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$ $ $ $ $
Difficulty
• • • • •
Time
40 mins

Magic Boxes: A Life As Lou Online Class
To begin, choose your paper. You need six sheets of matching paper (preferably a heavier weight). Choose one for your outside, a contrasting one for your lid, and 4 to create the inside boxes. Cut as follows (all measurement are in inches):

Outside: 6 x 11 3/4ths
Lid: 8.5 x 8.5
4 inner boxes: 8 x 8

The only challenging part of this project is creating the lid and inside compartments. The good news is, they follow the exact same process.

Posted by Leah K. Published See Leah K.'s 4 projects »
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  • How to fold a paper explosion box. Magic Boxes - Step 1
    Step 1

    Draw a line from corner to corner on the back side of your paper.

  • How to fold a paper explosion box. Magic Boxes - Step 2
    Step 2

    fold the tips of your paper in so that they meet at the center.

  • How to fold a paper explosion box. Magic Boxes - Step 3
    Step 3

    It will look as though you are folding an envelope.

  • How to fold a paper explosion box. Magic Boxes - Step 4
    Step 4

    Fold in all four sides, and then unfold.

  • How to fold a paper explosion box. Magic Boxes - Step 5
    Step 5

    Fold the tips up to the folded line on each side.

  • How to fold a paper explosion box. Magic Boxes - Step 6
    Step 6

    This fold gives you the sides of your box. Do it on all four sides. When you are finished you should have creases all the way around. I have taken a marker and drawn lines on my creases. This is not necessary. This is to help you see where there should be folds. The first two lines you drew will NOT be creased.

  • How to fold a paper explosion box. Magic Boxes - Step 7
    Step 7

    I have also colored four triangles. Cut those out. You will be left with this:

  • How to fold a paper explosion box. Magic Boxes - Step 8
    Step 8

    See the arrows? Cut those lines up to the tip of the arrows. You should get this:

  • How to fold a paper explosion box. Magic Boxes - Step 9
    Step 9

    You have created two sets of tabs. Bring them together to form a wall of the box like so:

  • How to fold a paper explosion box. Magic Boxes - Step 10
    Step 10

    Now fold the flap over those tabs.

  • How to fold a paper explosion box. Magic Boxes - Step 11
    Step 11

    Do the same thing on the other side.

  • How to fold a paper explosion box. Magic Boxes - Step 12
    Step 12

    Your flaps won’t want to stay down on their own. Fold in the other two flaps and press the corners in firmly.

  • How to fold a paper explosion box. Magic Boxes - Step 13
    Step 13

    Once all four corners are in, the box will stay together without any glue.

    Repeat this process on your 8 inch and 8.5 inch papers. You should have 4 boxes and the lid.

  • How to fold a paper explosion box. Magic Boxes - Step 14
    Step 14

    Now for the outside.

    1. Take the 11 3/4ths x 6 inch paper and fold it in half.

    2. Open it up and fold the ends into the center. You should have four perfectly even quadrants.

    To put the boxes in, first adhere one to the very top right corner, making certain that you are flush with the corner of the outside paper.

    Adhere the next one to the bottom left corner, once again flush to the edge.

  • How to fold a paper explosion box. Magic Boxes - Step 15
    Step 15

    Align the inside two boxes so that they are in centered in their own quarter of the paper, but not overlapping each other so you can still fold the box shut.

    Once the glue is dry (I do recommend a liquid glue to extra staying power) you should be able to close your box and the lid should fit perfectly on top. One corner of the box will remain open, as no part is designed to overlap. To remedy this, I like to tie mine up with ribbons. You can embellish them any way that you like.

    Here are a few that I’ve made.

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Comments

Olivia H.
Olivia H. · Indianapolis, Indiana, US · 32 projects
These are amazing!
Reply
DarkAshHurts
DarkAshHurts · 119 projects
I made one of these real quick for a friends gift (mostly candy & jewelry). Its a lot easier then it looks, but it doesnt hold heavy gifts very well, i found out. lol
Maybe ill post it later. Happy
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Death or Plumbing!
Death or Plumbing! · 1 project
Absolutely love it! So cute and handy! Thanks for sharing! (: *mwa*
Reply
quinn <3
quinn <3 · 11 projects
your instructions are so easy to follow! i just made a bunch of boxesHappy they are so cute!Happy this was such an awesome idea! great job;)
Reply
Annie Y.
Annie Y.
I love this so much. And since I already knew how to make the inner boxes, there was not much challenge at all!
What a creative idea.
Reply
Leah K.
Leah K. · 4 projects
To see my newest Christmas Magic boxes, check out my website! Thanks so much for looking guys! http://www.leahkillian.com/?p=1364
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