This is a unique little project. It is a Wizard's Chest and that alone is pretty cool. But, it is also a puzzle box. That means that you have to know the secret sequence of moves in order to open it.

You just need a few basic supplies to make this project and I give you the template which has all the parts.

The Template is right here

I also have a video tutorial that you can watch. It is at the bottom of the page.

Will has a youtube channel with over 700 videos on projects you can make. Check it out right here

The completed Puzzle Box

Here is the secret:

When the Sun goes down
and the Moon goes up
the Stars come together
and the secret is revealed

So, the key to operating the box is you pull the sun down, you push the moon up, bring the stars in toward the center and then you can lift the lid off the box. You can watch me do this in the video at the bottom of the page.

Materials Needed:

• The template (pdf right here)
• 2 sheets of foamboard (3/16) thick (5mm)
• Hot glue gun
• Masking tape
• Paints for my color scheme: Brown, Black, Blue, White, Silver, Yellow
• Sharp knife to cut the foamboard
• Ruler, Pencil

Note from Will: The Template and the tutorial are both absolutely free! But would you consider a donation of $1 to support my work? Paypal makes it very easy and safe. Click here to donate $1 - Every little bit helps Will to keep making great tutorials and templates. Thanks!

Earn a Certificate of Completion!

If you make this project email me a picture! I will email you a certificate of completion from stormthecastle.com You can print it up and hang it on the wall.

Do you have a 3d printer? Would you like to 3d print this Wizard's Puzzle box? Ruben has designed it all out and it is available on Thingiverse! My thanks go to Ruben for all the hard work!!! See it right here.

Before Beginning:

Two ways to make this project: You can do the whole thing with the secret locking mechanism. But if you don't want that complexity you can also make the box and the lid that simply goes on and off. You still have a very nice Wizard's Box. Either way you get a certificate.

Tip on Cutting Foam Board: Don't try to cut all the way through it in one swipe. Use a really sharp blade and make three passes. the first pass just cuts the top layer of paper. Second pass cuts the foam and the third pass cuts through the bottom layer of foam.

Let's Get Started

We do this project in two parts: First we make the Box, and in the second part we make the Lid with the locking mechanism.

We need to transfer the pattern of all the pieces from the paper template onto foamboard. So... print up the template and tape the pages down on top of foamboard. You don't need a lot of tape. Just enough to keep the pages from wiggling.

* Make sure you also add the number of each piece to the foam board pieces. That is important. You end up with a lot of pieces and you want to know which is which.

Now use a pencil and a straight edge to write on the lines of the various pieces. Press down firmly as you are drawing over all the lines. We are causing an indent in the foamboard which duplicates all the pieces.

See how the foamboard is indented?

Now use a ruler and pencil to draw in all those lines. In the picture to the left the stars, moon and sun have been drawn. I just need to draw in the indents for the various parts.

Go ahead and cut out all the pieces. And once they are all cut out you can use a little bit of sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges or ragged cuts.

* Note about part 21: For now don't cut the various pieces out of part 21 (a,b,c,c etc) just cut the overall rectangle of it and set that piece aside. That is the locking mechanism.

Ok! Lets continue with the tutorial and make the box!

The Video Tutorial is here:

Koyosegi Puzzle Box 2 sun - 7 step

This Japanese Secret / Puzzle Box is made in the Yosegi pattern. This pattern is the original traditional design used for puzzle boxes. Every box is a little different in design depending upon how the pieces are applied. Each Japanese puzzle box is individually handcrafted using techniques passed down through the generations since the Edo Period and imported directly from the artists in Hakone Japan. Dimensions: 2.4 x 1.9 x 1.5 inches

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