Boxed In

I’ll be honest.  Before posting on The Knot, I had no idea what a card box was or really why it was needed until all the horror stories about guests or strangers making off with envelopes left on the gift table or cards being misplaced.  So, I decided that I would create a card box.  I have seen the really garish or extravagant card boxes or the bird cages or even the horrible, but I just wanted to keep my card box simple, bow-free and not garish.  

Here are my inspirations for my card boxes: 

I took the wired ribbon inspiration from this photo. I pulled my inspiration for clean lines and satin-y fabric from this photo.

I pulled my inspiration for clean lines and satin-y fabric from this photo.

I found a lot of card boxes online, but I was unwilling to pay for them.  So, here is my finished card box.

Side view. Front aerial view.

   How-To?

 Supplies

Paper mache nesting boxes, I purchased mine from Joann’s

Fabric or scrapbooking paper

Ribbon or other embellishments
Scissors

Cutting utensil for carving out the holes in the boxes

Iron (if using fabric)
Tacky glue

The Haps

1.  Decide how you would like your card box to look.  Do you want a streamlined look?  Or do you want something a little more cock-eyed?  Round, square, rectangle?  After purchasing your boxes, pinpoint your overall vision of your card box.

2. Cut holes in your boxes.  The last layer WILL NOT have a hole in the box.  Your top layer will have a hole large enough for the envelope or card to fit into.  Once you have your top slot, you must cut a hole in the bottom top box, leaving enough room where the edges of the top of the box and the bottom of the boxes can be glued to the next box.

Tops and bottoms cut out. You can see the largest box (bottom), does not have a hole in the bottom.Backside of a lid.

3. After all your boxes have been cut begin covering your boxes with whatever your chosen material.  This is where your glue comes in.  I would recommend you using a sponge or other tool that will help you evenly spread out the glue on the box.  Wrap the boxes like you would a present.  Crease corners, pull paper and fabric taught, so there is no bunching. 

4. Once you have the boxes and their tops covered, glue the boxes together. 

Boxes glued together after fabric has been glued on.

5. Add your embellishment.  Ribbon, flowers, letters, etc. 

Added embellishment

 6.  You now have your finished product.  

Front arial view.

Please feel free to contact me if you have specific questions about this how-to.  I’m always happy to help!