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A Jack in the Box is a fun toy that's been around for hundreds of years. While it may seem complex, a Jack in the Box actually works with very simple mechanics. Making your ain can be a fun arts and crafts activeness. With some cardboard, glue, magnets, a spring, and a few other parts, you can make your very own Jack in the Box.

  1. 1

    Discover a sturdy piece of cardboard. You'll need a thick and sturdy slice of cardboard for the box to support itself. The kind from a large packing box should work well.[1]

    • Y'all'll be cutting out 6 squares that are each 6" x 6" (fifteen cm ten 15 cm), so your piece of paper-thin will need to be at least 18" x 12" (45 cm x 30). If you tin can't discover a piece that big, then several pieces will work fine too.

  2. ii

    Describe 6 half dozen" X six" (15 cm 10 15 cm) boxes on the piece of paper-thin. These six squares volition course the walls, flooring, and lid of your Jack in the Box. Use a ruler to measure and brand sure your lines are direct.[ii]

    • Make sure you lot apply a dark pen or mark. Otherwise, y'all may not be able to run across your lines when you cutting.

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  3. 3

    Cutting out each box. Use a pair of precipitous scissors or a box cutter. Carefully cut along the lines you drew and then the cardboard squares are the correct size. If you're using a box cutter, make sure the paper-thin is placed on a solid surface.[3]

    • Wear gloves during this stride to preclude newspaper cuts or whatsoever injuries for the scissors or box cutter.

  4. 4

    Gum 4 of the squares together, making a cube with no top or lesser. Hot glue is the best choice for this stride. White mucilage won't exist stiff enough to keep the box together. This forms the outside structure of the box.[iv]

    • Gum the edges of the paper-thin together to form the cube. If the gum doesn't seem to exist making a strong seal, yous can employ strips of tape to secure the cube while the glue hardens.

  5. five

    Glue some other square to the bottom of the cube. Line upwardly the square perfectly with the remainder of the cube or your box will be uneven. This will grade the floor of the box.

    • Lay the square down flat and put glue around the edge. Then slowly lower the box onto the foursquare, making sure the glue makes contact with all edges of the box.

  6. vi

    Brand a hinge with the terminal foursquare. Don't glue the terminal square to the box, or your Jack in the Box won't open. Instead, rest the square on top of the box, making sure to line upwards all the sides. Then, use a strip of tape to spike one side of the square to the box. This will class a unproblematic hinge that allows your box to open.[v]

    • Clear tape is the best choice here. Colored tape might throw off your designs when you decorate your box later on.

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  1. i

    Find 2 small magnets. At that place are lots of ways you lot could make the seal for your box, only a elementary method uses magnets.[half dozen] Start by finding 2 magnets. These should be square or circle and small, not more than ane inch (2.5 cm) long.

    • Arts and crafts or hardware stores unremarkably have small magnets that are meant to hold boxes or cabinets airtight. Looking for these should requite yous a good offset.
    • Think to find out which sides of the magnets attract each other. Those are the two sides yous'll line up when making your seal.

  2. 2

    Mucilage one magnet to the bottom of the box's hat. This should be on the contrary side where you placed the record. On the edge of the lid and in the eye, glue the first magnet.[7]

  3. three

    Gum another magnet straight nether the starting time magnet. The side by side magnet should be placed on the within wall of the box so the ii magnets touch each other when the lid is airtight. In this position, they will concenter each other and continue the box sealed.[8]

    • To discover the right position for the 2nd magnet, start by closing the box slowly. This way you'll be able to see where the magnet will rest when the box is sealed. The best place for the 2d magnet is correct nether that point, so the two magnets touch when the lid is closed.

  4. 4

    Test out your seal. See if your seal is holding after you glue both magnets. Pull up slightly to run across how tight the seal is. Flip the box upside downwardly and encounter if it holds.

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  1. ane

    Glue a compression spring to the bottom of the box. Draw a circle in the middle of the box's floor to see where you'll place the spring. And so put mucilage on the lesser of the spring and identify information technology over the circle you drew. Concur the spring down for a few seconds to brand sure the mucilage seals.[9]

    • Compression springs come in lots of sizes. For this project, yous'll desire one that's slightly taller than the box, or about vii inches (eighteen cm). Your local craft shop should have plenty of options.[10]
    • Test the seal by making sure the box stays closed when the spring is in place. If the box doesn't stay airtight, your jump is likewise big or your seal is too loose.

  2. ii

    Put a sock boob on the bound. Your Jack in the Box needs a character to pop out! A sock boob is perfect because it can fit snugly over the bound.[xi]

    • You could too depict and cut out a unproblematic confront from a piece of paper and glue it to the top of the leap for a simpler design.[12]

  3. iii

    Test your box. With all the pieces in identify, information technology'southward fourth dimension to make sure your box is working! Put information technology on a table and lift up the hat. Your puppet should pop out of the box when you lot exercise this.[thirteen]

  4. 4

    Decorate your box. Now that your box is complete, you can decorate it all the same you desire! Utilize markers to draw on its sides, gum sparkly paper over it, cover it with stickers--utilise your imagination!

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Add New Question

  • Question

    Can you use duct tape if yous don't have clear tape?

    Sahasra Reddi _ Student - MillsParkES

    Sahasra Reddi _ Student - MillsParkES

    Customs Respond

    Duct tape volition work, as long as it'due south articulate. If you aren't planning to pattern yours, colored tape should be fine.

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  • Remember to allow all glue dry earlier yous move on. Wait a few minutes after you glue pieces together to make sure the mucilage holds or your box could warp as y'all work.

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Things You'll Need

  • Paper-thin
  • Hot mucilage
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Clear tape
  • Gloves
  • Pen or mark
  • Pinch spring
  • Magnets

References

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Reader Success Stories

  • Milla Jones

    "I needed to do a projection for school on a leap force and then this showed me clearly how to make a Jack in the box."

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