How to make a Gift Box

Step One:

We are going to start with the bottom part of our gift box. Take a 12 inch by 12 inch piece of scrap book paper and trim one half inch off two of the sides, making sure to keep it square.

Step 2:

Fold the two opposite corners together and make a crease on the fold on the diagonal. Then open the paper and fold the other two opposing corners together and crease it on the diagonal.

Step 3:

Fold two of the opposing corners to the middle line in the page. Crease those folds and open back up. Turn the paper a 1/4 turn.

Step 4:

Fold the other two corners to the center line crease those folds and open the paper back up again.

Step 5:

Take one corner and fold it to the next line past the center, closest to the opposite corner (shown above), crease then unfold. Repeat this with the other three corners.

Step 6:

Take a corner and fold it to the creased line closest to it, like the example above.

Step 7:

Fold each of the other three corners to the creased line closest to them. You should now see many little inch squares folded into the paper.

Step 8:

Cut along the lines on each side of your corner folds of one corner, up two lines like the photo above.

Step 9:

Turn the paper and cut along the opposite corner the same way. Two corners will be left uncut.

Step 10:

Here is another look at the proper cut.

Step 11:

Take on of the corners that you did not cut and fold it again to the center line like so.

Step 12:

Fold the same corner to the center again, like shown.

Step 13:

Fold that side up, this is the first side to your gift box.

Step 14:

Take the opposite corner and fold it the same way, to the middle first, then fold again to the middle and fold up for the second side to your gift box like shown above. Don't worry that they are not staying up yet, that will come with the next steps.

Step 15:

Flatten the sides back down and fold them as shown to re-crease the folds. This helps to make nice tight corners for your box.

Step 16:

Fold your two sides back up and take the part you just creased crossing them over one another to make part of the third side like shown above.

Step 17:

Next fold the corner over this piece and into the box, carefully crease the top and the bottom folds to help hold the paper tight. This makes the 3rd side of your gift box.

Step 18:

Fold the other two sides in like so.

Step 19:

Fold the last corner over.

Step 20:

Now carefully crease your folds again as your make your final adjustments to your gift box to make sure it has nice even lines, corners and sides. You don't need glue but if you have any problem getting the paper to stay down you can use a tiny amount of glue under each center flap. I recomment a scrap booking glue stick for this as the glue doesn't show and sticks right away.

Here you have the completed bottom of your gift box. Now pick out another piece of scrapbooking paper that you think will look good with your gift box. You can use the same design or one that compliments it for the lid.

To make the lid use a full size sheet of 12 inch by 12 inch scrap booking paper. This will allow it to be bigger then the bottom of your box to fit nicely over it as a lid. Follow the above steps 1-12.

Step 2:

For the lid: Fold the side in half again to make your side half as tall as the sides of the bottom of your gift box.

Step 3 of your lid:

Follow the same step as above with the other side of your box as shown.

Step 4 of Lid:

Pull your creased sides together.

Step 5:

Fold the third corner over and crease nicely as shown on the top and bottom of that side.

Step 6.

Fold the last side over and crease at the top and bottom.

Your lid should fit nicely over your gift box and there you have your finished box.

Your imagination is your only limit now. You have learned how to create your own gift box. Try mixing and matching different colors and designs of paper. You can make larger or smaller boxes by changing the size of the paper your use to start with.

Just remember that the bottom part of the box will need to be slightly smaller than the lid.

This is a painting of mine on a sanddollar.

Another example shown with a vintage rhinestone necklace displayed.