I
saw this idea on YouTube, but a die was used to create the boxes. I
wanted to show that you can make the boxes without a die.
Supplies
needed:
Cardstock - Either 26 pieces of 6” x 8 1/2”, or 13 pieces of 8
1/2” x 11” (You can get two boxes out of one large piece of
cardstock with a bit of work.) I used half red and half green.
- 5 circles, measuring 7”, 6”, 5”, 4” and 3 1/2”.
These can be any colour, as they will be covered with the patterned
paper circles.
- Enough to cut out the numbers 1 to 25
Patterned
Paper - 26 pieces of 1 3/4” x 1 3/4”
-
5 circles, measuring 7”, 6”, 5”, 4” and 3 1/2”
-
9” x 9” to cover the base
A
piece of cardboard 8 1/2” square
Number
dies or an electronic cutting machine to make the numbers. Or, you
could draw them on with a marker.
Step
1: Score and cut the box shapes.
If
you are using 6” x 8 1/2” pieces of cardstock, with the 6”
side at the top of your Scor-Pal, score at 2” and 4”. Turn the
cardstock 90 degrees to the Left and score at 2”, 4”, 6” and
8”.
Referring
to the diagram below, cut along the solid lines.
1. Cut
along the score
lines from the bottom up to the 6” score line. 2. From
the right side, cut in along the 2” and 4” score lines to meet
the 4” score line. Repeat on the left side, cutting to meet the 2”
score line. 3. Trim
the sides in the top section to 3/4”, angling the top and bottom
of each tab. Repeat with the sides in the 3rd
section from the top.
Use
a circle punch (mine was 1”) to cut a notch in the middle of the
top edge, and round the corners of the bottom tab using a corner
rounder (I used the Kadomaru
Pro, which has three different sizes in one punch).
Repeat
for the rest of the small cardstock.
If
you are using 8 1/2” x 11” pieces of cardstock, start with
the 11” at the top of your Scor-Pal and score at 2” and 4”.
Score at 6” down to the 4” mark. Turn the cardstock 180 degrees
and repeat the above scores.
Turn
the cardstock 90 degrees to the left and score at 1/2”, 2 1/2”, 4
1/2”, and 6 1/2” down to the 3rd score line. This
distance will vary, because of the shape. Turn the cardstock 180
degrees and repeat.
The
diagram below shows the scoring lines and the red line shows the
place to cut the two pieces apart. Then you will cut and trim as
above for the 6” x 8 1/2” piece.
Repeat
for the rest of the large cardstock.
Step
2: Add Scor-Tape to the boxes.
For
each box, add Scor-Tape along the 4 side tabs. Fold along all the
score lines.
Step
3:
Make the boxes.
Turn
the cardstock over so the tape is on the bottom. Fold up the panel
with the round notch, fold in the flaps, remove the tape liner on one
side, and attach it to the inside of the panel on that side. Repeat
for the other side. It will look like the picture on the left.
Fold
up the back panel, remove the tape liner and attach the flap to the
inside of the box. Repeat for the other flap. You will have a box
with an open top, pictured on the right.
Step
4: Decorate the boxes.
Attach
a piece of patterned paper to the top flap of each box. When the tree
is assembled, the tops of the boxes will be facing out so they can be
opened.
Glue
the numbers on, remembering that the opening flap is on top and pulls
down toward you. I alternated between the red and green boxes when I
was numbering them. There will be one box left over, which will go at
the top. I decorated it with two pieces of patterned paper, one on
each side, and added a star on each piece of patterned paper.
Step
5: Assemble the layers.
You
will have 5 layers of boxes that will be attached to the circles of
patterned paper. The bottom layer will have 7 boxes, the next layer
will have 6 boxes, the next 5, the next 4, and the top layer 3.
Decide if you want your numbers to start at 1 at the bottom and
increase sequentially on each layer, or if you want the numbers in a
random order. This will determine how you tape them together for each
layer. Once you have decided, turn the boxes so the number is on the
bottom and tape them together. Then tape the two end boxes together
to make a circle shape.
Tape
the circles of patterned paper to the cardstock circles. This makes
them a bit sturdier.
Turn
the box circles so the notched sides are on the bottom and the
numbers are facing out. Arrange the boxes for each layer so they are
as symmetrical as possible and attach the circle on top, with the
patterned paper side down. I found it easier to attach them upside
down so the boxes stayed in the shape I wanted, but you can certainly
add the right side up boxes to the patterned paper circles. The right
hand picture shows them once they have been turned right side up.
Step
6: Assemble the tree.
For
the base, cover the piece of cardboard with the large piece of
patterned paper.
Attach
the largest layer to the base. Because of the square shape of the
boxes, it won’t look completely centered. Add the rest of the
layers, trying to stagger the boxes on each layer. You need to be
able to open each box, so make sure you don’t completely cover the
notch. Add the extra box to the top, and your tree is complete. All
that’s left to do is fill the boxes with treats!
