Sleigh Mini Topper Explosion Box

 Show-stopper composed  and four-walled base tray 

which flips “inside-out” to become the tall platform 

to display elegant mini sleigh. 

Box sides are attached to base, thickened by extra layers. 

Lid on top holds box together, then converts to 

bottom “tray” base to hold platform. 

Under the lid, a build-up stack forms a “track” 

to hold base in place. 

Accent offset wall shapes provide decoration. 

Miniature sleigh has very fine decorative overlays. 

Curved sentiment strip “dashing all the way”  uses “print & cut” tools. 

Other box wall embellishments are available as 

separate designs, sized to fit: 

“Sleigh Ridin Welded Words” and “Flourish Swirls and Stars”. 

Tiny packages from “Mini Cane 3D 

Mini Packages Vignette” fit easily inside 

the sleigh compartment. 

Box base measures approx. 4” tall x 4” deep x 

4” wide (separate from lid) when closed. 

Sleigh adds approx.  2.78” to height when open.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:

A lid main shape  B under-lid build up (5-6 for thickness)

C lid top exterior accent  D lid side walls ext. accents (4)

E thickness quantity test slot and strips

F base walls wrap-around shape (4)

G base walls interior cover panel (4)

H base center shape  I base center exterior build up (4-5)

J side walls build up panels (4 x 4-5* each)

K base exterior accent panels overlay (4)

L base interior accent panel overlays (4)

M sleigh base with attachment tabs, left & right

N sleigh front scroll bar tip finials (2 pair)

O sleigh base side panels for build up (2 pair of 3 each)

P sleigh side wall outer overlays for L & R,

with edge trim shapes

Q decorative design fill-in shapes for wall overlays

R sleigh center chassis "boxing" strip 

S & T center boxing front & back end panels

with trim strips

Missing: reins shape

U interior chassis side walls for L & R

V word strips (2)

W platform topper "snow drift" shapes

with slots for sleigh runner tabs

X platform topper accent square with positioning

slots and 'F' notation

2. To determine if you will need 3 or 4 layers of 

the card stock you have selected to build out the side

walls of the box base to correspond effectively with

the perforation rim, layer the test strips then . . .

. . . then test how they fit into the slot. If 4 are tight,

three may be sufficient, so adjust the quantity of

build out interior wall shapes are cut. If 4 are loose,

test 5 layers, then adjust cutting quantity.

3. Complete preliminary layering and glue up of

build up shapes:

A) layer and attach the determined quantity of interior wall

build up shapes, taking care to align all cut edges

as precisely as possible, then immediately . . .

. . . immediately place on a flat surface and press flat

with a heavy object, such as a thick book volume,

with something else heavy on top. 

(Complete 4 wall stack units.)

Pressing until dry (requires several hours or over night) 

is essential when using liquid adhesive, to minimize 

warping or curling .

B) layer and attach the base bottom build up squares

and press flat until dry;

C) layer and attach the under-lid build up squares

then press flat until dry;

D) layer and attach the "plain" sleigh layers for left wall 

structures, then . . .

. . . position and attach on the outside of the matched

tabbed-bottom wall shape, aligning all cut edges

(except for the tabs) as precisely as possible.

4. Each separate box base side wall will be composed

of the outer wrap-around shape (left) and interior

wall cover (right) with build up shape inside (not shown).

Become familiar with the side wrap around panel

by studying this image of the shape with text notes

(slightly modified in the final cut file - bottom flange

ends have miter corner cuts). NOTE that the TOP

includes straight cut margin ends.

The THICKNESS of the side wall is accommodated

by a double perforation sequence, which will require . . .

. . . care when folding and creasing on each of the pair

on all FOUR sides.

Also NOTE that the bottom edge of the interior wall

"cover" shape includes a bend-over flange that will be

placed to help cover the bottom thickness of 

wall build up.

5. Position and attach a thickened interior wall unit

inside a wrap-around side wall unit (against

the wall's backside), centered between the pairs

of perforation lines. Then . . .

. . . bend the SIDE walls inward and glue in place.

Next, bend the TOP margin down so that the angled

ends form miter corner "seams", and glue in place.

BEFORE glue is set, bend bottom flange on the bottom

of the wall up against the bottom edge thickness

to ensure that the wall thickness will NOT interfere

with wall bending.

6. Prepare the interior wall cover by bending back

the narrow margin at bottom. Then . . .

. . . position, centered from side to side, over

the glued-back edges of wall inside surface. Also . . .

. . . adjusted top-to-bottom so that the fold-over margin

can bend over the bottom wall thickness . . .

. . . pointed out here below.

(Complete 4 wall units.

7. Join each wall unit bottom flange along one edge

of the box center bottom square panel . . .

. . . taking care to line up center panel edge at the second

"outer" perforation line, and is even with wall side rim

edges. NOTE that as shown here, the surfaces that

can be seen are the inside of the box.

8. Reverse the assembly so that it is face down,

and position box bottom guild-up unit over centered

the attached wall flanges.

