You want to gift a candle jar but you’re done with wrong-sized flimsy gift bags. This post shows you how to make a custom cylindrical gift package.
Materials Needed to Make This Custom Gift Package for Your Candle Jar
Regular cardboard box that you have opened and laid flat (should be big enough to fulfill your specific measurements – please see next 2 sections when selecting your box). It won’t matter if the box has printing or writing on it. We’re going to cover all that up. And it’s okay if you need more than one box.
Step 1. Cutting the Cardboard Base/Bottom for Your Gift Package
You want the circumference of your gift holder to be about ¼” larger than the widest part of your gift item. That way you can add tissue paper to the packaging. And it won’t be difficult to reach in and pull out the gift. So, getting the base piece to the right size is key.
And if your gift item is slightly wider at the top than the bottom, be sure to place it top side down when tracing around it.
In this photo, I used a thick piece of leather to give me the extra ¼” around the candle lid. (I didn’t have a compass at the time, lol)
And since this base/bottom piece will need (4) 2” tabs beyond the desired diameter. I kept this in mind and started tracing the circle, 2” from the corners of the flat cardboard.
Next, make (4) marks, around the circle, with each mark extending 2” from the circle. Try to evenly space your marks. Then manually draw your tabs at least 1” wide. They don’t have to be perfect.
Cut out the circle, making sure to leave the tabs attached. Fold the tabs upward.
Step 2. Cutting the Cardboard Form That Will Go Around Your Gift Item
Measure the circumference (around the circle) that you just cut out.
This is how wide you would cut your flat piece of cardboard. My circumference measured about 14”. But I cut the flat cardboard to 15” just to be sure it would wrap all the way around my candle jar. (You can always adjust it later and cut off length. But it’s hard to add length.)
Be SURE the corrugated flutes are running in the correct direction. Otherwise, the cardboard will not roll correctly or conform to the cylindrical shape.
Next, you’ll measure the height of your gift item. This will become the height at which you will cut your flat cardboard.
Now that you have measurements, make your marks on the flat cardboard. Align your cardboard on the cutting mat. Then align the straight edge to your cut marks. Slide the box knife along the straight edge to make your first cut. And then the next cut. You should end up with a rectangular piece of cardboard.
Now gently “bend” the cardboard flutes and roll up the cardboard to help give it the cylindrical shape.
Test your long cut piece around the base from Step 1 to be sure it fits exactly around the base piece. Cut off pieces as necessary until it’s a snug fit.
Step 3. Cutting Two Pieces of Paper That Will Cover the Cardboard Sides (A piece) and (B piece)
Cut (2) pieces of paper to cover the long piece of cardboard. (A) will be for the exterior. (B) will be for the interior. (Feel free to use a different, coordinating paper for the interior!)
Look for the best part of the paper to be featured on your custom package. (The paper will then need to be trimmed with an extra inch in the height and width.) This will be your (A) exterior piece.
Now cut out the (B) interior piece. It should be ¼” shorter than the cardboard.
Now “train” the (A) piece of paper to work with the flat piece of cardboard cut in Step 2. This can be done by laying the taller piece of paper on your work surface, pretty side down.
Unroll the strip of cardboard and spread it over the paper, being sure to align the bottom edges. Now fold down the extra inch of paper to cover the top edge of the cardboard. This helps to “train” the paper for later.
Step 4. Gluing the Cardboard Form (created in step 2) to the Round Cardboard Base (created in step 1)
Now using hot glue on one of the base tabs, start attaching the long piece of cardboard. (The tabs should not be visible, glue them inside the cylinder.) And you’ll want to make sure the long piece of cardboard is flush with the round base. Work your way around the base until all tabs are glued INSIDE.
Once you’ve made it all the way around. Use tape to close the seam of the cylinder. This will later be reinforced with paper (Step 6) so it’s ok if it is not real tight at this point.
Here’s a look at the new cylinder package before it gets covered with the pretty paper.
