How to make a Christmas Gift Box

A couple of years ago I shared on Folksy this tutorial about how to make a Christmas (or any other) gift box, I just remembered about it as I want to make a little box for one of my Christmas gifts, so I thought I'd share with you here :)

How to make a gift box:
You need: A square piece of coloured card or an old greetings card (front and back)
A Ruler, a pencil, some scissors or a scalpel.

Stage 1
Find an old Christmas card and cut off the front page and put aside the back. Crop it to a square shape (if not already). Try to use a card larger than about 12cm square otherwise your box will be very fiddly and small! The finished box will be about a third the width of your card size. You can use any sheet or card if you want to or a large piece for a bigger box.

Stage1

 

Stage 2
Draw a line from corner to corner on the back of the card (dont worry this wont be seen) and then from the other corners. There shouldn't be any need to measure anything on the card. Now that you have found the middle of your square you can draw a vertical and a horizontal line. Draw from the corners of these lines some vertical lines, carry on until the back of your card looks like that of the photo.

Stage 2

Stage 3
Now cut and score the lines as shown in the image, using scissors or a scalpel 

Stage 3

Stage 4

Fold the corner triangles backwards. Then fold the two that are on the square sections into the middle. (you can fold them back again in a minute).

Stage 4

 Stage 5
Fold other sides into the middle as shown. Tuck the triangle edges inwards.

Stage 5

 

Stage 6
Fold the square sections over the top of the tucked in bits and the top of your box is ready. There should be no to stick it but you can if you want to. Repeat the whole process again using the back of the card to make the bottom of the box. It's a good idea to make the square in stage one a little smaller so that your finished bottom half will fit inside the top. Now you have a festive gift box and you can make any size you want!

Ideal Christmas Presents!

Are you still looking for a Christmas gift for a hard to buy for loved-one? how about an original screen print that hardly anyone else will have!

Here are some of my prints that are still available in my shop, just put one in a frame and it will make a lovely present :)

Flea Market finds

A very windy and chilly Flea market at Shepton today, not as many stalls as sometimes but still I managed to find a few bits. The suitcase is so cute I'm going to add it to my pile of suitcases as soon as I can find a new home for my recycling bin. Saw an amazing mid-century modern sideboard but alas it would have been too big to fit in my tiny car (and most probably my tiny house!) One day...
 

Pretty brooch

Cheese dish, brooches, tiny suitcase and type tray

I think the cheese dish glass might look nicer on a vintage plate

Another Christmas wreath!

A blue, pink and green Christmas Wreath for my friend Laura :)

Festive shrink plastic jewellery

Just a couple of festive shrinky plastic bits I've made :) Please get in touch if you'd like me to make you some!

Snowman Brooch

Christmas Tree Earrings

Christmas Tree Earrings close up

Pink Christmas Wreath

This is a handmade paper Christmas wreath that I made last week. If you'd like one similar please let me know, I can do different colours to suit your Christmas decorating scheme! Please get in touch if you'd like me to make one for you at cenoble@hotmail.co.uk.

I made a Lampshade

Yesterday I did a lampshade making class at The Makery in Bath! The class was taught by the lovely Ruth from Quincy Lampshades. I came armed with my half metre of green Fabric which I'd bought from Millie Moon shop in Frome, expecting a fun afternoon of making and I wasn't disappointed. Making the lampshade was not as hard as I'd thought but some bits were indeed tricky. I feel I've learned a great new skill and I am looking forward to making more lampshades soon!

Building my Log Cabin!

Over the last few weeks I've been preparing to build my new log cabin in my garden (it will be my screen printing and sewing studio), and we finally started to make the base and get it built in the last few days! Here are some photos of the process.

The ground is cleared

Checking the base will fit

Measuring where to put the blocks for the bearers

Weed-proof membrane is laid on top of the blocks and the base is laid

The sides can start being slotted together!

Starts going up pretty quickly after that, pieces slot together like lego!

Time to decide where the window will go

The window is in and here comes the door!

More pieces of wall get added

Last bits of wall get put on

And now the roof beams

Papa smurf starts the roof

The roof is finished, Dad catches his breath, and I've been painting!

The waterproof roof membrane is attached, to be soon followed by the shingles when the rain stops.

Button Christmas Trees

Christmas is creeping ever closer so I thought I'd raid my button collection and make some button Christmas Trees! These cute decorations are each made of nine or ten different coloured green buttons stacked on top of a large bead and topped off with a star button and some festive ribbon.

If you'd like one please get in touch with me or maybe try making one :)

Rainy Day Screen Print

This is my very first screen print that I've done at home! My Rainy day screen print features hand drawn cyan and yellow raindrops overlaid to create 3 different colours, and is printed on A4 paper. If you'd like to purchase one please visit my Folksy shop! 

Soon I shall have a lovely new log cabin shed in which I hope to create lots more lovely Screen prints.

Don't forget you can find out all about my latest creations on my twitter feed and facebook page.

My Prints featured on Card & Gift Blog!

The lovely Charlotte from Card & Gift Blog has featured my screen print range on her blog! This is great news and I hope lots and lots of people get to see my work :)

Card & Gift Blog

Halloween Ghost Earrings

I made these Halloween Ghost Earrings from some shrink plastic, punching holes for the spooky eyes and mouth! Please let me know if you'd like any for yourself :)

Christmas Wreath

Are you starting to think about Christmas yet? How would you like a beautiful and reusable Wreath this year? 

Last year I made a wreath from festive paper and would like to make more for this Christmas. If you would like me to make one for you please get in touch! I can do any colour and size you'd like. Prices will be from around £16.