How To Make a Petite Gift Box for Your Valentine

How to Make Petite Gift Boxes to Use When Giving Small Gifts

You have heard of the old adage that good things come in small packages, right?

Friends and family share movies, lunches and life’s big events. They are there when you need a pet-sitter or a ride to the airport, and they’re always ready with fashion advice.

Your friends and family make life richer. Surprise them with a “little” unexpected gift from time to time that will have them smiling “big” time.

How to make tiny gift boxes using recycled greeting cards

They do! These small packages are so cute and easy to make. I call them Petite Boxes.

When you give someone a gift in one of these petite boxes they won’t care what the good thing is inside, they will just want the cute little package.

a collection of colorful and tiny Gift Boxes made using old greeting cards

These little boxes resemble Petite Fours and are so appealing when grouped together that you may be tempted to take a bite from one.  They can be embellished with handles or knobs made from beads, buttons, and curling ribbon.

Make a Gift Box

They are perfect to give a small gift in. Did you ever give your mom, sister, or best girlfriend earrings on a card that they were displayed at the store?

How to Make a Gift Box for Valentines Day

Not very stylish?  Make the gift of carded earrings/merchandise have more impact by removing them from the card-and placing them in a petite box.

How to make a little box using greeting cards

Don’t they look divine inside?  I used curling ribbon to tie them together.

How about giving all of your friends a special Valentine Kiss this year… x x x  The perfect Valentine surprise! 

Note: (The kiss has to be on its side to fit in the box)

How-To Make a Petite Gift Box Using Scrapbook Paper or Recycled Greeting Cards

supplies needed:

  • Card-stock, old greeting cards, or heavy paper
  • Bead and or button
  • Curling Ribbon
  • Ruler
  • Scissors
  • Pencil
  • Glue Stick
  • Jewelry Glue
  • Cotton to line box bottom
How to Make a Gift Box

1.  Cut a 3″ x 3″ square from a colorful piece of card-stock or the front of an old greeting card. (You can make these any size square if you need to fit something larger in)

2. Using a ruler, make an x on the back with a pencil.

How to Make a Gift Box

3.  Fold each side to meet at the center of the X, making sure to create a crisp crease.

4.  Lay flat and make 4 cuts with 2 cuts on each side as shown.

How to Make a Gift Box

5.  Fold sides up and glue flaps as shown.

Repeat the above steps for bottom of box. You can use a coordinating color card-stock to add interest.

To embellish the top of the gift box:

Glue a decorative button on top of the box and stack other beads and buttons to create a finial, putting a dab of jewelry glue in between each.  I used 2 buttons and 2 beads in the order shown below to embellish the Valentine box.

To see how I store all my embellishments and supplies, read here.

How to embellish a gift box

 Other Variations to Embellish the Box Tops:

How to make and embellish a petite gift box

Variation #1:  Glue buttons and beads to the center top.  Directions —>to make the tissue paper ruffle.

How to embellish and make a gift box

Variation #2: Use the tip of a small pair of scissors to make a small hole in the center top of box.  Cut a small section from a doily to resemble a flower shape or use a large sequin, then make a small hole in the center.  Thread curling ribbon through large bead.  Bring ends of curling ribbon through hole in top of box and doily. Place knot underneath the top.  Clip excess ribbon.

How to make a gift box

Variation #3:  To make looped handles: Find the center of a 6″ long piece of curling ribbon and thread the two ends together through beads, ruffle, doily, or buttons. Make a hole in the center top of box to thread the ens of the ribbon through.

Secure on underside of lid with a knot. Clip excess ribbon.

How to embellish and make a gift box
Illustration-of-colorful-petite-boxes-to-make

DIY Valentine Gift Box

 For more out of the box ideas for gift wrap check out my Gift Wrap Gallery.

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40 Comments

  1. Pat Zimmerman says:

    I plan to make these lovely boxes for Mothers Day boxes. I do wish the instructions were separate from all the advertising so I could just print them out. Perhaps there is a way that I’m not aware of because I’m not savy with things like that. I love to receive your e-mails each day, please keep them coming!
    Thanks,
    Pat

    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Pat – I tried to send you a copy of the instructions to make the petite boxes, but your email address came up as undeliverable. Can you email me your email address and I will try again. My email: [email protected]

  2. Betty Baker says:

    You definitely are not just a pretty face. These ideals are fantastic. Thank you for your ideas. Wonderful.