9. Identify the interior side walls, then position and

attach side accent shapes (not full length shapes)

with rounded corners UPWARD toward the "platform",

positioned with narrow margin at top and side edges.

10. Reverse the assembly to have face side up,

then position and attach the outer accent shapes

on side walls with narrow offset margins all around.

LID ASSEMBLY

11. Prepare the lid main shape by bending back on

all perforation lines for top, side walls, flanges and

corner tabs. 

12. Position and attach top and side wall accent shapes,

centered within corresponding spaces as defined by

perforation lines, with narrow offset margins all around.

13. Locate the four-circle alignment symbols on

underside of lid and under-lid build up shape,

apply glue to underside of build up, then align

circles and glue in place. Press under heavy weight;

allow to dry.

14. Complete lid assembly by bending sides inward

to overlap and align straight side wall edge with 

tab perf line opposite; complete all 4 corner seams.

15. Apply glue to wall wrap over flange, then bend

to the inside of lid and attach in place.

Complete this step for all four sides.

SLEIGH ASSEMBLY

16. Continue the assembly of left and right sleigh outer

walls by positioning and attaching edge trim shape

over outer accent wall shape.

17. Position the accent unit over the corresponding

side wall area of the built-up unit, matching cut edges

that line up. Also position and attach the finial circles

on each face of the runner tip.

18. Complete the decoration by insetting the large

an small vine shapes  into cutouts of accent wall,

and also each of the very small "berry" circles.

19. Prepare the center "boxing" strip of the chassis

by bending back on most of the cross perforation lines

except the end pair on both front and back ends.

At the FRONT end of the shape (opposite where

the edge "hooks" are) use a narrow rod tool such as

this knitting needle shaft to add back curl to

the end segment, and . . . 

. . . forward curl to the next to last

segment (to follow the chassis side wall shape

when it is face up).

Finally, bend the edge tabs forward/inward.

20. Position the appropriate left or right chassis side

wall shape inside the boxing strip tabs, and align

the long middle tab first, with the corresponding long

facet edge of side wall, and glue in place.

21. Continue to push the boxing shape into place with

each segment hugging the corresponding facet of edge,

and glue tabs in place. At front edge, the boxing will need

to curve to match the curved edge.

Complete one side, then repeat for the opposite side.

22. Prepare the end flaps by positioning and attaching

trim at outer edges, then position and attach on top of

corresponding flaps of assembly.

23. Apply quick-grab glue to side of chassis compartment

wall, then position over the inside face of corresponding

sleigh side assembly - where guide marks on tabbed

sleigh shape will assist, as well as . . . 

. . . paying attention to runner upper curve margin.

Hold in place until dry. 

Repeat for the opposite side.

If desired, apply an adhesive square under the end

flaps (to keep them in place but allow some hang space).

Push the flaps back into desired position.

FINISHING

24. Prepare to assemble the "snow drift" decoration

by identifying the small dot pair or trio guides, 

then overlaying second larges snow layer with

guide holes aligned.

Next, position the two-layer unit onto the platform

top accent square, with the 'F' (front) symbol of snow

unit and accent square coordinated, so that

the slots of each will line up. Attach in place, using

a blade tool to make sure the slots are fully open.

Finally, position the two smallest snow shapes

in place to hid guide circles, taking care that

they DO NOT fall along the slot lines where sleigh

runners will fall, so that sleigh will stay flat across

only the two largest snow layers.

25. Position the sleigh with front toward the 'F' corner

of accent square, and insert the pairs of tabs of both

runners into corresponding slots. 

Work tabs fully through to underside . . .

. . . then bend back and attach in place.

26. Prepare the phrase strips by adding back curl

using a medium diameter rod tool such as this dowel.

Position along side the sleigh and insert tabs

into corresponding slots, then on underside

of accent square, bend tabs inward and glue in place.

27. Prepare the "reins" shape by adding back curl

near the tabbed ends only. Bend tabs back, then . . .

. . . position so that tab ends hang over the front rim,

and attach tabs on inside of compartment.

28. Apply quick grab glue to underside of platform

accent square, then position the platform/sleigh unit

on top of the inner platform face, center, and

attach in place.

To prepare the explosion box for giving,

fold the box sides upward . . .

. . . and hold in position while placing lid over ends

to hold in place. NOTE that the wall ends should

adjust to fit in the "channels" between lid's walls

and under-lid build up.

Here is the box ready to give.

The box will "explode" - or open - so that

walls bend back and fit into the lid again . . . 

. . . which will hold them in position.

29. If desired, inner box walls can be decorated

with the "Sleigh Ridin'" welded word accent

(separate design) on the box front interior panel . . .

. . . and with the "Snow Swirls" flourish on side walls.

Assemble the swirls flourish by . . .

. . . positioning and attaching the three swirl

overlays, then . . .

. . . snowflakes, stars and circles onto the base.

Here you can see where the decorations were

placed on the sample project.

Also NOTE that the miniature packages that are

part of the separate design “Mini Cane 3D 

Mini Packages Vignette” fit inside the sleigh

and the box when closed.