Fold your own boxes

The design of these boxes is based on that of Chinese rice boxes. Make them the size and colour of your choice and use them to pack your products in.

You will need
• box template
• medium-weight cardboard or scrapbooking paper
• ± 0,9mm thick galvanised wire
• masking tape
• craft punch
• long-nosed pliers
• craft knife, cutting mat and metal ruler
• pencil

Box template

1 Photocopy the box template in the desired size. Cut it out and punch the holes in the corners as shown on the template. Also make small holes to indicate the four points of the box’s base. Use masking tape to stick the template in place on your cardboard or scrapbooking paper and trace around it.

2 Cut the template out of the cardboard and make fine pencil marks to indicate the fold lines. Mark the holes at the corners and the four points of the base.

3 Use your metal ruler and with your craft knife lightly score the fold lines for the box’s base between the four points as marked. Fold the cardboard against the ruler along the fold lines. Fold the rest of the box in the same way.

4 Fold the sides inwards over each other and punch the holes for the handle as marked, through all the layers of cardboard.

5 Cut a piece of wire for the handle and bend it round with your hands. Use your long-nosed pliers to bend the ends 1cm back towards the centre. Hook the wire through the holes on both sides of the box.

6 Pack your product in the box and fold the lid closed.

GOOD IDEA You can fold the wire square, if you prefer.