Making Lots of Little Boxes

I am addicted to advent calendars.

More specifically I think I'm addicted to making little boxes.  Faced with little boxes it seems sensible to turn them into an advent calendar.  

This little red one was made last weekend.  A bit of a variation here as I made wider boxes, and then stacked them together.  It is decorated with Whitewash Core-dinations embossed with elements from the Christmas and cupcake Cuttlebug All in One sets.

This little blue one was put together last night with gorgeous god daughter Genevieve.  Longer boxes are stacked together and then the panels decorated - again with Whitewash Core-dinations this time embossed with a couple of Cuttlebug folders. 

Want to Make Your Own Boxes??

A few people have asked for some basic instructions on how to make the boxes so here they are!  It helps enormously to have a Boxer Board, or some other score board with measurements.

Each 'drawer' is made up of a box and a sleeve.  In all of my advent calendars (so far!) I've made the box out of plain card and decorate the front later.  

Small boxes:

Cut 24 3 3/4 x 3 3/4 inch square pieces of card.

On each card score each side at 1 1/4 inches.

Cut notches as below.

And then to make the box neater (reduce the bulk when they are folded) I cut the side panels to about 1/4 inch.  (No need to measure.)

Fold along all score lines and use a bone folder (or your thumb) to get sharp creases.

Glue the box together.

Repeat until all of the boxes are done!

For the sleeve:

Using plain or patterned paper 12/12 paper cut 12 strips  each 1 1/4 inch wide.

Score at 1/4 inch and fold card  along this line (this makes the little flap you'll use to glue the sleeve together).

If you have a Boxer Board you now need to  use the BOTTOM MEASURING GUIDE (bottom right hand corner).

Butt the folded card against the bottom right hand corner of the board, and score at 1 1/4 inch mark.  (The Boxer Board is designed so that measurements are a bit bigger than than stated - that gives you enough 'ease' for the boxes to slide in and out.)

Fold along this line butt this fold against the bottom right hand corner of the board, score again at 1 1/4".

Fold along this line butt this fold against the bottom right hand corner of the board, score again at 1 1/4".

Fold along this line butt this fold against the bottom right hand corner of the board, score again at 1 1/4".

Cut along  this last score line and your first sleeve is ready to be glued together!

(If you don't have a Boxer Board you need to score your strip at: 1/4 ", 1 5/8", 3", 4 3/8",  and 5 3/4". Cut strip along final score line.)

Glue along the flap.  Repeat for the remaining sleeves.

Your little box should fit easily into the sleeve.  Stack and decorate as desired!  

Variations:

To make the wider (or longer) boxes, start with a 5 x 3 3/4 inch piece of card. Score at 1 1/4 inches along all sides.  Cut notches, fold, glue together.

The sleeves for the wide boxes used in the red advent calendar are 1 1/4" strips. Using the same technique as for the small boxes,  score a 1/4" flap, then using the bottom right hand corner of the Boxer Board, score at 1 1/4 inches, 2 1/2 inches, 1 1/4 inches and finally at 2 1/2 inches.  Cut along final score line and glue sleeve together.  (If you don't have a Boxer Board score at  1/4",1 5/8", 4 1/4", 5 5/8", 8 1/4".  Cut strip along the final score line.)

The sleeves for the long boxes used in the blue advent calendar are made with 2 1/2 "  strips.  Score, fold and glue these strips in the same way as directed for the small boxes.

The finished wider and longer drawers!