Surprise box
Two strips of card become a little "Open me" frame. Unfold it and a secret drawing appears through the window.
Age : age 7+; a grown-up helps with the window and the first gluing
Materials
- White card (160–200 gsm) : Two strips of 6 × 24 cm. Plain paper works but tears quickly.
- Ruler and pencil
- Bone folder, or an empty pen : To score the folds before folding.
- Scissors, or a craft knife for the grown-up : For the round window.
- Glue stick
- Markers : For the secret drawing and the frame decoration.
Steps
Draw and fold
- Cut two strips of 6 × 24 cm.
- On each strip, draw lines at 3, 9, 15 and 21 cm: you get 3 cm, three 6 cm squares, then 3 cm.
- In the 1st and 3rd square of each strip, draw a diagonal, in the same direction on both squares (see the template).
- Score all the lines with the folder along the ruler, then fold them both ways to soften them.
- On strip A, cut a round window about 4 cm across in the middle square.
Decorate
- On strip B, draw the surprise in the middle square: a made-up little animal, a message, a heart.
- On strip A, decorate around the window and write "Open me".
Assemble
- Glue one 3 cm end of strip B onto the other end: the strip becomes a square ring, and the two 3 cm ends together make the 4th side.
- Do the same with strip A, with B's drawing facing inwards.
- Slide ring B into ring A, crosswise, so the drawing sits right behind the window.
- Flatten everything along the diagonals: the box folds into a small flat frame.
- To open it, squeeze two opposite sides: the box pops into 3D and the surprise appears.
For a party: one box per guest, with their name in the window.
If it goes wrong
- Won't fold flat : Redo the diagonals in the same direction, well scored.
- Drawing isn't behind the window : Re-centre ring B before the glue sets.
- The glued join opens : Glue the whole 3 cm area and hold for 30 seconds.
- Paper tears at the folds : At least 160 gsm card.
Safety
- A craft-knife window is for the grown-up; with scissors, poke a small hole in the centre first.