DIY Gift Box Ideas are some of my favorite things. It’s where challenge meets the opportunity to show someone how much you care for them.
A dear friend of mine was stuck in the hospital for about two weeks. I knew he liked home and garden magazines. So I took him a gift of several magazines when I went to visit.
But of course, I couldn’t just take them in a plastic bag. Heavens no! My mind started processing ideas for how to package the magazines.
DIY Gift Box Ideas: The Starting Point – Something Stiff and Sturdy
First I look through my saved paperboard and cardboard items. I can usually make something work.
But in this case, I knew I didn’t have anything in this shape. So I stepped into The Container Store which so happened to be in the same shopping center as Barnes & Noble (where I picked up the magazines). Who doesn’t LOVE The Container Store?
I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, but I knew they would have something. So I walked in with my plastic bag of magazines. I had 7.
Then that’s when I saw it! This white 3-ring binder/box sitting all by itself. Apparently, someone had returned it to the store, but it wasn’t part of their regular inventory. I quickly checked to see if my 7 magazines would fit. Of course they did.
Since then, I’ve tried to find this binder/box on their website. However, the one they have online is not the same. So, I’m thinking it was meant just for me to find 😉. And they gave me 40% off since it had a spot on it. No problem for me because I knew I was going to cover it.
DIY Gift Box Ideas: Planning the Fun Details
My next stop was Dollar Tree. I had been there the week before just to look at things and get general ideas. I remembered seeing some blue and green peel and stick wallpaper. My friend loves blue and green. So I picked up (2) 11”x16” sheets.
And I found a gift bag that featured blue and green dragon flies in a couple sizes. I didn’t use the gift bag as a bag. But I cut out the dragonflies so I could decoupage them onto the wallpaper.
These latigo leather straps are left over from another project. So I cut a 7” section to mimic a leather carrying handle.
And these great antique bronze 12mm paper brads are the size of a typical decorative nail head. So you can get the look of a decorative nail head but without the long unyielding post.
DIY Gift Box Ideas: How to Make this Gift Box for Magazines
I cut a piece of cardboard to the same depth as the binder. Then I hot glued this cardboard to hide the 3 rings.
I also cut more cardboard strips to fill the top and bottom edges (indicated by blue arrows). That’s because the gusset of this box needed to be flush all the way around.
The lid was flexible. And it had a flexible flap. But I also needed the other part of this box to have a “flap”. So I cut down the two corners (indicated by the red arrows).
I then measured how much wallpaper I would need and made those cuts. I needed one whole sheet and part of another. Since it’s “wallpaper” the pattern was continuous from one sheet to the next. I just had to be sure to turn the paper the right way.
Next, I closed the box and “sealed it shut” with the wallpaper. I used a squeegee to smooth out the bubbles.
I measured for two holes on the leather strap. And used a leather punch to make the holes. Then I made two holes in the outer most flap of the box. These holes were for the paper brads to hold down the leather “handle”.
I decoupaged the dragonflies to the box (one on front and a different one on the back). I made sure to put the Mod Podge on the back sides of the dragonflies and not on the box. That way the sheen from the glue would not be visible on the box.
Here’s another look at the finished box.
In the above photo I have the magazine holder in a horizontal position. I later realized this would make people think it could be carried this way. But it could not be carried this way since the paper brads only go through the outermost flap. So I presented this gift in a vertical position. Which meant the handle could be used to open the flap but not carry the gift.
Materials Used
9×12 Document Storage Box
Latigo leather strap
Scraps of thick cardboard
Peel and stick paper
Paper cut outs from gift bags and/or used greeting cards
Tools Used
Tape measure
Take Away
I don’t take this much time with gift wrapping for every gift. But I do consider the recipient. If they are someone who appreciates this sort of detail, then I always find a way to make their gift extra special with thoughtful packaging. It’s those extra little details that make people feel loved.
Here’s to making it custom and Making it Fabulous!
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