Tutorial: Handmade Gift Boxes

To make a box which measures 5.3cm x 5.3cm x 2.7cm you will need:

For the base, a square of white card, not too stiff, 14.5 cm square.
For the lid, a pretty piece of quality scrapbook paper 15cm square.
Double sided tape or glue.
Ruler, pencil, eraser, bone folder (optional), scissors.
Embellishments.


1. Take the square of plain white card.

2. Lightly mark each diagonal with pencil and ruler. This will be the inside of the base of the box.

3. Working on one corner fold the point to the centre of the card (marked by pencil). I use a bone folder to ensure crisp straight edges to the box.

5. Open this fold out and then fold the point to the fold you just made.

6. Fold this over

7. and over once more, so the edge lines up with the centre line. Then unfold completely.

8. Repeat with the other three corners and you should have something like the photo above, with and unfolded square in the centre which is the inside of the base of the box.

9. Now we need to cut so we can fold the box into shape. Cut four slits as shown in the above photo. I find it easier to mark four dots so I remember to stop cutting!

10. Rub out the pencil markings from what is the inside base of the box, the rest won't be seen when folded.

11. Now we fold the wider sections, point over first

12. over again

13. and the outer edges inwards, both sides of the box.

14. Your box should look like this photo above now.

15. Push the folded edge upwards to form sides, and stick the little triangle bits down if it helps. Then fold the points of the remaining 'sides' in once each. Attach a piece of double sided tape along the edge ( glue can be used but you will need to hold or clip the box until it has dried).

16. Fold the taped edge in, over the 'sides' of the box ,and squeeze to attach the tape firmly. Your base should be like this above.

17. Now repeat the above instructions with the paper to make the top of your box.

18. Don't forget to rub out the pencil lines (I did), if you do you could cut a small square to line the lid.

19. Hopefully your box will be something like this!

20. The lid fits quite snuggley, if you need it a bit looser increase the size of the paper square used by one or two mm only.

21. I have added some liquid pearl dots and a tag. Fill with tissue paper or shredded cello,

Hope this was successful for you if you decided to try it, any comments appreciated!

Handmade Gift Boxes

I sort of got addicted to paper folding and made all of these gorgeous gift boxes, which I later sold on eBay to a lady who made jewellery.
I made the base of each box with white card and the tops of each box with pretty scrapbook papers which I then embellished.

I have never done a tutorial before but I am having a go with these boxes and hopfully there will be a link somewhere on this blog soon!

Relieved this week is over......

now I want to get on with 2009.

No resolutions (!) just:

be happy (keep smiling, keep smiling!)
don't stress ..............grrrr......
book a holiday in the sunshine ........................ booked!!!
lose that last stone.........I will.................back to ww after christmas break....2.5lbs on not too bad!
concentrate on Etsy sales .....................sorted items to list / sale today
walk more with Tilly (dog)...................started well!

Christmas Eve and Day 2008

I think I had got to Christmas Eve.......was strange for Richard as he normally meets up with his brother Mark for a few drinks Christmas Eve afternoon. This year, however, Mark is in Melbourne Australia with his Australian girlfriend Amber. Richard still managed to drag himself out though (!!) and toasted absent friends with brother in law Barrie and some of Mark's friends.

While he was out I had a fabulous 'hairstyle makeover' from my daughters:

Then it was the dog's turn (Tilly the Red Nosed Rudolph) with Bear Factory Accessories, the bunnies didn't get a look in! :

Christmas Day arrived (of course he came!) and they got just what they had wished for ( tho' we were determined not to add to the household 'computer' collection..........ah well.

Grandma came to visit in the morning:

Then down to my Mum and Dad's for a delicious Christmas Dinner with my sister and my nephew and niece: Jack 7, Bethany 11, and my daughters: Megan 14, Elenor 11.

Here's Megan and her Dad (what's with the face Richard?)

My Mum and Dad:

Bethany, sis Jane, Jack:

Me and my girls stuffed from a beautiful Christmas Dinner:

A parcel had arrived earlier in the week with 15 small individually wrapped gifts from Mark and Amber and on Chrismas morning Richard tentatively opened his........Bearing in mind there is never a serious conversation between Richard and his brother and this is what he received....

Mmmm......... Saturday after Christmas we invited Richard's Mum and Keith and his sisters & families over for food and games and these had us howling with laughter.

Sunday we had tickets to see Barnsley v Preston with 3 course meal before, courtesy of Richard's employers.

Made these just before Christmas:

Beaded Gift tags


















Bundle of Long Slim Gift Tags















Christmas Pudding Slider Cards

Long Slim Beaded Gift Tags

Felt Letter for Niece Bethany

The Run Up To Christmas

December 28th already and this is the first time I feel like adding to the blog, I have been busy but the times I haven't I have just crashed in front of the TV and dozed - I must have needed it!
I actually got to Chrismas Eve this year and for the first time ever did not need to do any last minute shopping for gifts that I could not make my mind up about. I am very indecisive - a procratinator? But sometimes I amaze myself with fast decisions.

Since the last entry we had a family night out at our local Italian, Mezzaluna, for Richard's sister's birthday. Here we are all 'dressed up' and ready to go............but thats all because we forgot to take the camera with us!!

Christmas Decorations:

Was feeling a bit fed up because I was desperate to have a real Christmas Tree this year......I love the whole "going to buy it, untying it and it pinging open, decorating it experience" and the smell of a tree is Christmas. Last year we went for a white theme just for something different and though it was pretty I like 'traditional'. However cost cutting, we decided to bring out our old green tree.......

Christmas 2007

Snowman

Father Christmas
Gingerbread Boy on Reindeer

Christmas 2008 Tree - The very first tree we had when we bought our first house together- I can remember it being quite expensive at the time and when we dragged it down from the attic and unboxed it this year we felt rather disheartened, but once up and decorated it was 'my traditional Christmas' just the real tree smell missing!

We had our staff Christmas party on Saturday 22nd Dec, and it felt very festive, normally we have it the first week in December (because we are late organisers and that's the only date left!)Arrangements were made for the girls to sleep over at my Mum and Dad's so Richard could take me and, bless him, come out for me at half one in the morning so I might have a drink this year, though it is funny to be the only sober driving person and watch drunken antics! Had a great night.

Black Ice Bright Sunshine

Beautiful bright morning but deceivingly icy. Took Tilly out down the lane and nearly ended up on my back several times, avoided the cars sliding down the road and watched apprehensively as a van narrowly missed hitting my garden wall!

Got my sewing machine out to have a tinker with it because it is still not sewing smoothly and ended up making these pretty trees from a pile of scrap felt pieces - just need to add a few sparkley beads!

Just pondering how many I could have made if it was sewing properly!

Got to venture out to town soon to meet my husband in his lunch hour and try and pick up a few gifts without our daughters - hope the ice has gone before I go.....