Isn’t this the perfect gift box for an Alice in Wonderland birthday party? Remember the exploding gift box I made for Sophie’s birthday? It turned out so neat, the idea of making one for an Alice-themed party seems a perfect plan.
My search for ideas for a party like this has been ongoing for a few years. For more ideas, you can check out and follow my Pinterest board ►Alice in Wonderland Party.
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So, at Amazon, I found this Alice in Wonderland pad of cardstock and ordered it. Notice the largest box is made from a different cardstock.
We R Memory Keepers Explosion Board Jig
This is the same inexpensive jig for creating exploding boxes by We R Memory Keepers that I used for Sophie’s box. This set gives you all the dimensions and lets you easily create boxes and lids in 7 nesting sizes along with a scoring tool. It also includes a variety of heart templates giving you more options.
Exploding Gift Box
How To Easily Create Your Own Beautiful Exploding Boxes
When you first open up the directions, it may look a little overwhelming. It is a lot simpler than it first appears. The directions are included in English, Spanish, French, and German.
Supplies Needed
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- Alice in Wonderland pad of cardstock
- We R Memory Keepers Explosion Board
- Paper Cutter
- Tacky Glue or Double-sided tape
- Red cardstock
- Memento Dew Drop by Tsukineko – Rich Cocoa
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Sharp scissors
- bronze key
Cutting The Paper for the Exploding Box
The first thing you need to do is choose which cardstock papers you want to use. Then, lay the papers out in the order you would like them from large to small. Also, choose which side of the paper you want to use for the lid and which for the box.
Although I used mainly the Alice cardstock, I also used a graphic 45 paper pad called Kraft Reflections Collection. It seems to coordinate nicely with the Alice-themed paper.
The next thing you need to do is decide what size your largest box is going to be. Using the We R Memory Keepers explosion board, the largest you can make is a 4 – inch square with 12″ x 12″ cardstock.
First, use the Explosion Board chart to determine the size to cut each of your papers. Although this gives you the capability of making 7 different sizes, you can choose to make fewer.
Plan Positioning
This Alice in Wonderland pad features pictures of Alice, teapots, and other characters from the story on the front sides. On the backsides, there are repeat patterns. I had to do some planning for these. Using a ruler, measure and figure where the characters will be on your boxes.
In other words, if the box measures a 3-inch square, the paper should be cut 9-inches square. Be strategic in how you cut the paper. Visualize where the characters will be once the box is opened.
In the picture above, you can see how this box is planned. I added blue lines to the picture to indicate the different sides of the box. Alice and the Mad Hatter will both be visible when the lid to the box is opened. The square in the middle will ultimately be covered by the next smaller box. The four corners fold inward.
Use the same strategy when you cut the squares for the lids. I cut the largest lid so that the words “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” show on the front side of the lid.
You can use the paper cutter to measure and cut the different papers. To keep things straight in my head, I use a pencil to lightly mark the box and lid measurements on each of the papers. Then, use the paper cutter to cut each to size. If the pencil mark is visible at all, use an eraser to erase it.
Create Your Own Double-Sided Cardstock
Unfortunately, it just didn’t seem that I could find the perfect area for the smallest box on the Alice cardstock. Before starting this project, I scanned all of the pages in the Alice in Wonderland pad of cardstock and saved them on my laptop.
It is easy to crop and piece together a new design. So, I created a small design using five of the cards from the scans. Notice that a transparent background is used. It’s easy to create and download this with PicMonkey.
Next, choose a blank 8.5″x 11″ canvas. Click on ‘Add Image’ and position the floral background on the blank canvas. (Before I did this, I cropped the floral background and saved it.)
Then, simply choose the floral scan from the files on the laptop. Click on ‘Add Image’ and choose the cards with the transparent background. Position this on top of the floral background.
To roughly judge where to position this to be the right size, use the alignment option at the bottom. Copy paper is 8.5 x11-inches. So, set 8 columns (There is no half-inch option!) and 11 rows. The smallest box is 6-inches square. So, I know that each of the squares is roughly an inch. Since there is an extra half-inch sideways, just add a little to be sure you will have a full six inches.
Next, print the cards with the floral background. Then, flip the paper over and print the pattern side on the back. When you create the patterned side, be sure it is large enough to extend beyond the edges of the graphic on the front.
I used this technique for a couple of the box lids, too.
How To Make Your Exploding Box
After you make one of these, the second one is even easier!
Scoring The Papers
Then, place one of the cut paper squares in the corner of the Explosion Board. Start by scoring the vertical line at the box size indicator. Then, score the diagonal line just to the vertical line! It’s just that easy!
Rotate the paper 90° counterclockwise and repeat scoring the vertical and diagonal lines for the remaining three sides.
