan  |  Tue Dec 3, 2013 at 7:06 PM
Wow! What a fabulous card to make. Thank you!
Elizabeth Chopin  |  Tue Sep 19, 2017 at 7:49 AM

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