Three Wisemen Box Card

Three stencil silhouette-style magi have small, 

detailed shapes assembled on offset base 

with attached bridge at bottom. 

Bridge assemblies attach at the box base 

"interior" flanked by shaped flaps 

(front flap attaches in place with mini brad), 

accent shapes, with box side accents. 

Measures approx. 3x3x8 when open.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A main card base   
B back panel outer overlay (longer in final design)
C side outer panel accent shapes (2)
D front outer panel accent shape (includes punch hole)
E plaque and word cuts "follow His Star"
F flap top side full size overlays with accents (2)
G flap top front full size overlay with accent
H comet tail for star
I star base & star point overlays

2. Prepare the card base by bending back on

all vertical perforation lines (including side tab)

and on flap perf lines.

3. On the outside of base, position and attach

the C & D outer panel accent shapes, offset

on sides and lower edges, top edges aligned

right next to flap perf lines.

4. Position and attach the outer back panel

with edges lined up as exactly as possible

where they correspond to each other.

Also position and attach the comet tail shape

to the top of the back panel.

5. NOTE: if the selected card base stock

has a desirable backside, 

you may choose to omit the full size overlays.

Layer and attach the F & G flap accent shapes

centered over the full size flap shapes with 

straight top edges lined up.

6. Position and attach the flap assemblies over

the "inside" surface of the box base,

straight edges aligned at perforation lines,

outer edges lined up as exactly as possible.

7. Bend the box base into a tube shape to bring

the side seam tab to line up with free lower edge

of the back panel. Adjust to align lower edges,

Complete the side seam either by attaching the

side flange tab on the inner surface of the

back panel, -OR-  by wrapping it around

the side edges of the back panel and gluing

it in place there.

8. Position and attach the star points onto
the star base.
Position and attach the star over the
end of the comet tail.

9. Attach the word cuts, centered, to the plaque.

One way to assist with the positioning is

to retain the "waste" portion around the words

(if they were left grouped and cut together)

trimmed close on the ends so that the plaque ends

are visible, then position and adjust this "stencil" 

over the plaque shape, making light end markings

at each end of the three words.

Remove stencil, position and attach words

according to guide marks.

10. Bend the front flap into position and attach

with mini brad through all layers

(or glue-tack in place and attach stud).

11. Position and attach the plaque assembly.

12. NOTE the final designs for the magi

were corrected/refined in the final design.

These final positions and layouts are

shown in the line drawings below.

Refer to these rather than the photo image

for the model project.

(Most changes involved filling in the

stencil-style spacing between some of

the shapes such as head gear elements,

faces and beards.)

13. Lay out and identify the "Bridge 1" front wiseman.

NOTE that the head gear jewel is cut as an underlay

that shows thru only at the front oval area.

Also, the contrast underlays for face 

(shows thru as eye) and the sleeve zigzag

detail, and the head scarf has edge accents.

14. Position and attach the sleeve underlay
on the backside of the sleeve, and . . .

. . . attach the edge accents to head scarf.

15. Layer and attach the crown and jewel.

16. Begin assembling the accent shapes

onto the bridge base, working from the bottom

upward, with offset spacing in between

shapes and at edges.

(This shot shows the first half of shapes.

Continue to add remainder until complete.)

17. NOTE the order number cut into 

the bridge tabs of each bridge.

18. Lay out and assemble the second bridge wiseman

as shown here. NOTE that the sleeve has an underlay

that shows thru as the stars color, gift cask has

inner square with checker top accent, band and

knob, and that the face has eye show-thru underlay.

19. Begin positioning and attaching the shapes
to bridge 2 as shown, working from bottom upward
until . . .

. . . all the shapes are in place.

20. Lay out and assemble the bridge 3 wiseman

as shown. NOTE that the face has underlay

that shows thru as eye, lower arm/hand

segment is a base shape that is cut as

the main vessel color, with hand, sleeve segment,

vessel bands and top knob attached in place.

21. Continue adding the shapes until . . .

. . . the figure is complete.

22. Prepare bridges by bending the side tabs back.

23. Identify the bridge alignment guide mark cuts

on each inner side panel of the box interior.

Apply adhesive to the outer surface of the tabs,

then position the #3 bridge (front of bend)

at the back guide mark . . . 

. . . with the top edge of the bridge aligned
at the flap perforation bend on each side.

24. As the adhesive is "curing", fold the box card

assembly into its flattened position and apply

pressure where the tabs within the layers

are attaching inside the box cavity to allow

for any slight self-adjusting to take place,

as well as to secure the bridge tabs attachment.

(Repeat this step after each bridge is placed.)

25. Position and attach bridge 2 at the

middle set of guide marks . . .

. . . then bridge 1 at the forward guide marks.

Here is the completed box card open
for display.

A second slightly side view.

Fold the box card flat to insert into
an adequately large envelope
for mailing or giving.