Instructions #7 - Brick Boxes
What are they?
Paper Brick Boxes are a precut piece of paper that can be folded into a 2x4 brick-shaped box with an interior dimension of 5 studs x 10 studs x (7 plates + 1 tile). We experimented with a few sizes, but ultimately picked this one because it offers just enough interior space to be interesting and still be handheld.
How do we use them as a LUG?
We usually use Brick Boxes to encourage between-meeting activities or games. The most common use is to distribute them to all members at a meeting and ask them to fill their box with bricks before the next meeting, at which point members will randomly swap them. We intentionally provide no additional rules or guidelines. Some members build little MOCs, others may pack a minifig, and some just fill the box with loose elements. Participating in the activity is very low-cost, quick to do, and encourages creative building. Small inexpensive swapping activities like this are less likely to lead to disappointment than more elaborate activities like Dirty Brickster (the name for a LEGO based White Elephant Gift Exchange).
Paper Brick Boxes are a precut piece of paper that can be folded into a 2x4 brick-shaped box with an interior dimension of 5 studs x 10 studs x (7 plates + 1 tile). We experimented with a few sizes, but ultimately picked this one because it offers just enough interior space to be interesting and still be handheld.
How do we use them as a LUG?
We usually use Brick Boxes to encourage between-meeting activities or games. The most common use is to distribute them to all members at a meeting and ask them to fill their box with bricks before the next meeting, at which point members will randomly swap them. We intentionally provide no additional rules or guidelines. Some members build little MOCs, others may pack a minifig, and some just fill the box with loose elements. Participating in the activity is very low-cost, quick to do, and encourages creative building. Small inexpensive swapping activities like this are less likely to lead to disappointment than more elaborate activities like Dirty Brickster (the name for a LEGO based White Elephant Gift Exchange).
Production.
The Brick Boxes can be manually cut out by hand, but doing that is very time consuming so we always use a desktop vinyl cutter. We generally use a Cricut Maker, but other options from brands including Silhouette, Siser, and Starcraft exist. It should be possible to produce on any commercial level vinyl cutter though. We are providing an SVG file that can be loaded into most design software. The file has two parts to it. The first is a solid green shape that should be marked to be a basic cut, and the second is a group of 7 red lines which should be marked as score lines in whichever design program you use (If you are using a Cricut your only option is Design Space).
The Brick Boxes can likely be cut from any paper you have access to, but when we need more we ask ColonialLUG members to look for discounted cardstock at their local Walmart. There are always in-store sales of previous-season color packs giving us 200 sheets for $4.50 USD. With one person operating the vinyl cutter and a second person loading/unloading cutting mats, it is possible to cut about 75 pages per hour. Below are two photos showing the file loaded into Design Space. The suggested cut size is a width of 7.215 inches and a height of 7.301 inches. Please cut a test before you begin full production. We have found that some paper will assemble better if the height remains the print size is changed to a width of 7.267 inches and a height of 7.505 inches, but most should be fine with the first set of numbers!
The Brick Boxes can be manually cut out by hand, but doing that is very time consuming so we always use a desktop vinyl cutter. We generally use a Cricut Maker, but other options from brands including Silhouette, Siser, and Starcraft exist. It should be possible to produce on any commercial level vinyl cutter though. We are providing an SVG file that can be loaded into most design software. The file has two parts to it. The first is a solid green shape that should be marked to be a basic cut, and the second is a group of 7 red lines which should be marked as score lines in whichever design program you use (If you are using a Cricut your only option is Design Space).
The Brick Boxes can likely be cut from any paper you have access to, but when we need more we ask ColonialLUG members to look for discounted cardstock at their local Walmart. There are always in-store sales of previous-season color packs giving us 200 sheets for $4.50 USD. With one person operating the vinyl cutter and a second person loading/unloading cutting mats, it is possible to cut about 75 pages per hour. Below are two photos showing the file loaded into Design Space. The suggested cut size is a width of 7.215 inches and a height of 7.301 inches. Please cut a test before you begin full production. We have found that some paper will assemble better if the height remains the print size is changed to a width of 7.267 inches and a height of 7.505 inches, but most should be fine with the first set of numbers!
| 2x4_box_design.svg |
Photos
Here are some photos of boxes filled by ColonialLUG members that we shared with other LUGs at BrickFair Virginia last year. We will add more photos if we remember to take them during upcoming LUG meetings!
Here are some photos of boxes filled by ColonialLUG members that we shared with other LUGs at BrickFair Virginia last year. We will add more photos if we remember to take them during upcoming LUG meetings!
