Homemade Monetary Gift Boxes for a Wedding

Create wedding boxes for your monetary gifts.

Wedding gift boxes are a convenient way for the guests to place their monetary gifts and cards during the reception. Creating a gift box can be done using a few tools you may either buy or possibly have at home. Know the proper tools you need and steps to follow in order to make embellished, homemade monetary gift boxes for a wedding.

Things You'll Need

• Small, medium or large box with removable lid
• Utility knife
• Wrapping paper/scrapbook paper
• Glue stick
• Ribbon
• Tape

Instructions

Construction

1. Choose a plain color box with removable lid. This may be a large shoebox, cardboard packing box or a box you choose to buy from a craft store. The size of the box will vary depending on the amount of cards you are expecting. A large box should have dimensions (width-by-depth-byheight) of 12-by-10-by-10, which holds approximately 150 to 200 cards. A medium box should measure 11-by-9-by- 9, which holds 100 to 150 cards. A small box should measure 10-by-8-by-8, which holds 50 to 75 cards.

2. Cut a rectangular opening in the center of the box lid that is 4 1/8-by-9 1/2 (length of a standard envelope) and 1-inch wide. Use a utility knife to cut the lid.

3. Lay colorful wrapping paper or scrapbook paper on a hard surface with the right side down.

4. Remove the box lid and set aside. Place the box atop the wrapping or scrapbook paper. Fold the paper over the box smoothly as if you were wrapping a holiday gift. Fold the edges of the paper over the side of the box and secure with tape, making sure the paper is smooth against the box.

5. Wrap the box lid with the same wrapping paper (or contrasting, if desired) in the same fashion, including covering the rectangular opening you have just carved. Turn the lid upside down and use your utility knife to carefully cut the wrapping paper out of the rectangular opening. Place the wrapped lid atop the wedding box.

Embellishments

1. Cut a decorative ribbon large enough to cover the perimeter of the gift box. You will be using the ribbon to make a bow, so cut enough ribbon to cover the perimeter plus a few extra inches to make the bow. It is better to cut too much ribbon (which can always be trimmed at the end) than too little.

2. Fold the ribbon in half and find the center. Place the center of the ribbon in the center of the box, right side up with the lid on. (Do not cover the hole for the monetary envelopes.)

3. Flip the box upside down with the ribbon still in place, and bring the ribbon up the sides of the boxes. Pull the ribbons across the center of the box to form a cross. Flip the box right side up again and bring the ribbon to the center and tie a knot. Use the remaining ribbon to tie a bow over the knot. Trim the ends if desired for even edges.

Tips & Warnings

• To create the illusion of a tiered wedding cake, stack boxes on top of each other. using 2 or 3 boxes decreasing in size. Cut a hole in the top of each stacked box (every box but the bottom one) that is 4 1/8 x 9 1/2 and centered. Secure the boxes by using glue around the bottom of the boxes to be stacked. Keeping the lids on all boxes, stack the second box onto the first and press carefully and firmly allowing the glue to dry. Repeat the process with each stacked box. Place the lid on the top box.

• Use wedding themed wrapping or scrapbook paper.

References

• The Wedding Dept: Wide Sheer Ribbon Gift Box
• Cheap Wedding Solutions: How to Make a Wedding Card Box
• The Perfect Wedding Box: Rectangular Box
• Action Envelope: Regular Envelopes