Heart Shaped Box Tutorial

Heart shaped box

Dear friends I am overwhelmed at the response to my heart shaped swinging box..I never imagined you would like it so much!That shabby chic style heart box was not my usual style and my little 6 year old critique even told me "how dull it looks"!

Heart shaped box

So to oblige my little daughter,for my GD for ICR ,made a more "kiddy style" swinging heart shaped box

Heart shaped box

I printed and cut several bear angels [images are a winnings from Nikki]and made a 3 D decoupage using foam tape.Added silver glitter on the angel bears to make them sparkle!
Like the earlier heart box, this one too is held shut using ribbons threaded through eyelets atop the heart shaped gift box

Valentine Gift box

On releasing the ribbon the box swings to reveal a silver butterfly[Cheery Lynn die cut] inside the heart shaped box.

Heart shaped box

Many of you commented on the earlier heart shaped box that it looked like a tough project.Once you read the tutorial and try it you will realize its actually easy and entirely doable!

Materials required : First of all Nothing fancy is required to make this box!You need just:

• Card stock - the sturdier the card stock , stronger your box
• Scissors
• Glue -normal thick white glue is enough
• Ribbon /twine /thread/rope - to hold the swinging heart halves together
• Scoring tool -use a bone folder/used ball point pen/blunt knife to score and get a crisp fold.

Fancy optional tools: Glue tape,eyelets,Single hole punch, Dies + cutting machine and a scoring board.

1. You need  to cut 4 hearts:Hand cut using a heart shaped template or die cut like I did.You can make all 4 hearts the same size or 2 larger than the other 2. My 2 base hearts are around 3 inches and the outer scallop hearts are slightly bigger.
   

   

   Heart Box tutorial

2. Take 2 card strips and fold up a 0.5 inch strip lengthwise.For this box the strips are 1.5 inches wide and 5.5 inches long.The length will depend on you heart size so keep it long and cut short as required.If you want a box with more depth so as to add fan fold tags like in my first heart box use a card strip 2 inches wide.

   

   Handmade box tutorial

3. Make zig zag cuts on this folded 0.5 inch edge as shown. More examples of Zig zag cuts in making shaped boxes : Pram shaped Box ,Wishing Well,CD recycling Box,& the Oval gift box
4. Apply white glue or stick a double sided tape on the zig zag teeth and stick the teeth on the under surface of a heart starting from the top as shown in the handmade box tutorial.

   

   Heart shaped box tutorial

   You can decorate the inner part of the card strip and add a brad before you stick the strip or do it later.Stick the strip till the tip of the heart.
5. Cut off the excess card at the tip of the heart box half in one half.Repeat step 4 and make another heart box half but this time chop off just the zig zag teeth jutting from the tip and cut leaving 1 inch of card strip beyond the tip of the heart box.Score and fold this card strip at the tip of the heart box.

   

   Heart shaped box tutorial

6. Stick a same size / large heart on the other side of the box to hide the zig zag teeth .This can also be done later after completing the swinging heart box.

   

   Heart shaped box tutorial

7. So you have 2 halves of your swinging heart box [made in step 5]which look the same except for the card strip flap on the tip of one half of the heart box.

   

   Heart shaped box tutorial

8. Invert one heart box half as shown apply glue on the inside of the folded flap[I have shown it here without the heart atop the zig zag for better clarity]

   

   Heart shaped box tutorial

9. Stick this flap to the other half of the heart box aligning the tips as shown and you've made a swinging heart shaped box!

   

   Swinging Box tutorial

10. To give more strength to the hinge of the box ,add an extra piece of card stock at the tip of the heart box.

Gift box tutorial

You can punch holes and add eyelets on the hinge if you want to secure your fan fold tags like I did in  the first heart shaped box.

Heart shaped box

I have no photos of how I made the fan fold tags..they are easy but if anyone wants me to do a tutorial on the accordion fan fold tags do tell me in the comments.

Heart shaped box

Supplies : Nellie Snellen heat scallop die,Cheery Lynn Butterfly die[Priya]
Edited : This tutorial was featured on Totally Tutorials