![Slow Invasion Cube Slow Invasion Cube](https://i0.wp.com/needcoffee.cachefly.net/needcoffee/uploads/2012/09/slow-invasion-cube.jpg?resize=500%2C316)
So after watching this week’s Doctor Who episode, The Power of Three, I promptly decided that I needed to make a few black cubes to toy with my friends and co-workers who follow the show. You know, perhaps scattering some around a desk or two for them to stumble across Monday morning…
And yes, in a perfect world I would have the ability to construct one from wood or metal or something a bit more substantial. But when planning to screw with the heads of your friends, one must move swiftly. So anyway, here’s a quick tutorial on how to make your own, almost guaranteed to make a fellow Whovian do a double take–all you need is a printer, black cardstock (or another color you could paint after you assemble your cubes) and some clear-drying glue (Elmer’s should be fine).
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![Slow Invasion Cube pattern Slow Invasion Cube pattern](https://i0.wp.com/needcoffee.cachefly.net/needcoffee/uploads/2012/09/slow-invasion-cube-pattern.jpg?resize=500%2C343)
First up, find a nice template to use for your cubes and print it out. I used this PDF–it makes a cube with about 2.25″ square faces. If you have some special ink that will show up on black, you could print it directly onto the cardstock you’re using, but as I have only black ink today, I decided to print mine on a sheet of plain white paper and use it as a pattern.
![Slow Invasion Cube ready to cut Slow Invasion Cube ready to cut](https://i0.wp.com/needcoffee.cachefly.net/needcoffee/uploads/2012/09/slow-invasion-cube-cut.jpg?resize=500%2C411)
Once your pattern is printed, go ahead and cut it out along the outer edges, then trace it onto your cardstock with a light-colored pencil. After you’ve traced the outline, draw the fold lines in (you can use a ruler to make your cube edges nice and even) using a ballpoint pen or some other implement that will lightly score the surface of the cardstock. This will make it easier to fold your cube.
![Slow Invasion Cube scored Slow Invasion Cube scored](https://i0.wp.com/needcoffee.cachefly.net/needcoffee/uploads/2012/09/slow-invasion-cube-scored.jpg?resize=500%2C345)
Now cut out the outline of your cube. You can now pre-fold along your fold lines (remember to keep the marked-up side to the inside of your cube) to make assembling it a bit easier. Leaving the long part of the “T” shape till last, fold your cube sides in one at a time, gluing the tabs to their matching edges as you go. You may have to glue one section, then hold it to set the glue for a bit before gluing the next side. Finish with the long non-tabbed piece, and you should have a cube, ready to mess with people’s heads.
![Slow Invasion Cube bent Slow Invasion Cube bent](https://i0.wp.com/needcoffee.cachefly.net/needcoffee/uploads/2012/09/slow-invasion-cube-bent.jpg?resize=500%2C346)
Make as many as you like to scatter around your home for decoration (or your friends’ homes to freak them out). And enjoy your slow invasion!
![Slow Invasion Cubes at home Slow Invasion Cubes at home](https://i0.wp.com/needcoffee.cachefly.net/needcoffee/uploads/2012/09/slow-invasion-cubes-at-home.jpg?resize=500%2C334)