DIY Gift for He/She: Magic Folding Cube

Homemade gift is always the best present for the one you love. And that's why I love art and craft a lot. In this post, I am sharing how to make a loving but low cost personalized gift yourself at home.


This is generally called as Magic Folding Cube. It was built by 8 small cubes, with 6 faces. You can fold in and out, changing the face and you will see different thing in there.

Note: I did this magic folding cube as Danny's birthday gift. So, this is a birthday-themed magic folding cube.

Doesn't it look fun? I seriously love doing this kind of creative but great handicraft for my loved one. Let's go to the tutorial now. 
Materials:
  • Cardboard paper or wooden cube
  • Paper 
  • Color Pen
  • Scissor 
  • Glue
  • Cellophane Tape
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Step 1: Build 8 small cubes
Use the cardboard paper to build 8 small cubes. This is a very important step. Every cube must in the same size. Else, you couldn't build a good folding cube. Size of the cube is totally depends on how big you want your folding cube to be. I prefer a handy and cute one, so, I chose to have 1.5 inch cube. Click to learn How To Make A Cube. However, if you don't want to make your own cube, you can choose to buy wooden cube. 
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Step 2: Form the folding cube
(a) Separate the cubes into two sets; four small cubes each. 
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(b) Put one set aside (Set 2), and start doing another set (Set 1). Join two cubes in Set 1 with cellophane tape. Reinforce the hinge by using tape on both sides. 
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(c) Place a cube on the top left of cubes you have joined just now, and make a hinge with the tape on both sides.
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(d) Place a cube on the top right of the cube set, and make a hinge.
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(e) Once you are done, Set 1 will look like below photo. Then repeat the same steps (a) to (d) for Set 2.
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(f) After completing Set 2, you will have two identical cube set. Now, orient the two sets back to back. (Tip: Look at the bottom cubes, the side can be folded out is the back.
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(g) Make a hinge on the top. Now, you are ready to decorate your folding cube.
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Step 2: Decorate the cube
To decorate the cube, you can either draw or print photos. I drew some simple drawings with Sharpie Fine Point Marker Pens. I would advise you to plan what you want to put on the cube first, then plan the direction. This is because some faces are in rectangle, and hence, you would need to have wider picture or drawing on that face. 
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Once you are done with the pictures or drawings, cut them into squares and stick them on the cube face by face. Or, you can choose to stick the entire piece on the cube, then only cut it into square to suit the cube perfectly. And now, your DIY folding cube is done! It is actually very simple as long as you know how to make hinges on the small cubes. 

Ending up this post with my DIY video. Hope you enjoy this inexpensive DIY gift tutorial. Let me know if you have any question. I will do my best to solve your problem.


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