Sunday, April 01, 2007

Non-quilty (but slightly crafty) post for Tracey

I hope this is going to work because I've got 8 pictures to upload! Tracey asked how I made the boxes for my cakes and I told her I had bought a box-making tool in a closing down sale. Another friend of mine, who makes her own cards, had been telling me about them and how easy it was to make boxes with them. Tracey wanted to see it so I thought I'd show what a fab tool it is, it didn't come with any instructions so I just had to figure out what to do - for all I know I'm doing it wrong but it seems to work.
STEP 1
Gather equipment - box tool, card, rotary cutter, ruler and cutting mat.
STEP 2
How big does you box need to be? I wanted a box to hold these tin Easter Eggs that I have bought for my Mum and DD. The egg is 3 inches long, 2 inches wide and 2 inches high.
STEP 3
So, I need the bottom of the box to measure 3X2 inches and if I add on 4 inches to the length and width for the sides I need to cut a piece of card measuring 6 X 7 inches. That will be the bottom of the box. I then need to cut another piece of card slightly bigger - 6 1/8 inches X 7 1/8 inches - for the top - easy with a quilter's acrylic ruler. This is all the measuring you have to do - no need to draw lines on the card or anything.
STEP 4
Butt the card against the raised edge of the box tool - see the marks in the plastic - they are grooves to score down, the first one is an inch wide, the second 2 inches. I used the end of a paintbrush to score. Just turn the card round and score down each edge.

STEP 5
Can you see the marks in the card? It is now scored and easy to fold. All you have to do is to bend each line to form the 4 sides of a box.
STEP 6
Cut down the fold at each end of the box and cut away the excess card to make tabs to glue against the side - no need to be super-accurate as they will just be glued down and unseen.
STEP 7
Glue the tabs and fill the box as desired.
STEP 8
Put the lid on the box (1/8 inch bigger all round seems to be perfect for a lid that is just slightly bigger than the bottom) and wrap. This tool and the rotary cutter and ruler make box making a breeze - I stopped to take photos but if I hadn't this box would LITERALLY have taken me no more than 5 minutes to make and wrap up.

14 comments:

meggie said...

What a clever little tool! It always amazes me how people think these things up.
Lovely idea for gift wrapping.

Lois R. said...

Once again, Fiona's presentation is gorgeous!!!

I love your pysanky eggs and the doll quilt and bed are to die for!

Libby said...

Now that is just downright nifty *s*

Tanya said...

I have never heard of a box making too but your tutor is fascinating. If I ever came upon one of those I'd snap it up in a flash thanks to your lesson in box making!

Juliann in WA said...

fun boxes - and I love your blog banner - very colorful

CONNIE W said...

You gave such great instructions! Great - and thanks!

Teodo said...

Thanks this box is beautiful and seems easy to do.
Thanks ciao ciao

Tracey @ozcountryquiltingmum said...

Oh wow!! As well as being super excited at the fact you posted all that just for me like the darling, beautiful-presenter and quilter that you are, I am also excited about that tool! If you knew the trouble that would save me! Off to surf the net for something similar, THanks again!

Tazzie said...

Wow Fiona, you make it look so easy! I'm filing this information away for future reference, thank you so much for sharing!
*hugs*
Tazzie
:-)

Linda C said...

You are so clever!! I wonder if that would work for mailing boxes as well. I love the eggs in the banner, Fiona.

Nancy said...

this might not be quilty but it sure is a neat idea for those hard to wrap packages. I've bookmarked the post for the next time I need to wrap something.

Helen said...

Hi

I just found your blog via Connie Lu at Simply Quilted. What a great hoodickey that box making tool is. I have never heard of it before. and thanks for the link to Peter Chen's blog about Testing Beta Blogger. I am sure I will be able to learn how to do a lot more with my blog from his. Love your Easter Egg banner. Great stuff.

ForestJane said...

I have one of those things... but on mine, you flip it over, and one side makes the score lines for the top of the box and the other side makes the lines for the bottom of the box. :)

LuĂ­sa Silva said...

Excellent tutorial. There are many people beginning cartonnage but it is the first time I see a tutorial and the specific tools for it. The box is beautifly done and the the colour is perfect for Easter.