Holiday Gift Card/Treat Box

Hi - It's Jeanne here and welcome to the all new Holiday 2009 version of Joli Paquet! I'm so excited to be the first to share with you my tutorial for the festive Holiday Gift Card/Treat Box box shown above.

This project includes a template for making both a large and small size of the box. The larger one will hold a gift card or bracelet. The smaller box will hold a pair of earrings or candies. It's a tradition in our family to have a little treat by each place setting for Christmas dinner. The smaller box is the perfect size for this and it can do double-duty as a placecard as well.

~ Supply List ~

One - 8.5" x 11" sheet of cardstock - any color

One - 6" x 8" sheet of decorative paper - scrapbook paper, wallpaper, gift wrap

One - 1" x 6" strip of coordinating decorative paper

One 3" x 3" sheet of another coordinating decorative paper

12" strip of crepe paper in a complimentary color

2" diameter scallop edged circle punch

Large snowflake punch

Silver glitter

Medium sized Button

Thread

Embroidery Floss & Baker's Twine (optional)

Small tag

Heavy Duty Double-sided Tape

Glue Stick & White Craft Glue

Scissors

Pinking Shears (optional)

Embossing Stylus or Bone Folder

OK, now let's get started!

Step 1 - Double click on the template above to enlarge and then print out on plain paper.

Step 2 - Cut out the template for the size box you wish to make. (I am going to show you how to make the large size in this tutorial.) Using a pencil, trace the template onto plain cardstock.

Step 3 - Following the lines you traced, cut out the box from the cardstock. Using an embossing stylus (or bone folder), trace over all the dotted lines. Press down fairly hard to make folding and constructing the box easier.

Step 4 - Cover the entire back of the box with a glue stick and adhere in to the back of the 6"x8" piece of decorative paper. Cut off excess paper. (Gluing first and cutting second assures that you will have a perfect fit.)

Step 5 - Apply heavy duty double-sided tape to the right side of the entire tab. (I think this tape was originally called Wonder Tape. It is available at Michael's and various scrapbook stores.) Fold box on creases made with stylus. Peel off tape backing. Fold tab over and adhere to the inside of the other end of the box (see last picture in the photo above).

Step 6 - Fold end flaps on creases made with stylus. Attach the 1"x6" strip of decorative paper, as shown, and trim ends to fit box. (Both of these papers are from My Mind's Eye)

Step 7 - Punch a large snowflake from white cardstock. (I used Martha Stewart's Himalayan Snowflake punch available at Michael's.) Punch a 2" circle from coordinating paper. (I used a scallop edged circle punch.)

Step 8 - Glue the snowflake to the center of the scallop edged circle. Apply white craft glue to snowflake and sprinkle with silver glitter. (I used German glass glitter, but any glitter will do. You can even use Stickles Glitter Glue if you'd like.)

Step 9 - Gather one edge of approximately 12" of crepe paper (use the full width of crepe paper) by stitching a basting stitch with thread. As you pull the thread the crepe paper strip will form a rosette. Tack down center with thread to hold in place. Glue snowflake circle on top of crepe paper rosette.

Step 10 - Thread embroidery floss through button holes and secure with a knot on top of the button. Glue button to center of snowflake.

Step 11 - Decorate a small tag with your choice of paper. I added a vintage red label to write the recipient's name. Tie a bow through the hole with a length of baker's twine and attach to the front of the box with a little craft glue.

Now you're ready to fill your pillow box with a small gift, sweet treats, or a gift card. You can decorate these little boxes as simply or extravagantly as you desire. Either way, the recipient is sure to be delighted by their little gift! As the saying goes. . . . . Good things come is small packages!

Happy Holidays!!!

xxoo

Jeanne