How to Make Handmade Gift Boxes

When you want to give a gift an extra special touch, try making your own gift boxes to decorate or wrap. Made from paper and tape, they're much cheaper than buying gift boxes from the store. Create a variety of sizes to accommodate all the gifts on your list and take some of the expense out of gift giving. Use decorative paper, if you're short on time, or use white paper you can decorate yourself when you've got more time to spend on this project.

1. 1
   Cut out two squares or rectangles to the desired box size from card stock or another heavyweight paper.
2. 2
   Trim 1/8 inch off each side of one of the pieces of paper. This is the bottom of the box. The uncut piece will make the top of the box.
3. 3
   Take the top of the box and fold the top side down to the middle. Crease the fold so it will be visible when you unfold the paper. Unfold the top side and repeat this with each side of the box.
4. 4
   Cut along the vertical crease lines made on the top and bottom edges of the paper. Cut up the line until it runs into the horizontal crease. Stop cutting when you reach this point. There should be two lines on each side. Only cut the top and bottoms sides, do not cut the lines on the right and left sides.
5. 5
   Fold the two tabs created from making these cuts up and in toward each other and tape or glue them together. Repeat this with the other side.
6. 6
   Fold the remaining tab up and over the two tabs you taped together. Tape or glue it in place. Repeat on the other side of the box. This creates the top of your box.
7. 7
   Repeat the same procedure for the bottom of the box. Slide the bottom into the top. If it does not fit, unfold it and trim another 1/8 inch off each side.

By Jessica Reed