Message Gift Box Tutorial
Posted by Amy | Filed under Crafts, Free Downloads & Printables, Guest Mom Blogger
This is my week for Mother’s Day fun! So, I asked my super crafty friend, Cathe Holden if she could come up with a FREE download for you all and of course, she WAY out did herself once again! This cute message box tutorial will rock your socks off! Now I have to find time to make it:-)
Thanks for sharing Cathe. We always love your creativity!! Be sure a leave some comment love below and visit her cool blog for more fun ideas.
Message Box Tutorial – By Cathe Holden
I worked on a project for my mom and made a tutorial to share with you, and in keeping with spirit of freebies, I have created one of the designs with the fabulous free vintage wallpaper graphics of a another blog-friend, Karen, The Graphics Fairy! This gift box creation will be filled with many little notes reminding my Mom why I love her so much and the little things that she has done in my life that mattered.
I designed this box to fit business card size notes. You can use the designs provided, or utilize the blank template for use with scrapbook paper, or any other paper you’d like, but it’s best to print and construct the box with card stock to keep it rigid.
To make the Message Box:
You will need to choose a template, download and print:
- Print the template you choose onto white card-stock. If printing the Manilla box, write your “To” and “From” info before trimming and folding (in case you make a mistake in writing, you will not have already gone through all the assembly!)
- Trim out the template, cutting notches and slices where marked. Score (press deep crease with dull pointed object) along all fold lines. Scoring is essential to the success of this project!
- Fold along all scored fold lines.
- Using double-stick tape, tape under lid flap and tuck and tape side flaps of the lid as shown.
- Add double-stick tape to the inside panel, slide into position and stick.
- For the Manilla message box: Punch holes in center of reinforcement circle graphic and add an eyelet if you’d like. Cut out business card size (2″ x 3.5″) pieces of paper, cardboard, vintage ephemera, etc. and add a sentiment to each. Embellish with stickers and more.
- For the Wallpaper box: Simply cut out plain cardstock, write on each, and gather with the “Mother” wrap-around cut-out.
- Finally, tie your box with ribbon or string and send along to your Mom to let her know just how much she means to you!
BONUS FEATURE: You can use this craft for other purposes!
- Fill with 30 little notes for your friend who’s turning 30. 40 for 40, etc.
- Tuck with love notes and fun messages for your husband’s birthday.
- Use as a file for business cards you pick up here and there.
- Make several boxes to organize small craft supplies.
- Before printing the wallpaper template, cover the wording with a white box to erase the type and add your own for another occasion or purpose.
- Use the basic template to create custom boxes for product packaging.
Scoop!!
**If you’re a Photoshop user, head over to I ♥ Faces to enter our awesome giveaway!
Tags: Cathe Holden, craft, Free downloads, free printable, gift box, message box, Mothers Day, tutorial
April 29th, 2009 at 8:59 am
THis is amazing!!
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God bless-
Amanda
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April 29th, 2009 at 9:43 am
This is such a cool idea. There is nothing like a homemade personalized gift, and this is one anybody can do. I would cry (happy tears) if my kids or husband gave me a gift this special. Thanks for sharing.
Amanda @ Mommy’s Idea Book’s last blog post..Tips for Family Vacation Planning, Part 2: Budgeting
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April 29th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Wow, thanks so much for sharing this, what a wonderful gift, I love it! I’ll be linking.
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April 29th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Cathe’s creativity never ceases to amaze me!!
This is a beautiful idea!!
Thanks!
~TidyMom
Tidymom’s last blog post..Because Painted is Pretty
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April 29th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
She is so amazingly creative! What a beautiful Mother’s Day gift that would be.
theArthurClan’s last blog post..Overrun By…Clothing.
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May 1st, 2009 at 3:57 pm
What a beautiful gift. I’m sure your mom will love it…and I bet she is extremely proud of her talented daughter. Thanks so very much for sharing this. : )
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May 9th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
i’m a 6th grade english teacher (btw, i don’t always practice what i preach on the internet, so please excuse any ill grammar/punctuation/etc
), and this struck me as a perfect craft for them (they also included a printable calendar i purchased from littlebrownpen in dec. i love printables!). it was just challenging enough for them (assembly esp.) and i was able to tie in a nod to english here and there in a few of their messages.
all in all, they loved it. thanks for putting it out there for the world to enjoy! i’m sure there will be many tearful moms on sunday thanks to you and cathe.
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September 24th, 2009 at 5:53 am
This might be a really dumb question but I just printed this template out and only half of it was printed off…. Why is this? How do I get the whole thing printed off?
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October 26th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Such a sweet box and a great tutorial!
I linked this up to my Creative Mamas Monday blog hop!
Lindsey@A Kindred Spirit’s Thoughts´s last blog ..How to Make Flower Clips {Creative mamas Monday}
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December 1st, 2009 at 4:07 pm
[...] Message Gift Box Tutorial Do It Yourself Gift Box Tutorial – Message Gift Box Tutorial [...]
January 1st, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Thank you for this project and template! I just printed the plain template and made one of the boxes with paperboard (from a cereal box) instead of cardstock, and found that it looks like a cigarette carton (approximately)…so now i want to tightly roll up several little inspirational/encouraging notes to the size of cigarettes, put them in one of these boxes, and make a “quit smoking” gift that someone could carry around in place of their usual cig pack. Anything to get someone to quit! (-:
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