Someone long ago, whacked the idea of what they could do with a greeting card. Cut in half. Fold it. Snip it. Say the magic words, "I Shine, You Shine, We All Shine!" and poof! You have a little box.
I don't remember who showed it to me but it's super easy to do. Here are the instructions:
For Taste of USA, I used the card stock paper that comes in pads. Start off with any size square piece of paper for the top of your box. Grab a ruler. Scissors or an Xacto blade. A folding bone is helpful but not necessary.
The second piece of paper that forms your boxes bottom should be about a quarter of an inch smaller on two sides than your the piece of paper that makes the top of your box.
Working on the back side of the paper measure diagonally corner to corner creating an "x" mark in the middle of your paper.
Fold all corners towards the "x".
Stay with me. I'm not sure I explain this next part well. Fold two opposite sides towards the middle. That's the photo you have above. Unfold and repeat with the other sides. Make sense?
Unfold the whole piece of paper and locate four triangles as pictured above. There are 8 triangles. you only need to cut four. Save your triangles for something else fun.
On the two skinny sides, cut two slits on each side. Start at the edge and cut until the next fold. You will cut a total of 4 slits. They are marked with the dashed line in the above photo.
Fold the points of the wide side to the middle. Pull up the flaps up and towards the middle. This is the base of the box.
Fold the points of the skinny side into the box. They will hold the box top together. Repeat with the second sheet of paper to create the bottom.
Slide the bottom piece into the top piece and call your aunt Betty because you now have a small box. Embellish with a ribbon, buttons, felt, foam shapes, glitter... should I go on?I started making these boxes years ago out of the greeting cards that friends and family sent me for birthdays, holidays or just saying hello. My original intent was to make them into ornaments for my tree. If you are a veteran reader of Highlowaha, you know that I am a starter, not a finisher. So, I've carried around this collection of boxes for over 20 years. Neatly tucked into a bigger box.
But no more. This is the year that they make their appearance. They will Shine on my Christmas tree. And, they'll probably make some friends because I plan on getting the Christmas card stock paper, make some boxes, string them together and I'll have the cutest garland on the block!
What about you? How do you envision using your little boxes?
Signing off until tomorrow...
27 comments:
This, was so dang cute!!
Someone should have taken a picture of them in the vase on your craft table. (edit: I remember I did take a picture, go to my blog here and check it out
http://prdesigns.blogspot.com) I can't describe it as cute as it was, but Cheryl brought (some?all?) them along, Katie provided a cute heavy cylander vase and all the little boxes were put in there with SHINY shread! Great table center piece! The shread could be any color to match the season!!!!
Again, like the "What a ball" from yesterday.... these cute whacky treasure boxes could be made and displayed for any holiday or season! In an Easter basket, under a small Christmas tree, part of a 4th of July Red, white blue theme!!
If anyone remembers the post from months ago...where we talked about a holiday/season tree?? I had mentioned when I lived in TN, someone had the cutest darn twig, painted and placed in the coolest base pot. They had it on their mantle and changed out the 'ornaments' for every season, even had twinkle lights on it! It was the birthday tree, the Easter egg tree, Mothers' Day tree, back to school tree....and much more to your own imaginations delights.... now you can make a Whacky treasure box ornament tree!
These are so cute, Cheryl!!! I can't wait to make one now that I have the instructions!
I envision myself using them as gift card holders. Or maybe, when I give the gift of jewelry to someone, I can make one of these to hold the jewelry.
Happy Hump Day!
When I was a kid we went to an optometrist who had a basket of these on the front desk. I don't remember if they had anything inside or not, but I know that we got one if we were good during our appointment. My mom still puts some of the Christmas ones under her tiny Christmas tree when she decorates! Cute!
I think I may actually be catching up on my sleep deprivation so thank you Peggy for your description of my center piece!
The beauty of these little boxes is that they are so versatile. You can make them for any holiday. They're cheap to make and so easy to do. :)
I do wish some mathmetician would tell me how to make the bottom box so that it doesn't push all the way into the lid. I looked on the internet for a template with no luck. My math skills are limited so...
I was hosting my own little round table (tune in tomorrow) while Cheryl was teaching participants how to make these boxes. So, I especially appreciate the step by step tutorial.
Hmmm.. the handmade boxes could be made to place a small piece of chocolate inside and then to place on a Thanksgiving plate.
