Picture Of A Completed Card Cube How To Make A Card Cube

This page contains instructions for making a Card Cube, as shown in the photograph at the left.

A Card Cube is made from six similarly sized cards, which can be, for example, playing cards (which will be used in these instructions), business cards or postcards.

I first saw a reference to a Card Cube in one of the magic email digests to which I belong, but I cannot remember whether it was the IBM Ring 2100 one, the Electronic Grymoire, or another.

Wherever it was, the instructions were insufficient for me to work out how to create a Card Cube.

I then came across much better instructions from Steven Schneiderman's Magic Portal site.

My own instructions are inspired by Steve's, but:

Once you have worked your way through this, why not have a go at my Magic Square Card Cube Puzzle?

Anyway, here we go!

Step 1

First of all, assemble six similarly sized cards.

In this example, I am using the Ace to Six of Spades, from a Bridge-sized deck of cards.

Here are the six cards that will be used in these instructions to make a Card Cube
Step 2

Next, take two of the cards - the Ace and Two of Spades in this example - and lay them as shown in the photograph, i.e. back to back, with the two cards being at right angles to each other. (Note that the only reason for the cards being back to back is because the Card Cube is being made so that the faces of all six cards are showing.)

It is important that the cards are centred as closely as possible, as this will then ensure that each of the "flaps" that you are about to create is the same size. Depending on the cards you are using, the pattern on the back of the cards can help you to line them up properly.

This is how to place each pair of cards, prior to making the initial creases
Step 3

Now fold each of the two "flaps" on the face down card (i.e. the Two of Spades) that "stick out" over and on top of the face up card (i.e. the Ace of Spades).

This is what each pair of cards looks like after the first creases have been made
Step 4

Turn the two cards over.

Now fold each of the two "flaps" on the card that is now face down (i.e. the Ace of Spades) that "stick out" over and on top of the card that is now face up (i.e. the Two of Spades).

This is what each pair of cards looks like after boths sets of creases have been made
Step 5

Repeat Steps 2 - 4 for each of the remaining two pairs of cards.

Then, separate each of the six cards as carefully as you can, since you want the creases to be as firm as possible. (It also might help if you reinforce each crease as well, after you have separated the cards.)

Here are the six cards after the creases have been made and the cards have been separated
Step 6

It is now time to start contructing the Card Cube.

Take the first card and either lay it on the table, or hold it in your hand, so that the "flaps" are aligned to the left and right (i.e. as opposed to the front and back).

The first card is placed like this, with the flaps aligned to the left and right
Step 7

Next, take the second card and place it "in front" of the first card (i.e. on the side furthest from you).

The lowermost "flap" of this second card must go underneath the first card.

The second card is placed in front of the first card, but with the lowermost flap underneath the first card
Step 8

Take the third card and place it "to the back of" the first card (i.e. on the side nearest you).

The lowermost "flap" of this third card must also go underneath the first card.

The third card is placed to the rear of the first card, but also with the lowermost flap underneath the first card
Step 9

The fourth card goes down the right hand side of the first card.

It must be slotted in so that it goes inside the right hand "flap" of the first card, but also so that the two "flaps" of this fourth card go outside (i.e. to the front and to the back, respectively) of the second and third cards.

The fourth card is placed to the right of the first card, inside the flap of this first card but with its own flaps to the outside of the second and third cards
Step 10

The fifth card must be placed in a similar manner to the fourth, except that it goes on the left hand side of the first card.

It too must be slotted in so that it goes inside the left hand "flap" of the first card, but also so that the two "flaps" of this fifth card go outside (i.e. to the front and to the back, respectively) of the second and third cards.

The fifth card is placed to the left of the first card, inside the flap of this first card but with its own flaps to the outside of the second and third cards
Step 11

Finally, take the sixth card and place in on top of the construction.

It must be placed underneath the uppermost "flaps" of the second and third cards, but also so that the "flaps" of this sixth card go outside the fourth and fifth cards.

Congratulations! Your Card Cube is now complete!

The Card Cube is completed by placing the sixth card on the top, inside the flaps of the second and third cards, but with its own flaps outside the fourth and fifth cards


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This page is Copyright © 2000, Mark S. Farrar.
Created: Sunday 18th June, 2000

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