Half Box Gift Packaging How To

Making custom boxes is a very easy project if you know how to do it.  This little half box is so simple because you don’t have to make a top for it.  A simple belly band or a ribbon wrapped around the box is a simple way to keep the precious creations in the box.  The Nested Hearts half box I made held 4-1/4” x 4-1/4” cards and the dimensions are shown below.  This Captured Hearts half box will hold 5” x 3-1/2” cards.

The box I’ll be showing you today holds eight of the Captured Hearts cards with eight envelopes.  The box was inspired by the box on page 10 of the current 2010-2011 Stampin’ UP! catalog.

I create templates using Stampin’ Up!’s grid paper (102787).  It is a wonderful tool when creating templates and then easily stored for the next time you need it!  You’ll be creating this half box template to fit the size of your envelope as it is a bit bigger than your card.  So place your envelope on your grid paper and draw a rectangle around it. I wanted the sides to be 1-1/4” so that after scalloping the edge I had a 1” side.  I made sure their was a 1-1/4” band on all sides around the envelope.  Those 1/4” squares make it easy to measure.  I mark directly on the paper and then have a template for next time. After marking your envelope and the sides, you have the dimensions for your  cardstock.  6-1/4” x 7-3/4”.   Click on the photo to see a close up with the ruler. 

Cut your cardstock to the dimensions and score all sides 1-1/4”.  If you want to scallop the edges do that before folding on all the score lines.  Next, fold along all scored lines and cut dashed lines as shown  in photo. Use Sticky Strip to adhere box together.

If you scalloped the edges, they might not line up perfectly when you put the box together.  Use your sharp Paper Snips to cut around the scallops to “clean” them up.

Nested Hearts Box (for 4-1/4” x  4-1/4” cards. 4-3/8” x 4-3/8” envelopes) Cut a piece of cardstock 7-7/8” x 7-7/8”.  Score all sides at 1-1/4”. Follow directions above.

Personal tip:  I suggest creating all your cards and envelopes first.  The height of your box sides will be determined by how dimensional your cards tend to be.  For example.  I was only able to place 3 cards with matching envelopes in the Nested Hearts box because both the cards and envelopes contained dimensional elements, whereas, the Captured Hearts box contained eight cards and envelopes because the cards and envelopes contained little to no dimensional elements.

Enjoy!