The largest box is made with a little heavier cardstock, but one side is not printed. We’ll deal with that later.
Place the heart template in one corner, centering on the scored lines. Then, with sharp scissors, cut around the rounded tops.
Fold the hearts to the inside. Use the scoring tool to press over the fold lines and set this layer to the side. Repeat for each of the box sizes.
The Exploding Gift Box Lids
Using the Lid Chart included, select the lid size you’ll need for each box, and then, cut the decorative paper to the coordinating paper size.
Crease And Fold the Lines
Place the paper in the corner and score the vertical line at the “Lid Indicator”. Then, score the diagonal line down to the vertical line.
Once again, rotate the paper counterclockwise and repeat this step for each of the remaining sides.
Glue The Corners
Then, fold on the scored lines. Use the scoring tool to press and rub the edges of the folds.
Fold the score lines inside or outside. It’s your choice. I like the tabs on the inside. Then, glue the tabs. I first glue the flaps together on the inside of the diagonal. Next, dot some glue on one side of the flap. Use a toothpick to spread the glue. Note that I glue the flaps on just two opposite sides of the lid. I found paper clips come in handy for holding the flaps while the glue dries.
The Tacky Glue securely glues the corners together. You can use double-sided tape if you like, but I prefer the trusty Tacky Glue. I think it makes a sturdier lid.
TIPS
As you are planning and creating your exploding box, you might want to consider how you can add weight to the top sides of the boxes. Why? You want your boxes to drop open dramatically, right? By making sure there is a little additional weight on the top, it will help ensure an exploding success.
I made lids for all of the boxes, but you can choose to omit the lids. The ways you can personalize the boxes are limitless.
Decorating The Layers
At this point, you may want to decorate the boxes. It will be easier to decorate before assembling. Keep in mind that the boxes, if we’ve done this right, will fall open as the lids lift. You can decide whether to decorate the inside, the outside, or both!
If you remember the sides of Sophie’s boxes weren’t falling down dramatically enough. After considering different options, the idea to use a heart cutout to hold a quarter at the top of each flap came to mind. We have hearts in the corners. With the Queen of Hearts in mind, repeating with red paper hearts seems appropriate.
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This Fiskars X-Large Squeeze Punch, That’s Amore is the perfect size for holding a quarter. The Memento Dew Drop by Tsukineko Rich Cocoa ink stamp pad is perfect for adding a little aging to the outside edges of the hearts.
This time, I didn’t want to cover the illustrations that are strategically positioned. Contemplating this, I decided to add the hearts to the outside of the boxes. The lids will cover most of the heart and just the tips will show. I considered moving them lower but then, the boxes will probably not open as well.
Decorating The Large Plain Box
There is a page of teapot cards in this particular Alice in Wonderland pad of cardstock. I cut these to fit on each of the four sides of the largest box. After gluing the four to the sides, it still looked a little plain.
I noticed the leftover strips cut from the pages. Some of them fit perfectly along the sides of the teacup cards. Others, I cut from the scraps!
Add Graphics to the Boxes
Included in this Alice in Wonderland Cardstock Pad is a page of labels. These are perfect for adding to the front of the remaining boxes. The smallest box is 2-inches wide. The labels are a little large for it. So, I scanned one and reduced the size a little to fit better.
In the end, it seemed the lid with the brown cardstock with the dishes and silverware was a little off. I cut another square from the teapot page and glued it to the top of the lid. It seems more cohesive.
Gluing The Exploding Gift Box Together
Lay the largest layer out on a hard surface. Apply glue to the bottom of layer 2 and place it in the center square of the largest layer. You’ll probably want to put the lid on the box you are gluing. It’s easier than trying to hold all four sides. It makes it easier to center the base, too.
After you have each box in position, take off the lid, and press the bottom firmly to make sure the glue adheres.
So, after gluing all of the boxes together with hearts glued to all of the inner boxes, and quarters slipped in the pockets, I took the exploding box on a test drive. Right off the bat, the first box with no coins did not open so well. Unimpressive!
I added hearts and quarters to the inside flaps of the largest box. The added weight of the coin does the trick!
Bronze Key
Inside this box is a crisp fifty-dollar bill, rolled up, and secured with a ribbon attached to a key. At Hobby Lobby, you can find keys by The Paper Studio like these that I bought.
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However, Amazon has similar ones. This package of keys actually has a key with a rabbit head on it, which would be perfect for this Alice exploding box!
Tie A Ribbon on Your Exploding Gift Box!
I thought a ribbon bow that unties easily and remains in one piece is the perfect last detail. Don’t know how to tie this ribbon bow? You can find easy step-by-step directions ◄ here.
This took longer than I expected, but I love it! Hopefully, Memphis does, too. It should not take you as long unless you are trying to take pictures of your project and writing a how-to!
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