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  5. Molly Bauckham says:

    This was SO helpful! I actually modified the design on the fly because I was putting Almond Roca bars into the little boxes, and using 4×4 squares, the rectangular box I created was exactly the right size. I felt like such a rock star! I’m going to tweet the link and a pic of my modification. :)

  6. Amanda Sparks says:

    Great tutorial! Picked for the 7 Best DIY Jewelry Box Tutorials on our blog!

  7. What a sweet idea!! I love it!!!

  8. Hi Diane!

    This is such a *wonderful* idea! So cute and creative. This really makes me regret throwing out a bunch of old cards last month >_< I will be trying this!

    Renee

    1. Hi Renee-

      Thanks – I keep every card I get in a big box so I have a ready stash when I want to make a box.

  9. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

    I have been searching for a long time for a cheap and easy way to make my own jewelry gift boxes. This is perfect.

    I can even use old watercolor paintings and turn them into boxes.

    This is going to help me so much.

  10. Charissa - The Gifted Blog says:

    I found you via Home Sweet Homemade because she tried your idea. I love this – it gives your little boxes such a unique look!

  11. Thanks for sharing your wonderful boxes and tutorial at the Pretty Packages Party! They’re just beautiful!
    smiles!
    Jami

  12. These are gorgeous! I love the looped handles! Thanks so much, I’ll be linking.

  13. What a great idea! I absolutely love the little toppers you’ve added.

  14. Your boxes are so adorable! Thank you for sharing them with us!

  15. Simple Daisy says:

    Those boxes are so cute!! Way better than just earrings on a card:):)

  16. Milk & Cookie Party says:

    This is such a clever idea and not just for valentine’s day. I’m thinking it’s a great way for the tooth fairy to drop off a prize and a good pick-me-up for a long week of school, etc. As always you inspire me. Also, love the stairway redo. Makes me wish we had a 2 story house!

  17. Great tutorial, Diane! Who wouldn’t want to receive one of these little treasures?

    La

  18. That is great Diane, my girls would just gush over these!

  19. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says:

    These are so pretty, Diane! I love the embellishments of buttons and jewels you added to them. The white one you did would be perfect for bridesmaid gifts or for a communion; and with the season for those two events coming up in just a few months, this is nicely timed. You put such a nice touch on your gift giving!

    1. Hi Kathy-
      Thanks. I thought about waiting until Mother’s Day to post the tutorial, but made the Valentine’s one to give to my mom and figured, why wait? My mom was a big surprise giver. She always gave my siblings and I little surprises all through our childhood when we least expected anything. She was super creative and I inherited her love of gift giving. I know receiving the box with the kiss will brighten her day.

  20. Madigan at madiganmade says:

    Diane,
    These are simply adorable! I did not realize that they were *so* small until I saw the hershey kiss next to them. I may have to try to make these. Great tutorial.

  21. These are just darling! I make jewelry for gifts and earrings would be presented so beautifully in one of these boxes. I know what I am going to be doing today! Thanks for the tutorial!!

  22. Marilyn Holeman says:

    Sweet! Thanks for sharing! I like your drawings, too. When I read your comment about them, I wanted to hit a “like” button. :-)

    1. Hi Marilyn-

      Maybe the people at facebook should come up with a Like button for comment streams. I am sure it is not too far off! Thanks

  23. Laura @ Ms Smartie Pants says:

    These are so cute, I think I saw that I can make these with my Silhouette but I love all that you added to it!

    1. Hi Laura-

      I would love to have a Silhouette, but for now I do all the cutting the old fashioned way :) I have fun coming up with different embellishments for each box. I love the mix of color and shine. It makes my brain happy.

  24. Diane @ home sweet homemade says:

    oh, these are just so yummy sweet. Thanks for sharing :)

  25. Those are really, really cute. Cute for any small trinket or bauble. I love mini anything..Hugs- Diana

  26. The Polka Dot Closet says:

    This is way to cute! I just love the boxes, and you decorated them so cute! Party favors, gift exchanges and then you got the pictures of the little boxes at the bottom of you post! Great job!

    Carol

    1. Hi Carol-
      Thanks. I keep a bunch of the boxes on hand so I can grab one when I want to surprise someone. I think they would be perfect for Mother’s Day, too. I love to draw and drew the illustrations of the boxes many years ago. I am glad I kept them. They make me smile.