By
Scrapbooking & Card Making Contributor
Peg Rounds
Once you find the perfect gift for a person, what about the perfect box to give it in? The packaging can be as special as the surprise inside so why not create your own handmade boxes for those special gifts. This gable box becomes extra special when using the Nutcracker Sweet line by Graphic 45.
Full How-to after the jump…
Start by cutting a piece of the 12 x 12 Nutcracker Sweet paper to measure 8 1/2 “x 11”. Lay the paper on your scoring board (Martha Stewart Scoring board used) horizontally with the 11” side at the top of the scoring board. Make sure that the pattern that you want on the inside of the box is laying facing upwards. Score from left to right at ½”, 3 ½”, 5 ¾” and 8 ¾”.
Rotate the paper so that the 8 ½” side is at the top of the score board and score at 3” and 6 ½”.
Using a pair of scissors (Martha Stewart Precision Scissors used), cut on the score lines up to but not over the center lines (the ones scored on the 8 ½” side of the paper) as shown in the picture. Once you get to the ½” score line cut and remove the sections leaving the center one for the tab as shown.
Turn the paper over and place a piece of double sided tape (Wonder Tape used) on the tab leaving the protective covering on for now on the top.
On the first tab and the third tab from the left, measure to find the center and make a mark.
Using either a scallop punch or basic shape punch such as a circle or oval, punch the center out to create the handles.
Round the corners on the tabs that you just punched with a corner rounder.
On the second and fourth tabs from the left (note in this picture) trim 5 /8” off. This will help the bottom of the box fold easily and sit straight. The third tab is just flipped upward in this picture. It is still there.
Turn the paper over and place double sided tape on the tabs as shown.
Fold the box up until you reach the tab containing the tape. This is what it will look like. Remove the protective covering on the tape and adhere to the side of the box making sure the edges are lined up so the box is closed.
Find the center on the top of the box above the handles and mark the spot. Move over to the left ¼” and mark another spot. Then, move to the right of the center mark ¼” and mark that spot.
Using a Crop-A-Dile or hole punch, punch 2 holes on the spots to the right and left of the center.
Feed a piece of ¼”ribbon through the front holes to the back and then from the back to the front and tie a bow on the front.
Trim a piece of card stock that measures 2 ½” wide by 3” tall. Trim a piece of the Nutcracker Sweet paper that measures 2 ¼” x 2 ¾” and adhere it to the card stock using a tape runner. Attach a brad to the tag from the Nutcracker Sweet Die Cut #1 sheet and attach it to the frame using a tape runner or glue.
You will now have a special gift box to give to someone. Make more than one and give them out with little treats in them to all of your friends and co-workers. A simple little gift helps bring in the spirit of the holiday season.
Happy Holidays Everyone!
