Exploding Box

Did you ever wonder what an exploding box is? Check this unique, custom-handmade pieces and super easy DIY explosion box tutorial.
Supplies needed:
- Carrier mat with low tack adhesive.
- 60-degree blade.
- Two (2) sheets of 12” x 12” cardstock. We suggest a weight of 200 to 250gsm. We used dark purple.
- Two (2) sheets of 12” x 12” cardstock. We suggest a weight of 160 to 250gsm. We used a very pale lilac.
We used a pale blue patterned card to signify the sky. - One (1) sheet of 12” x 12” cardstock. We suggest a weight of 160 to 250gsm. We used a patterned card with a different colour on each side so that we could have two colours of butterflies.
- One (1) sheet of acetate approximately the minimum size of 50mm x 297mm (2” x 12”)
- Glue and double-sided tape.
- Scissors.


Cutting the Design
This design uses six different cutting files so we will start with the simpler ones first.
And place the acetate in the cutter.

2. We don’t need to choose a colour or to choose between Optimised and Whole Area as there is just one colour.
Click on the knife icon (1) to bring up the Cut Window.
Make sure Use Weeding Frame is NOT selected (2)
Set Position after cutting to Go back to beginning (3).
It is always best to use this option when possible in case the cut is not quite all the way through and needs to be sent a second time.
Click on the Cut out button (4).





7. Click on the pink colour button to select just the pink lines.
These will be our fold lines. We usually say that either pouncing or scoring is acceptable. With this design, we suggest using pouncing so that the folds retain the full strength of the card.

8. With the pink selected right click on the pink coloured button to bring up the Set Attributes window.

9. We want to set the Pounce in this window.
First, we choose the type of Pattern (1) for our line, we suggest using the first option, a simple up and down dashed line.
Next, we choose the Pounce down length (2), we have set this to 0.2mm, the shorter the down length, the stronger the card remains.
Next, we set the Pounce up length (3), a shorter line gives for a neater fold, so we set this to 0.5mm.
Finally, click on OK (4) to make the settings and close the window.

Click on the All Colours button (1) to select both the pink and black lines as both can now be cut together.
Click on the knife icon (2) to bring up the cutout window.

11. In the cutout window, it may appear that all the lines are solid cut lines.

But clicking on the magnifying glass (1) several times will allow us to take a closer look and we can then see that the lines are actually pounced as they should be. Click on Cut out (2).

Note: Cutting may take longer than you are used to because of the number of tiny dashes.

Again we want the pink lines to be for folding so as with the previous file, we click on the pink colour button to select the pink lines and then right-click on the same colour button to bring up the Set Attributes window.
13. We now make the same settings as for the previous file. The pattern type is the default one of a simple dashed line, the down length is 0.2mm, and then the up length is 0.5mm.

Click on the OK button to close the window and set the attributes.


Assembling the Design
Our first step is to assemble the top of the box. For this, we need the smaller purple piece, the largest square of patterned card and the largest square of pale lilac card. Two butterflies cut from the pale lilac and two matching butterflies cut from the patterned card.



4. Now we fold each side in towards the middle.





9. Now we unfold the top edge of the card and add glue.










Note: this is where we can turn the patterned butterfly over because we cut it from a double-sided pattern paper. Turning it over allows us to use two colours of butterflies. Note: you can either glue the butterflies together entirely, or you can just glue the body so that the wings can be lifted up from the one underneath.


21. Now we can move onto the base of our box. To start with, we need the second purple piece of card, the remaining 9 of the pale lilac squares, 5 of the patterned squares. Note: Do not use the four patterned squares with slits in them.














And stick in place on one of the four flaps.


Note: We left the centre panel empty of butterflies. You could add more butterflies here if you wish, or you could add a greeting. We chose to leave it empty because it creates an ideal space to add a gift, whether it be something loose just placed in the centre of whether it be another smaller box.



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