You have come to the right place, if you are looking for a unique home made gift. This Exploding Photo Box is super fun to make and you can personalize it in so many different ways.
What is an Exploding Photo Box?
An exploding Photo Box doesn’t really explode, but it is an album in a box. When you take off the lid, the side flaps of the box will fall to the side and reveal pockets and other ways to show pictures and notes.
There are simple ones, but you can make it as fancy as you want. If you are not that crafty, these are already pre-made like this one or this one. There are some with candy bars inside or flying butterflies.
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I hope you are going to have as much fun to make this box as I had. A few years ago I made one for my husband. He just got a new job and was gone for some of the week AND it was his birthday! I though this would be a great gift to have some pictures from our family near him.
I’m thinking of making more of these and I have someone already in my mind to give it to! This is also a great Valentine’s Day Gift. Here you can find more unique and crafty gifts.
How to make an Exploding Photo Box
Here are the materials you’ll need:
- Scrapbook paper. Sturdy pages for the box itself and thinner paper for decorations. There are a lot of digital ones on Etsy, you can print out. I had a lot left from previous crafts.
- Glue. Stick or tape or liquid.
- Scissors
- Bone Folder Tool
- Anything to decorate, like paper clips, stickers, ribbons, stick on beads, twine and other embellishments.
- Markers, pens and a pencil
- Ruler
- And photos of course
Let’s get started!
First we are going to start with the box itself. The box will NOT be glued together, because the sides need to fall down when you take the lid off the box. Then you can start decorating and lastly you can make the lid and your box is done!
In order to make the box, you’ll need to use your ruler and a pencil to draw the box and lid onto the sturdy scrapbook paper.
In the picture below you’ll see a template for the outer layer with the heart shaped corners that fold inwards when you close the box. You can leave it with that layer only, or you can add layers to the box. If you do, stack the layers on top of the middle square (shown in black).
Use this template and measurements if you want to make more layers (source: It’s always autumn).
Note: The measurement 10.5” in the picture above is different than the template and measurements from It’s always Autumn.
Cut out the box with scissors and use the bone folder tool to make the creases. Do the same with additional layers.
I used a grey/blue for my biggest layer (with the heart corners), a light blue for the second layer and light grey for the 3rd layer. Carefully glue the layers together in the middle square.
Now you can start decorating.
- In the middle I made a heart with a text ( something like “Happy birthday”, “Happy Anniversary”, “I love you”). You can use golden letter stickers or colorful ones. There is even room for candy or a small box with a surprise!
- Upper layer: On 3 sides of the upper layer I put photos with a background made of scrapbook paper. On the 4th flap I made a accordion folded mini album with school pictures of our kids.
- Middle layer: On 2 sides I glued one picture with a background. On one flap I made a window with a heart door, revealing a picture when you open it. On the 4th flap I made an open envelope with a picture on a tag-like scrapbook piece of paper.
- Outer box layer (the one with the hearts in the corners): On all 4 flaps I made pouches which can hold foldable albums, single pictures, special quotes or a letter. One has so much space for lots of small pictures, stickers and quotes. One is like a waterfall album.
Don’t forget about the lid. Here is a template for the lid.
Ideas for your Exploding Photo Box
Below you’ll find a few tutorials for creative ways to display you pictures in your Exploding Box.
Besides adding photos with a background on each flap, you can make all kinds of albums and fold outs to make it more surprising and entertaining.
Accordion folded album
(See picture 1 below): Cut a rectangle from a piece of your (matching) scrapbook paper: 3×12 inches. Score lines every 3 inches, so you’ll have four 3×3 inch squares. Glue pictures on one side of the rectangle and fold the accordion. The square which ends on top you can decorate. For more pictures, just add 3 inches for each picture onto the 12 inches.
Envelope with a picture
(See picture 2 below): Cut a triangle of your scrapbook paper (for example 9x9x9). Round the corners. Measure very 3 inches at the bottom part of the triangle. Fold the left and right corner over, so it creates an envelope like shape. Add a picture on another piece of (matching) paper. Maybe punching a hole and adding a ribbon or piece of twine for an easy pull-out of the envelope.
Window with Heart and doors
(See picture 3 below): Cut a rectangle of your scrapbook paper. 6×3 inches. Measure on the long side 1.5 inch, 3 inch and 1.5 inch. Score lines at these points. Fold the 1.5 inch flaps of the rectangle over the middle (3 inch square). These will be the doors. Glue a picture or add a quote on the 3×3. On the door you can make a heart and a “lock”. When you open the door, you can see a picture or quote.
Foldable album
(See picture 4 and 5): This one is hard to explain without step-by-step pictures and a video. This album is beautiful and there is lots of space to put pictures and embellishments, quotes and stickers. Don’t forget to use the back side. Here you can find a great tutorial!
Waterfall album
(See picture 6): This is a cute way of showing off a few pictures which belong together. From a vacation or group of people. Here is a video on how to make this waterfall photo album.
Here are links for more interactive additions to your explosion box!
Hello everyone,
Welcome to my Crafty Dutch Girl blog! Grab a cup of “koffie” and browse through fun blog posts about our Dutch family expat life in the USA, Dutch history, Dutch recipes, Dutch things to do in the USA and all kinds of crafts and activities. Don’t forget to connect with me for new ideas! “Groetjes en tot ziens”.