The Spotted Sparrow

You guys have been so responsive to my tutorials that I've decided to make them a weekly feature. Check back every Tuesday for a new tutorial. Or, better yet, add the blog to your RSS Reader from the 'Subscribe To' section at the top, left of the page.

This week, I'll show you how to make cute, little gift boxes. I needed to make some sort of gift box for a set of thank you cards. I found this tutorial online, but thought it was a bit confusing. I've revamped it and included new diagrams and photos to save you from cursing the interwebs as I did. This box works very well for cards and would also be great for books or wedding favors.

My finished gift box measured 5.6" x 3.6" x 1.1" (14.22cm x 19.15cm x 2.8cm). I'll refer to these measurements in the tutorial, but you can easily adjust the size to fit your needs.

Materials:

• Sturdy cardstock (for a greener alternative, use recycled cereal boxes or cardboard)
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Bone folder
• Scissors
• Utility/X-acto knife (optional)

1. Cut out your cardstock.
Cut out a piece of cardstock measuring 15.5" x 11.6" (39.4cm x 29.5cm).

2. Mark your cardstock.
Make sure your cardstock is facing right-side down. Then, take a look at the diagram shown below and mark the dotted lines on your cardstock. You can just mark regular, straight lines; you don't have to worry about the dots.

Click on an image to view the full-size.

Take a look at the second diagram below and mark the dotted lines on your cardstock.

Your cardstock should now look like this:


3. Score your cardstock.
Using your bone folder, score the cardstock along the lines that you just made. The easiest way to do this is to line a ruler up with one of the lines, then run the bone folder along the ruler. Repeat this for each line.


4. Cut your cardstock.
Now we want to cut away any extraneous parts of the cardstock. Cut away the parts shown in dark grey below.


Your cardstock should now look like this:


5. Cut out the tabs for the box.
The four smallest boxes are going to be the inside tabs of the box. Cut the inner most line so that the tabs can fold upward.

Cut the corners off those same tabs.


Now we want to cut the larger tabs at an angle. This will make it easier to close the box. Measure in about .25" (6.35mm) in from each side. Cut a straight line from where you marked down to the original side of the tab.


6. Cut out the closing tab.
Cut away the left-most part of the cardstock, leaving a rectangle about .5" x 2" (1.25cm x 5cm) in the center. You want to cut the tab at a slight angle, so it is a bit wider at the base. This will help hold the box closed.


7. Cut out the slot for the closing tab.
The easiest way to do this is to gently fold the cardstock over, matching the closing tab with the right-most scored line. Mark the length of the tab on the scored line. Then cut a slit with a utility knife or scissors.

8. Put together your gift box.
The hard part is over! Fold the smallest tabs upward, then fold the larger tabs inward over them.


Next, fold the right side upward and on top of the tabs.


Finally, fold the left side upward and on top of the box. Insert the closing tab into the slit you made.