Step 5. Cutting Two Pieces of Paper That Will Cover the Base (C piece) and (D piece)
Now that the cylinder is complete, you will need to cut (2) paper circles. One piece will cover the exterior bottom (C) piece. The other piece will be for the interior bottom (D) piece.
For the exterior (C) piece, simply place the new cardboard cylinder on your paper and trace around it. Cut it out and go ahead and glue it on the bottom with Mod Podge. Of course, the pretty side of the paper should face you 😊
The interior circle (D) piece will need to be slightly smaller because of the tabs inside. Use a compass or trace around your gift item as a measuring guide. Once you’re happy with the size, drop (D) piece into the base with the pretty side facing you.
Step 6. Gluing the Papers to Cover the Cardboard Cylinder
Start first with the (A) piece of paper (the taller piece). Begin by evenly brushing Mod Podge on the blank side of the paper.
Turn the cardboard cylinder so the taped seam is facing you. And attach the midway point of the paper directly on the cardboard seam. (This makes the package stronger by keeping the seam in the paper opposite from the cardboard seam.)
At the same time, start lining up the bottom edge of the paper to the bottom edge of the cylinder.
Start folding the overlap down toward the inside of the cylinder. Smooth out any wrinkles with a soft damp cloth. And continue working your way around the entire cylinder. You may need to add more Mod Podge.
Step 7. Gluing the Ribbons Inside the Cardboard Cylinder
Now is the time to glue the ribbon handles to the interior. This way you can disguise the ribbon ends with the (B) paper.
I’m using the ribbon handles that came with the gift bag that I cut up. Here you can see where I snipped off the end pieces. Then I made sure both pieces were the same length.
Lay something across the top of the cylinder to help you find the mid-way point of both sides.
Make small marks inside the cylinder. Then with the mark in view, hot glue both sides of one piece of ribbon. Making sure at least 1” of both sides of the ribbon gets glued to the inside of the cardboard (this gives extra strength to the handles).
I folded a small piece of paper to help give me the measurement of how wide I needed to glue the ribbon ends on the other side.
Step 8. Finishing With the (B) Paper Glued to the Interior of the Cardboard Cylinder
Slip the (B) paper into the cylinder with the pretty side facing you. For me, I seal the top edge with hot glue because it’s too hard to smooth out when it has Mod Podge on it. (Make sure this piece does not rise above the top edge of the cylinder.)
As a finishing touch, you could cover the exterior paper seam, with additional paper cut outs. Simply decoupage them onto the papered cylinder.
You’ll be amazed at how sturdy this holder is when all the glue dries.
Now you add coordinating tissue paper and slide in the gift item.
Materials/Supplies Used
Regular cardboard box that you have opened and laid flat (Big enough to fulfill your specific measurements.) It won’t matter if it has printing or writing on it. We’re going to cover all that up. And it’s okay if you need more than one box.
Interesting paper (the sky is the limit for the paper.) You can use butcher paper, newspaper, wrapping paper, cut up a gift bag (that’s what I did here) or a combination 😊
Pen or Sharpie
Flexible measuring tape (you could also use a piece of string)
Long straight edge
Cutting mat
Tape
Mod Podge
2” Paint brush
Soft damp cloth
About 20” of coordinating ribbon, cut in (2) 10” pieces (but if you’re using a gift bag, you can use the ribbon handles from the bag)
Tools Used
Scissors for cutting cardboard (don’t use your good scissor to cut cardboard :()
Scissors for cutting ribbon (don’t cut anything but ribbon with your ribbon scissors! :))
5″ Micro-tip scissors for detailed paper cut outs (micro size is key for intricate cuts)
Box knife or Exacto
Take Away
For next to nothing, you can level up your gift with this hand-made package. Bonus points if you can incorporate colors and items that you know your loved-one will appreciate. For example, add a decoupage layer with birds or butterflies.
Here’s to making it custom and Making it Fabulous!
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