It's an ingenious little project. You have to complete a specific series of steps in order to open this puzzle box. I give you everything you need including the template for the parts to cut out and instructions on how to put it together.

This is a more advanced project so you should have some experience working with cardboard and children will need adult help.

See the secret to opening it up. 10 second video:

This is a fun project. It is a puzzle box that acts as a safe. You can store objects and treasure in it. And the only way to open it is if you know the right sequence of moves.

We use an Amazon box size 10 which is 9� x 6 ¼ x 3 ¼.

The clue for this puzzle box is �When the cat is away the mice will play.� This hint lets you know that you have to first remove the cat, then you move the mice.

For this project you need one small box and a little bit of extra cardboard. I have included the template. If you have a sized A10 amazon box you can follow the template exactly. If you have a different sized box you can modify the template and the parts to fit your box one you understand how the locking mechanism works.

The Solution:

The rhyme goes �When the cat is away the mice will play.� That gives us the clue that we should first remove the cat from the box.

Here are the steps:

Slide the cat upward:

Then lift the cat right out of the box:

Now that the cat is away the mice can play. Slide them in toward the center.

You have unlocked the box. You can now lift off the cover to reveal whatever hidden treasures you have inside.

Okay! Let's Build it (Continue)