The first step for any artist is inspiration, so start by choosing your dream box. Maybe it’s a blue Tiffany box, or a red Valentine. Keep it simple! This is the box you’ll use as a model, so make sure you like the shape and style.
For more advanced crafters, pick other inspirational material, maybe a pair of shoes longing for a home, or a special necklace that needs a place to rest, and make your box to fit.
2.CR UISE FOR CARDBOARD Peruse your trash can or recycling bin — any good-lookin’ piece of cardboard will do. Cereal and toy boxes are excellent choices, as are packages from medical and feminine hygiene products. Just make sure it will be a large enough box to hold your gift.
3.OPEN AND TRACE Using your X-Acto, open up all box seams and lay the package facedown. Cut in half. These 2 pieces will be your top and bottom. Place your dream box in the center and trace. For those who like a challenge, lay your inspirational material onto the cardboard and trace an even rectangle around it. Use a ruler to draw the lines. Make each side an equal length.
4.MEASURE THE BOX SIDES Phranc uses the width of a yardstick as her magical measuring guide for the depth of the box. For a shallow box, use 1 yardstick width. For a deeper box, increase to 2 or 3 widths to achieve the desired box depth. Placing the yardstick against your traced rectangle, use a pencil to outline the sides of the box.
Photography by Annie Buckley
Using the metal ruler and X-Acto, cut along the outside lines. Draw an X in the 4 squares at the corners of this shape. Cut along these corner lines and remove the little squares marked with the X.
Very lightly score along the inner 4 lines, folding and creasing each side toward the center to begin to form your box.
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