Today's Creative Sprint prompt is to make something inside a box. I decided I would rather make the box instead. While I was making the first box from paper, I realized I didn't remember exactly how to make it so once I got it right, I made a tutorial so I can remember. Supplies: You will need 2 rectangular sheets of paper that are the same size, scissors, a ruler, and a pencil. You can use pretty much any size of paper, as long as they are both the same size. You only need the ruler for making lines, not for measuring, so it actually doesn't
have to be a ruler. If your paper is heavyweight, you might find it easier to use a scoring tool or bone folder for each of the folds, which means you will be measuring. If you don't understand that last sentence, ignore it.
Please read through all the directions before doing any folding or cutting! Let me know if you find a mistake or if something doesn't make sense and I will fix it.
Step 1. I used a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 inch decorative paper that I tore in half, making each sheet 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches. Normally I wouldn't tear the paper for this as one edge will be showing when it's finished, but for some reason my paper cutter is in hiding. You can use different colors if you want. This decorative paper I'm using is just slightly heavier than text weight paper, but you can use cardstock for a sturdier box. I probably should have used some solid color paper to make things easier to see in the pictures. Sorry about that...
Step 2. With the ruler and pencil, mark the center of the paper on the back of each sheet.
Step 3. Start with the paper that will be the bottom of the box. Fold the sides into the center so they meet exactly together.
Step 4. Unfold it and fold the other sides into the center so they meet exactly, then unfold it.
Step 5. You will be cutting along the folds from each long end up to where it meets the other fold. I have marked it with dashed lines in this picture. Do both long ends.
After cutting, your paper should now look something like this:
Step 6. Fold up the long sides so the flaps you just cut meet together, and attach them with a bit of tape or glue.
Tip for gluing paper: Use only a tiny bit to prevent the paper wrinkling. For large areas, use lots of tiny dots of glue. It's kind of hard to see, but I used a little tape in the middle to hold the two flaps together.
Step 7. Fold the remaining flaps up and over, taping or gluing them on the inside. I took the picture with just one little bit of tape in the middle, but later I taped it all along the edge of the flap - it makes life easier when you go to use the box.
Now congratulate yourself, you have finished the bottom of the box!
Step 8. Now for the top! It is made almost exactly like the bottom. You repeat Steps 2 through 7 with the following exception: For Step 3 and 4, instead of folding the edges all the way into the center, fold them about 1/8" away from the center mark, for both directions. The amount isn't critical, but you should try to make them the same for all four folds. If your paper is a heavy weight, leave just a little bit more space from the center, or the top will be too tight.
Step 9. The rest of the construction of the top is the same as the bottom. You will end up with a box top half that is just a little bit larger than the bottom half.
Yay, you are done!
Of course, your X from marking the center will show when you are done, unless you mark very lightly with the pencil so that you can erase it when you have made the folds in steps 3 and 4. If your paper is the same on both sides, you can fold up the boxes so that the x is on the outside of the box half (or make the mark on the good side of the decorative paper). I normally do that for the bottom half of the box, so the X doesn't show on the inside of the box. If you are going to decorate the top of the box, you can paint over the X or glue something down that will cover it up. Or leave them on the inside and paint or glue something over them on the inside.
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Go make art!
