Monday, December 19, 2011

Christmas Card Box Tutorial

Helloooooooooo there! Did you have a good weekend? Are you ready for Christmas and all the fun festivities? I sure am!

For years I have been recycling some of the Christmas cards I've received into little gift boxes. When I worked in offices and the business received cards, I would make them into boxes for all my coworkers. I thought you might enjoy making some too so here we go!

First you need these supplies:  Christmas cards (you can use other cards also), a ruler, a pencil, scissors, double stick tape and Starbucks.

Ok, so you really don't need a Starbucks Grande Breve Latte, but I'm totally addicted to them and they make me Merry! hee,hee,hee.

So back to the program.  First you're going to cut your cards in half on the fold line.

Now, take your ruler and measure 1/2" in from the long edge of the card and draw a line. Repeat on the other edge.

Then on the short edge of the card, measure in 1 1/4" and draw a line. Repeat for the other side.

It will look like this.

Now take your scissors and cut this line just to the intersection.

Repeat for all four corners.

Next, apply a little piece of the double sided tape to the back of the flaps.

Fold the sides up using the pencil line as your fold line and tape the flaps to the inside of the short edge flap.

Then apply a little piece of tape between the two flaps.

Now fold the edge of the card down to cover the flaps. Repeat for the other side.

You'll repeat these steps for the other half of your card to make the top of the box.

Inserte the bottom of the box into the top and viola', you now have a Christmas card box! You can use them as decorations under little trees or add some ribbon or string and make them into a fun garland.

You can also use them as a pretty box for gift cards. When the recipient opens the box they can read the message inside. Fun!

Hope you enjoyed this little tutorial. This is a great craft project to do with the kiddo's too! They could add candy and give them as gifts to their friends.  :)

30 comments:

Lisa Alto said...

Very inspiring, and so easy! *mentally makes note to
Save this year's Christmas cards to do this next year!*

Hef's Mom said...

Very clever shell! Sure I just finished wrapping everything, ugh! Oh well, remind me next year!

Christina said...

That is a very clever idea, I never would have thought of.

aprilmecheelesdulllife said...

Great idea!!! I loved my card from You!!!!

MelMel said...

Such a fab idea!x

Linda said...

Great idea!! How clever you are!!
Merry Christmas!!

Jillayne said...

Love this Shell! What a great idea, and you make it look so easy... I am sure I will have the tape stuck to everything but I'm going to give it a go!!

Mrs.Pickles said...

what a clever idea. I am going to have to make a few of these in 2012

Natascha said...

Very cute idea! Great one. Its going in my Christmas file! For next year

Natascha said...

Very cute idea! Great one. Its going in my Christmas file! For next year

Sparklyjools said...

Lovely tutorial! Andy's mum makes these with birthday cards too and I have a couple I've kept for years. I keep my stamps in the 'fairy' one.xxx

JudyCinNC said...

I love your little gift boxes. I make gift tags by recycling old cards and cutting them out then punching a hole and adding a piece of ribbon. I do not like store bought tags because they always say TO and FROM and I find that so impersonable. I wonder why someone can't make cards that say FOR and LOVE. Warmest wishes from Judy C

Anonymous said...

thankyou so much for this lovely idea,my grandchildren are on there way over so we are all going to make a box each,merry xmas.xx

tink's mom said...

Great idea, thanks so much for sharing. Selina

Jade said...

Great idea! Now I have to convince myself to part with all the Christmas cards I have stashed away from past years. :)

QUILTING IS BLISSFUL, DI said...

I do save some of my cards every year-so great idea!!thanks--
I did get an 'Help--email' from Hannah and Harrington though!!!
They want to know where their pretty stockings are--as they only see two hanging and there is four of you????
Hugs,Di and Miss Gracie

Faye said...

Perfect, perfect, perfect!! I will be using this next year in my classroom~~~ I know my first graders can handle this and they aloways need a little trinket box for a small goodie they have made to send home for mom and dad....

Thanks so much for the tutorial and idea....Here's hoping you and your family have a wonderful Christmas! I can't wait to see what you have in store for 2012~~

Always, Faye

Allie said...

Such a cute idea Shell, and I think even I could follow this! Thank you dear girl!

Lavender Rabbit said...

Super cute! I think I will have to play a bit at work :)

StitchinByTheLake said...

Shell just today I had gone through and thrown away all my Christmas cards from the last two years! I promptly dug them out of the trash and picked out my favorites to save for making these boxes. :) I've pinned this on my Christmas board at Pinterest so I won't lose it! blessings, marlene

Miss Hillbilly said...

This is a great idea! Thank you!!!

RG said...

I will definitely give it a try. If it turns out, maybe it will become famous or something!

Merry Christmas!

Kris said...

Oh, how fun, Shell!! What a GREAT way to recycle!! I'll keep this year's cards so I can make some boxes next year!! Kris

Crafty Green Poet said...

Such a good idea, I'll defintely make some of these in the future! I love the fact that you get a free viola with every box (I think you meant voila!)

Unknown said...

Well that is darn cute!!! I also save cards from year to year, I just can't bear to throw them away! Now I have a good use for them :) THank you and Merry Christmas!

Doll in the Looking Glass said...

Each year I have passed along a large bag of cards to a local church group who uses them for craft projects. Looks like they will be receiving fewer recycled cards this year so I can make some of these boxes for myself! Thanks for the instructions -- these are too cute.

Debra

Diane H said...

Thanks for the great tut, Shell. Stopping by to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas. Hugs.

Carrie P. said...

what a great idea. thanks for sharing.
Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Michelle my grand-daughters are loving making these boxes they did a few yesterday and a heap more today and have decided to make one for everyone that is coming xmas day,so thankyou very much for showing us how to make these,merry xmas.xx

N. Maria said...

Michelle and bunnies! I love this repurpose tutorial! This will be another one of those projects that I will start and not be able to stop!
Merry Christmas!

Lady Hannah Goldenhare - Nothing Gold Can Stay

Hello dear friends, It's been a minute hasn't it? My last post was over a year ago. I decided I wanted to stay in my bubble where it...