How to make a Gift Box

Gift boxes have been used for years as a means of decorating presents.  They are particularly useful if you are sending multiple gifts to a person or family as they provide a decorative means of arranging the presents without needing to wrap each one individually.  These days gift boxes can be purchased in a number of card shops and supermarkets, however they are usually fairly small and rather flimsy. Here we shop you a simple and easy details of how to make a gift box, so you can provide personalise a box quickly and easily for that special person.  The instructions for how to make a gift box, can be used to make a gift box from any cardboard box available and by carefully choosing the wrapping the box can be altered to fit any occasion, including christmas, birthdays, anniversaries etc.

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 1.
Materials

Making a gift box is easy.

All you need is:

A cardboard box of the appropriate size.  Tidy up any rough edges and fold in any flaps remaining on the box. 

Some wrapping paper, I like using 2 different types with complementary colours but a single colour is also fine.

Some crafting glue (be careful to check how quickly the glue dries)

Some paper sizers (round ended for safety)

Tinsel or similar for decoration

I also find pegs help for holding the paper in place while it sticks.

2.
Decorating the sides 
Cut the wrapping paper for the inner surface of the box.  I find the best way to do this is to make 4 rectangles the width of each fits each side of the box and the length is sufficient to cover 2-4cm of the base the whole of the inside of the box and to cover the top third of the on the outside.  

Starting on one edge glue the wrapping paper in place on the inside of the box.  Then fold the top of the wrapping paper over and glue down on the outside.  Repeat on the opposite side of the box and allow to dry.
3.
All the sides
Repeat step 2 above, attaching the wrapping paper to the two remaining inner walls of the box and allow to dry.
4.
preparing the outside
The paper for the outside of the box is prepared by cutting sufficient paper to cover the entire outside of the box (base and all sides). This should be the second type of paper if you are using different types.  The box is positioned in the centre of the paper and a line drawn along each edge of the box extending for the full length of the wrapping paper.
   Paper Marks  If the box is removed, the wrapping paper now has square in the centre of it equivalent to the base of the box and four squares marked on it (one for each corner).  Mark a diagonal line (45 degrees) across this square, from the corner of the box to the corner of the wrapping paper.  Mark the side of this line closest to the shorter side of the box.
5. Cutting out
Carefully cut out the marked triangle from the second type of wrapping paper.  Glue the wrapping paper to the base of the box, being careful to position it exactly where it was marked.  Allow glue to dry.
6.
the outer surfaces
Taking the pieces of shaped wrapping paper glue these onto the long edges of the box.  I find pegs are useful here to hold the paper in place until the glue dries.
 7. outside complete
Carefully glue the straight edges of the paper onto the short edges of the box. Again securing with pegs can be useful.  Allow to dry and remove pegs if necessary.
 8. lining the base
Cut a piece of paper to fit the inside of the box and glue in place.  If you are using two types of paper use the same design as used on the outside of the box.  Leave to dry.
 9. finishing touches
Attach tinsel or other appropriate decorations to the outside of the box to hide the join line.  I find pegs are very useful here to hold the decoration in place until the glue dries.
 10. and the base
Additionally decoration / tinsel can be added to hide the join marks on the base of the box.  Once glued in place a heavy weight such as a pice of wood may be necessary to hold the decorations in place while the glue dries.