I refuse to accept that my favorite season is coming to an end! So, to celebrate the fun, sunny days that are still ahead, I’ve got one last summer project to share with you. Gather up your colorful cardstock, because we are making a summer explosion box!
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This cute design was picked by my wonderful patrons! Each month, my Patreon subscribers help me choose a couple of the projects I create, and this design was one of the top picks for the month of August.
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Watch a short video of me putting this project together on Instagram.
Supplies
- Cardstock
- Precision Craft Glue or a Glue Stick
- Bone Folder (optional)
- A Cutting Machine or X-ACTO knife
- My Free Template
How to Make It
1. Use your cutting machine or X-ACTO knife, along with my template, to cut out all of the pieces of the summer explosion box.
Note: If you are using the SVG files that includes the score lines, don’t forget to set them as such in Cricut Design Space and attach them to their shapes before sending them through your cutting machine. I used a lime green color to mark the score lines, so hopefully that helps! If you’re having trouble with the score lines, check out this video.
Assembling the Innermost Layer
2. Layer together all of your “orange slices.” Glue the orange half-circles onto the two white pieces (shaped like four-leaf clovers).
Fold along the score lines of your “four-leaf clover” pieces. Overlap each of the flaps, tucking in the last one (like you do on a cardboard box).
3. Attach your orange slices and little boxes, along with the two other orange square pieces, to the smallest box piece like so.
Fold along the score lines—pressing the rounded edges toward the center of your box.
Assembling the Middle Layer
4. Layer your watermelon slices together.
Fold your two green pieces into envelopes by folding along the score lines and adding a bit of glue. Write a note on each of the little white papers that go inside, and slip them in.
Attach all of your pieces to the middle-sized box piece like so.
Fold along the score lines—pressing the rounded edges toward the center of your box.
Assembling the Outermost Layer
5. This piece will be assembled pretty much the same as the last two, except that you will need to attach the two box pieces together before adding your decorative pieces to the inside.
For the two note-card holders in this section, just add a thin line of glue around the edges of your holder piece (but don’t put any glue on the top edge—the one with the circle cut-out). Then, you can write your note and slip the paper in.
Assembling the Lid
6. Take your lid piece and fold along the score lines. Attach the tabs to the interior of the lid walls. Then, fold up each of the lid flaps to create a double-thick lid.
Add the square liner to the inside.
7. Assemble your little bees. Glue some string to them, and attach to the inside of the lid.
Layer your three box pieces together, gluing them in the center.
Fold the box inward, and secure it with the lid!
This is the first time I’ve ever made an “explosion box!” I’ve seen them around social media for a while but never attempted to make my own until now. Though the idea seemed a little intimidating, I ended up having a great time thinking through this design, and an even better time putting it all together! Seriously, if you’re looking for a fun and satisfying papercraft, this is it!
I toyed with a lot of different summer-inspired themes for this project, but ended up going with a fruit-centric vibe…mostly as an excuse to use some of my fun, brightly-colored cardstock and patterned paper that I don’t get to implement quite as often.
The bees were kind of a last-minute addition. I thought it would be fun to add an extra little surprise…also I just think bees are adorable.
I use Adobe Illustrator for all of my designs, and a Cricut Maker to bring my creations to life. For tips on creating fun paper cuts like this one, see the FAQ section on my website. Also, be sure to check out the other fun freebies available on my blog!
Enjoy putting this summer explosion box together. And be sure to let me know if you’d like to see more “explosion box” crafts like this in the future!
*This post contains affiliate links. By clicking through my links to make a purchase, you are supporting this blog and the hard work that goes into providing free, quality designs.
Mandee is a professional graphic designer, amateur bird watcher, and rollercoaster enthusiast. She is a wife to hardworking high school teacher and mommy to three adorable little humans. She fell in love with graphic design when she started working on a comedy website with a guy she met her freshman year of college. Design wasn’t the only thing she fell in love with, and they were married a year and a half later. She created Designs By Miss Mandee to be a place where she could merge her passion for design with her lifelong love of crafting. 4 Comments on Summer Explosion Box – Summer Cut Files
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sylvie
August 22, 2022 at 6:56 am (7 months ago)thank you for sharing, merci beaucoup
Mandee
August 22, 2022 at 8:40 am (7 months ago)You are very welcome Sylvie!
Sandra
August 22, 2022 at 8:59 am (7 months ago)This is so cute. Thank you. And you are definitely right about the addition of the bees. Adorbs!
Mandee
August 29, 2022 at 9:50 am (7 months ago)Glad you like the bees!!