Learn how to make your explosion box fall open quickly and dramatically with these easy tips and tricks!
Have you started to make an explosion box yet?
Here are some tricks to make the sides drop away, revealing the next layer quickly and dramatically.
1) Use lighter paper for the base and burnish it VERY well.
Crease the base piece back and forth three or four times along each scoreline.
130 g/m or 36 lb. paper works very well. If the folded paper is light, the sides will fall more easily. This only applies to the base paper folds.
If you’re in the US, this Colorbök paper works perfectly.
2) Use two layers of cardstock to make the sides heavier.
The heavier they are, the more easily and quickly they will fall.
I use heavy, double-sided cardstock for the sides and all of the pull-outs.
This is the reason for gluing two circles at the top of each side heart; the weight at the top helps pull the hearts down!
3) Here’s a super sneaky trick – add coins in the envelopes or pockets!
The weight will make the sides fall very quickly.
4) Glue squares of cardboard or foam board (boosters) under each box to lift it up.
If the photos, pull-outs, and pockets are thick in the previous layer, the current layer can’t lay flat.
5) Store the box open flat. The paper will naturally try to return to its last position.
If you can’t store it flat, just open all of the layers and push them flat a few hours before you want to show off your heart explosion box to a friend.
I hope these easy little tips on how to make your explosion box sides fall quickly have been helpful!
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Lucy says
I love these tips. Everything you mention just makes so much sense. When I watch a video of an explosion box that doesn’t “explode” I am a little disappointed. So I am very happy to read how you do it. Thank you so much.
Emily says
LOL Lucy – I’m also a little disappointed when I see the videos and someone is pushing the sides down!
Maggie says
These tips are so helpful! These boxes take a lot of time and effort so ensuring they fall right is key!
Emily says
Yes, they do Maggie! I haven’t seen any info on how to make them fall well so I decided to create my own methods.