Or... how about making a series of small ones, filling each with a single chocolate kiss, and hiding them in various places for a loved one to find.
Or... for the month leading up to someone's birthday, could you make 30 small boxes and leave a small compliment inside each?
So many possibiilities...
Or...
Like... you could hand them out to complete strangers in an airport because it's their 29 wedding anniversary or because my sister would love that.
Endless, I tell you. Endless.
:)
HAHAHA CHERYL!!!
That is so funny!
The possibilities ARE endless...I can't wait to try to make some of my own!
Kat, by the way... good to see you again. We missed you last week.
Brian, where are you? Inquiring minds want to know how your job is going.
Also, Chaotic is up to her ears helping Karen through her surgery. Let's send deep breaths and happy thoughts her way.
Oh, am I also supposed to say FACEBOOK?
Great pictures by the way with these instructions Cheryl....
FACEBOOK!!!!
I have a funny random thought today!
I like random thoughts!
Very cool idea!
....
The job is going well. It's a major adjustment for me, so I feel like I've not quite been myself lately. But, everyone is treating me well here; and everything will eventually come around, I'm sure.
Saw this on Facebook!!!
Cute boxes. I made these once out of old Christmas Cards and put them in a basket at Christmas and put candies in them.
Hey everyone- Leigh Ann is my sister. She's probably the one that showed me this little trick!
Why do I get the sense there is some fun Facebook thing going on?
While we are on the subject of Facebook, I noticed we have 25 followers. Since I'm 29, could we try to get to 29 followers by the end of the week? I like watching the number of faces on our front page increase.
I like Facebook. I like gift cards.
I love bacon.
"Call your Aunt Betty?" Is that like "Bob's your Uncle?" Cheryl, love the box.
Have you seen my motivation for blogging laying around here somewhere? Seems to have disappeared. I must up the dosage of FACEBOOKinol...
Kuj
Yes KUJ- I have noticed your lack of blog motivation. It's because you spend all your time Facebooking. It's like a lot of mini-blogging. I believe you'll next be on to Tweeting over at Twitter.
Don't you have an aunt Betty? Oh, well- we all do. Her last name is Crocker.
What's wrong with facebook or twitter?
I made these and they are easy! I'm fairly challenged in this dept. I put treats inside (M & Ms) and a small fortune cookie type note for the kids in their school lunch!
Robin~ Nothing at all wrong with FB or TWTR. My friend KUJ- who I only know online- has stopped blogging and is only FBing these days. It works for her. But, I miss her posts. :)
Cheryl I didnt want to let you down so here it goes...
F A C E B O O K !!!!!!!!
Love the boxes.
On a sep note, just wanted to inform everyone that the Chicago slogan for the Olympic bid is "Let friendship SHINE." Thought you all would enjoy that. :)
Struble says FACEBOOK
That's all I've got. But for those crafty people out there with little girls - Michaels is doing free American Girl crafts this Sat from 10 till 2 at Michaels stores -
Check out http://www.examiner.com/x-20149-Naperville-Family-Entertainment-Examiner~y2009m9d16-Family-craft-events-at-Michaels
I love little boxes....with wnderful presents inside of them...please send my husband one of these boxes so he can put a BIG diamond in it! Ha!! Thanks for posting on facebook, Cheryl!!
This is posted by DeDe Reese...
I love reading your comments on FACEBOOK Cheryl. You know Shannon would say i am too pinche to pass up the chance to win $10. I am gonna have to make those boxes for Christmas now. What am I supposed to put in them? Devinity? Fudge? Buckeyes?
Angielee
Thanks to all you Facebook commenters today. It's 8:02 PM and the winner of the $10 Target gift card is Dede Reese from Victoria!
I'll be sure to send with a box so Donald can put a big diamond ring in it for you!!
If you have no idea what I'm talking about- I posted a comment on facebook to come over and leave a comment. The word FACEBOOK had to be in your comment and the contest ended at 8:00pm CST.
Congrats DeDe!
Nice going, Cheryl. That's what I get for not Facebooking more.
Darn, and I'm an avid Starbucks drinker.
my blog is currently being used to update ppl on Karen's hospital adventure and I have posts going to FACEBOOK as well, but it is WAY after 8pm. Long day, some progress. Saw THE doctor finally, 8:45pm. He wants more tests in morning. Sigh. Wont be on much bc I have to run the zoo solo while she is stuck in NAMC and then head to work (mortgage, you know).
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