Now here we have proof that its not all puzzle boxes, lol, but it still has to have a special feature of some sort.
Enter the vintage playing card box. Somebody invested a lavish amount of time creating a beautiful box just to hold a deck of cards, love it.
I find these in antique stores around me. While I do enjoy making puzzle boxes, there is it's cousin the Trick Box.
Not known to be locked, but by opening it you get a surprise! |In this case its a small plastic spider that pops out at you. Great for a a laugh and making memories. I should add that it is a dickhead move to use this on one who has extreme fright issues around spiders.
Why would I do such a thing?
Ultimately I am creating fun boxes to use to give a gift card. Gift card giving can feel so empty at times even though they have become valuable in our society. Like to extend the fun. I have made gift card boxes that are puzzle boxes, trick boxes and magic trick props.
Feel free to make one of these using this method, or one of your own, its a blast to build then watch how it works!
The first thing I do is place the gift card sample in the box and set it up so that it has limited range of movement. I like making the drop arm since the drop arm keeps it from moving around too much and is easily opened when the lid is open.
A couple little pieces of wood and a 1/16" brass rod make it so that it hinges easily. The spring on top helps ensure that when the lid is closed, the drop arm cannot move. The end of the drop arm lands on the little piece of wood, not holding the gift card, but helping to define its movement.
The little square added to the lid helps the spring compress to the right point where the drop arm is pushed down onto the small cross bar.
Next, on the right side of the box we build in the secret Spider Flinger mechanism.
I am sure it looks as simple as it really is. We are looking to create a guided travel system. The red and orange piece is part of the base that is glued down. Think of a T-track system. You can see the whiter Maple 'L-shaped' pieces that fit into it.
The Spider Ejector Sled has about a 1/2" of travel. If you look inside the front of the box you will see a 1/4" wood block glued in. This is to allow the shooting of the spider as soon as the box lid opens just right. THe lid does not need to open all the way for the effect to happen.
