Thanks for visiting my website and for coming over from youtube! I am currently working on this webpage. It will have complete instructions on how to make the paper scene box.

For now you can immediately download the template with all the parts right here (pdf)

At the bottom of this page I have a youtube video on this project.

Carl Sagan was an Astronomer and an educator. He also co-wrote and narrated a very popular TV series on PBS called "Cosmos". This project is an homage to him.

One of my favorite quotes by him is:

"The Cosmos is within us. We are made of star stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself."

That quote is on the front of this paper scene box.

I love these little scene boxes. They are unlimited in their creative possibilities. And I have lots of them. You can see them right here.

This one is simply fun. There is a little figure (Carl Sagan) standing in the lower left corner of the box. And he is admiring the night sky over a desert. And just for fun we have a UFO that flies across the sky. I got that UFO from a picture I took at the UFO museum in Roswell New Mexico.

The UFO flies across the night sky!

Here are the tools and materials you need to make this project. You don't need a lot!

From Right to left:

• the download template packet (5 pages you print up onto card stock)
• Glue stick (It's a great option for this project)
• A ruler or straight edge
• Scissors

Optionally a nice hobby knife and some white PVA glue

To Make this project I recommend you use card stock of just about any thickness between 65 pound and 110 pound. You can buy a ream of cardstock at walmart right alongside the printer paper. Or you can get it on Amazon here.

The template is made up of five pages. It includes all the parts to make this project. And if you want to conserve printer ink you just have to print pages 2 thru 5. Page 1 is just a title page and not necessary for the project.

One Note from Will about making this project: Most of the part have white tabs. These are glue tabs. You can build this box so all the white tabs do not show up inside the box. Be aware of this. All the tabs end up on the outside of the box.

Start by cutting out the first four parts and gluing them together like this. They are the base, back, left and right.

Next cut out the two landscapes and glue them onto the base. The first one is an inch from the back, and the second is an inch in front of that one.

Cut out the moon and it's standoff. Glue them together like this.

Then glue them into your scene box.

Cut out the front piece and glue it onto the box.

Now let's install our flying UFO!

Cut out the top piece of the box from the template. It is pretty good but we want to make it stronger to support the UFO machinery. So, place that top sheet on a blank piece of cardstock and trace it. Then cut out that tracing.

And glue them together. Now you have a stronger top to the box.

In this next picture the two are glued together. The starry sky is on the bottom. Now draw a line like this on the top.

Use a hobby knife or scissors to cut on that line. This cut is the track that our UFO will fly on.

Here it is, glued on top. And notice you can see the tabs! In effect you don't glue the top onto the box. You glue it into the top of the box.

Now let's finish the project!!

Cut out the UFO support. Apply glue to it and fold it over on the dashed line. This picture shows it cut out and glue stick has been applied. That's the purple color. Now I just need to fold it over on that dashed line.

This simply doubles the thickness; making it a stronger support for the UFO.

Cut out the square stop piece. Cut that slot in the middle of it, slide it over our UFO handle and glue it in place. This holds the UFO up.

And that's it! Your Scene Box is done. Now you can fly the UFO across the sky.

Watch the Youtube Video Here:

Creative amazing with a simple paper box

Will's latest video is posted on his youtube channel. This is an amazing look at creativity with a simple paper box. Watch the video on youtube right here. (Opens a new tab in your browser)

Some of the products I use for paper projects. (Amazon affiliate links)

Beacon 3-In-1 Advanced Craft Glue, 4-Ounce

Elmer's School Glue Sticks 5ct - Disappearing Purple

Bone Folder - It just makes working with paper so much easier - particularly when trying to make long and straight folds.

Wausau Exact 110, Index Cardstock, 250 Count, Ivory, 8.5 X 11 Inches -If you want to make paper projects you really need to get a ream of cardstock. It fits right in your desktop printer and it is the same size as regular printer paper but it is thicker and holds shapes.