Explosion Box!

A box for any occasion. A box that doesn't do anything but fall open. Who doesn't want one? Ok that doesn't sounds very special but it would be for the gift recipient. A new way to present you present!

Nothing special is needed.

The List:
-Cardboard
-Wrapping paper or normal paper (Outside)
-Some thick paper, cardstock (For the inside)
-Box cutter and scissors
-Glue or tape
  *Ribbons, bows, etc (for decoration)

*Disclaimer
This box does not literally explode, it just falls open. Yeah, just killed all the excitement :[

Step 1: Cutting

On your piece of cardboard, plan out five squares of the same size and one square that is larger than the other squares by 2 times the thickness of the cardboard.

Cut with a box cutter, your teeth, or a spoon if you have the skills.

Dimensions are vague because you can make this box any size imaginable, depending on how much cardboard you have.

Comments

[Mikimee]

This looks really fun, great idea, will make for next birthday, thanks :D

[Shany120]

Awesome! I have to try this on my younger brother, but just to be nice i will really put something little in the box (notice I said little :p).

[Meganoki]

do u have to have the big paper? cuz i was thinking to just cut the cross out, out of the cardboard..... then cut out the paper just for it to look nice.... but im just curios (i think i spelled that right) to know.

[lancon]

Yeah it'll work, but it'll be important to crease your cardboard well though. Wrapping it outside would be harder because the flaps move, which might cause the paper to bend (unless you cut out individual squares). Hmm I like using curious better, but have no idea really. l

[Meganoki]

okay thanks.... and i made it the way you did and it looks GREAT!!!!!that is soooo cool....... but i don't know what to put in there for my moms birthday though....

[JcBeaver]

This is awsome, perfect for Father's day!

[mojobo1]

Very nice instructable, I might try this some day. :)

I noticed this instructable is the 9th result in a Google search for "Explosion box".

[psphaxzor]

Very nice!Ii enjoyed this instructable and plan to make a modified version that uses party popper charges to create a loud sound as the cap is pulled of. Iif time alows I am also going to be adding a smoke contraption so once the smoke clears... POOF! The present is there.

[timothymh]

 Awesome idea! My dad's b-day is today... (but a little too late to rewrap now. :] )

[dan_peixoto]

I´d love to see an instructable os your planned box.

The main reason for that is the "smoke contraption". I think it would add a very nice efect to tha box!!

[jeff-o]

Just make sure the present is worthy of the presentation!  LOL. 

[Rosemary700]

This reminds me of the 'exploding' boxes I've made (from kits!) using fabric instead of paper.  You can add internal pockets, strips of elastic, etc., to contain sewing gear, needles, or just leave it empty for chocolates!  Also, there are cloth variations which include gussets between the sides, which fold inside, but act to contain the contents a bit better, and versions with more than four sides - six, eight, ...

Your version is much simpler and therefore more achieveable!  Good for you!

[grimdaddy]

Ok, it is perhaps too early in the morning for me.  Why is it called an "explosion box"?  It has no mechanics to blow confetti or pop or nothing. 

[lancon]

It was the most appropriate name that I could find through google. Falling open box didn't sound very appealing to me. Google it, these things are just called that.

[viniciuspedrozo]

Any video?

[auntikays]

My family aren't "gift shakers" - we just open them up.  If that's the case with your gift recipient, you could feel it up with marbles or something equally annoying so that when they open it, they make a huge mess.    Or use those snake in a can type of snakes or something.  A fun, harmless prank. 

[Live2Create]

There is a wonderful book by Mark Hiner called "Up-Pops." It has a template for a cardstock box that pops open from a flat position by using a rubber band. Don't know if it could work on larger scale, though. 

[lavothas]

springs off of a mouse trap on the sides to accelerate it's opening, plus 2-4 confetti crackers and a sound effect speaker triggered by the the walls falling and causing both an explosion sound an "shrapnel"

[astrong0]

I love it, try and figure it out please

[iBurn]

Now...providing that I had a sufficient amount of explosives...this COULD theoretically become an exploding box, could it not? :)

(5 stars)

[roccopeterbilt]

A couple of mouse traps would make it fly open quite nicely (once modified that is.)  It would also give you a way to pull the strings on your party poppers, so the person opening the gift could just life the lid instead of *pulling* it off.

.02

[pyropro101]

 how do u stop it from falling in together???

[lancon]

That could definitely happen. it should be fine if the inside paper is thick enough so that it'll want to open outward. Another problem is after awhile it wont fall as much so just leave it out flat for awhile and it'll be all good again.

[Z1ggy]

darn i was expecting something like jokeys smurfs gifts..... still its a cool idea.

[thomas_c]

 Man, that was exactly what I was hoping for. This is still a great thing, though, thumbs up!

[lancon]

that would definitely be a lot more interesting to make haha

[XOIIO]

I'll make an Instructable just like this, but with C4 and a detonator. :)

[zack247]

interesting. i never would have thought of doing it that way. and i noticed your toolbar on your computer. royal noir by any chance?

[lancon]

Close, it's Windows XP Zune Theme. Free and created by Microsoft = awesomeness. haha

[lancon]

it's pretty much Royale Noir with an orange start button and compatible with normal Windows XP

[nickodemus]

Nice 'ible, amazing detail for being your first. Although it took me a minute to figure out that it didn't explode, does the term 'explosion box' mean something? Is it just a term for a homemade box?

[lancon]

Thanks! I couldn't think of anything to title this so I browsed google for the proper name and "explosion box" seemed most appropriate for this. It could be known by another name, so if someone finds out I would like to know.
Any other name ideas would be nice too, for I see that many people are getting a different idea haha :]

[nickodemus]

Well, the I'll list as many name ideas as I can think of:
Improv Box, Homemade box, DIY Box, Gift Box, Instant Box....
That's about all I can think of, but you don't have to change the name. The Prank contest is still open, you could still add a small explosive ;-)

[pie R []ed]

a simple system with springs could render it a truly surprising box. try opening your present to find that the moment  you take off the top it slams against the table... even better try using a spring in the lid and just tying it together. i would consider parts flying in all directions a legitimate explosion.

[qballcat]

LEERRROOOYYYYYYYY box

[9lucky2]

and when the person opens it you can get mad and say it was an antique! XD

[darus67]

You could add some sort of spring mechanism to make it fly open and fling confetti around when the box is opened.

[halberdear]

 I was hoping it would a large box and when someone tries to open it a huge joker head springs out and laughs at them. You could like put it on the street with a hidden camera mounted nearby...Teehee