My mother is always collecting great crafty ideas for the local 4-H club. I really liked this one that she got from her sister.
Find a Christmas card to use. The bigger the card, the bigger the finished box will be. The ones I used were five inches wide, and the finished box is right at one and three-fourths inches.
Once you get your card, tear it on the fold. You can try cutting it if you are really talented, but it was a lot easier for Mom and me to just tear down the crease.
Next you need to make the card into a square shape. Measure the width, and cut the extra length off. Like I said, my card was five inches wide, so after cutting the long side, it was also five inches.
When you cut the back side, you want to take 1/4 inch off the width and cut the length 1/4 inch shorter than the front also. If you are using a really heavy paper, you might want to make it 3/8 inch smaller so the lid will fit easier.
Once you have both parts of the card square, draw a line making an x. You will use these marks as a folding guide.
Start with one point and fold it to the center where your lines cross.
Then you fold the same side up to the line. Make sure to crease your folds well, and then you can unfold it.
Repeat this process with all four points.
You’ll have a whole bunch of fold lines after you’ve gone all the way around.
Repeat this process with the other square.
Pick a side and cut from the first fold line to the third fold line on each side of the point.
Make the same cuts on the opposite side.
Again, you’ll do this with both pieces of the card.
On one side that was not cut, refold it. This is one side of the box. Bend in the flaps from where you cut the card.
Do the same thing with the other side. You’ll see the points will meet in the center where your lines cross.
You should be able to see how the box is going to look now.
All you have to do is fold the shorter end over the flaps.
Fold the other short side over the flaps, and your lid is finished.
You still have to make the bottom part of the box. You’ll repeat the process of folding the sides and bending the flaps in and folding the short side over the flaps.
Now you have both parts completed. All that’s left is putting the lid on the box.
I’ve heard so many great ideas for what to use them for~putting a thread through it to hang from the tree, jewelry,and even peanuts. The local 4-H club is going to put some candy in the boxes and deliver them to a nearby nursing home.
Linking to Homestead Barn Hop.
Linking to Handmade Gifts From the Heart Blog Hop.
Christmas greetings, Teresa! Thank you so much for this, I made these when I was a teenager with left over wall paper and I couldn’t remember how to make them. I’m a junkie for boxes, bags and baskets. I’ll have to make these with the kids, what a hoot!
You’ll have so much fun doing this as an activity with the kids! Glad to hear from you. 🙂
it is a bit hard to follow, but i think it’s one of those things you have to have in front of you and in your hands as you go to ‘see’ it develop. 🙂
It was really hard to try and put words to it. I do think getting a card (or just a square of paper) and trying it is probably the best way to do it.
They are adorable! I’m going to try making them when I get home.
Hope the directions are good enough. 🙂
Very nice, using the fancy cards really makes them special! I think when people sit down and follow the pictures, all will be made clear. Thanks for sharing such a cute project! 🙂
I think it would be best to try it as you go through the post rather than reading and then trying it. It’s a very simple project, but explaining it was really hard.
What an awesome little gift box you end up with Teresa. I really appreciated your fantastic tutorial too. I will be making some small beaded jewelry for my nieces this year and I know these little boxes will be perfect containers. Thank you for sharing and for linking up to the From the Heart Handmade Gift Blog Hop.
I was so happy to find you were doing this blog hop. It’s perfect for this time of year!
Teresa, thank you SO much for taking the time to post all the instructions and the photos. My daughter and I are going to try making these next week. I think it’s a great way to recycle old cards and make them special again.
I hope my directions are clear enough. It really was fun doing this with mom, and I’m sure your daughter will enjoy doing this with you. 🙂
So cool! Like Christmas origami!
It is! At least it’s a good use for the old cards. Of course, I’m sure Marigold would like to eat them. 🙂
That is just nifty! I am going to book mark this page so I can try it later!
That’s quite a compliment. It really is fun.
Oh thank you for these instructions. I bought a couple 2-packs of little boxes at the Dollar General for $1-$2 and they were still too big for the jewelry I had to wrap.
I’m so glad this is helpful to you.
Thank you for the tutorial, looks complicated for my abilities but want to give this a try!
It really isn’t hard when you have the card in front of you to follow along.
I think I can follow your tutorial – it’s very clear. Great idea!
It really is easy to do. I hope my tutorial makes it clear.
I didn’t get a chance to look at this closely yet, but I’m hoping to try this when I have a chance! I think Jenna will enjoy it too.
It really is fun. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.
Beauteous!!!!!!!!
Something else crafty for you to try. I can hardly wait to see how you embellish it. 🙂