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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 elementary mechanics. Making your own tin can exist a fun craft activity. With some cardboard, glue, magnets, a spring, and a few other parts, you can make your very own Jack in the Box.

  1. 1

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

    • You'll be cut out 6 squares that are each 6" ten 6" (xv cm x 15 cm), so your piece of paper-thin will demand to be at least 18" ten 12" (45 cm 10 xxx). If you lot tin't find a piece that large, then several pieces will work fine as well.

  2. 2

    Draw 6 6" 10 6" (15 cm x 15 cm) boxes on the piece of cardboard. These six squares will form the walls, floor, and chapeau of your Jack in the Box. Employ a ruler to measure out and brand sure your lines are directly.[2]

    • Make certain you utilize a dark pen or marking. Otherwise, yous may non be able to see your lines when you cutting.

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  3. three

    Cut out each box. Use a pair of sharp scissors or a box cutter. Carefully cutting along the lines you drew so the paper-thin squares are the right size. If you lot're using a box cutter, make sure the cardboard is placed on a solid surface.[three]

    • Clothing gloves during this step to forestall newspaper cuts or whatever injuries for the pair of scissors or box cutter.

  4. 4

    Mucilage 4 of the squares together, making a cube with no top or bottom. Hot glue is the all-time choice for this step. White glue won't be potent plenty to keep the box together. This forms the outside structure of the box.[four]

    • Glue the edges of the cardboard together to form the cube. If the glue doesn't seem to be making a stiff seal, you tin employ strips of tape to secure the cube while the glue hardens.

  5. five

    Glue some other square to the lesser of the cube. Line up the square perfectly with the rest of the cube or your box volition be uneven. This will form the flooring of the box.

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

  6. 6

    Make a swivel with the final square. Don't glue the final 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 up all the sides. Then, use a strip of tape to fasten i side of the foursquare to the box. This will class a elementary hinge that allows your box to open.[5]

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

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  1. 1

    Find two pocket-size magnets. At that place are lots of ways you could make the seal for your box, just a simple method uses magnets.[6] Starting time by finding 2 magnets. These should be foursquare or circle and pocket-sized, non more 1 inch (two.five cm) long.

    • Craft or hardware stores commonly accept pocket-size magnets that are meant to hold boxes or cabinets closed. Looking for these should give you a practiced start.
    • Recall to observe out which sides of the magnets attract each other. Those are the two sides y'all'll line upwardly when making your seal.

  2. ii

    Glue one magnet to the bottom of the box's hat. This should exist on the reverse side where you placed the tape. On the edge of the chapeau and in the center, glue the first magnet.[7]

  3. 3

    Glue another magnet directly nether the showtime magnet. The side by side magnet should be placed on the inside wall of the box so the two magnets touch each other when the chapeau is airtight. In this position, they will concenter each other and keep the box sealed.[8]

    • To detect the right position for the second magnet, get-go by closing the box slowly. This way yous'll be able to see where the magnet volition balance when the box is sealed. The best place for the second magnet is right under that point, and so the two magnets touch when the lid is closed.

  4. 4

    Examination out your seal. See if your seal is holding after you glue both magnets. Pull upward slightly to see how tight the seal is. Flip the box upside downwardly and see if information technology holds.

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  1. 1

    Mucilage a pinch spring to the bottom of the box. Draw a circle in the middle of the box'south floor to run into where you lot'll identify the spring. And so put gum on the lesser of the bound and place it over the circle you drew. Agree the jump downwards for a few seconds to make sure the mucilage seals.[9]

    • Compression springs come in lots of sizes. For this project, you'll want i that's slightly taller than the box, or about 7 inches (18 cm). Your local arts and crafts store should take plenty of options.[10]
    • Exam the seal by making certain the box stays closed when the spring is in place. If the box doesn't stay closed, your spring is as well large or your seal is as well loose.

  2. 2

    Put a sock boob on the spring. Your Jack in the Box needs a character to pop out! A sock puppet is perfect considering information technology can fit snugly over the jump.[11]

    • You lot could also draw and cut out a uncomplicated face up from a slice of paper and glue information technology to the summit of the jump for a simpler blueprint.[12]

  3. 3

    Exam your box. With all the pieces in identify, it's time to make certain your box is working! Put it on a table and elevator up the lid. Your boob should pop out of the box when you practice this.[thirteen]

  4. iv

    Decorate your box. Now that your box is complete, you can decorate it however you want! Use markers to draw on its sides, glue sparkly paper over information technology, encompass it with stickers--use your imagination!

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Add New Question

  • Question

    Can you lot use duct tape if you don't take clear tape?

    Sahasra Reddi _ Student - MillsParkES

    Sahasra Reddi _ Educatee - MillsParkES

    Customs Respond

    Duct tape will piece of work, as long as information technology'due south clear. If yous aren't planning to design yours, colored tape should be fine.

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  • Remember to let all glue dry before you move on. Look a few minutes after you glue pieces together to brand sure the gum holds or your box could warp as y'all piece of work.

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

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Things You'll Demand

  • Paper-thin
  • Hot glue
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Clear tape
  • Gloves
  • Pen or mark
  • Compression spring
  • Magnets

References

About This Article

Thanks to all authors for creating a folio that has been read 33,356 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Milla Jones

    "I needed to do a project for school on a spring forcefulness so this showed me clearly how to brand a Jack in the box."

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