Tool Time Tuesday...Handmade Gift Boxes

Hi all my blogging friends. Tuesday is here again and I have another Christmas Tool Time idea for you. Today's tool is a sewing tracing wheel. If you have ever sewed clothing or known some one who has sewn clothes, you have seen a tracing wheel. Well, I haven't sewn clothing in many years, but I do use my wheel for crafting...to help me make boxes like this.




These are tracing wheels. They are used with tracing paper. When you place a sewing pattern on fabric, you will use the tracing wheel and paper to mark certain aspects of the pattern onto the fabric.



Here's a close up of the wheel itself. One has tiny teeth and the other has a smooth edge. They aren't sharp enough for cutting, but the edge will make a mark on paper, cardboard or card stock.

Not only is today Tool Time, it's also recycling day. I was given Tea Forte as a gift. The tea delicious, but I just love the shape of the tea bags too. This picture below is the wrapper the bag comes in. I knew I loved the shape, so of course I saved the wrapper. I really should go to Garbage Anonymous.

I just love the look of this burlapy (that's a word, right?) brown paper card stock. I traced the box template on the card stock.

Then I used a ruler to line up where the score lines were on the template and used my tracing wheel to score the lines.

See the indentation? Scores the paper without going through.

Here are all the lines marked on the paper. I just followed where the lines were on the paper template.

The edges fold easily with the scored lines.

Bend all the corners and flaps.

To put the box together, you can use a dab of hot glue or double sided tape.

Seal the sides, but don't seal the bottom until you are ready to fill it with a little gift.

Tie a little loop in a ribbon, cording, string or yarn...

Snip a tiny hole in the top. Don't snip too much or the knot in the ribbon will slip through. Push the loop through leaving the knot inside the box for a hanger.

Add your own decorations.

Now you have the perfect gift box for that extra special present. Great to hang on the tree too.

I know not everyone has Tea Forte to use as a template, but this is more of a tutorial for the concept of making boxes with the tracing wheel.

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However, I do have a wonderful site that I have been using for years and want to share with you. Mirkwood Designs offers templates to so many styles and shapes of boxes. Just click on this link and enjoy all her wonderful creations. Once you are on the template page, scroll down and pick a design that you like. Click on the design and just print the template. So easy!! There is also a pyramid box which is similar to my Tea Forte box.

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I hope you have fun making your own little gift boxes or envelopes with a tracing wheel. If you don't have one or don't know someone you can borrow it from...you can find them in the notions section of a sewing/crafting store or online. It would be great if you can find both the smooth edge and the perforated wheel, but if you can't...I like the smooth edge as my first choice.

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I'm sharing this at Funky Junk Interiors Party
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Have a Great Tuesday,

~Karen~

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I also want to take this moment to thank all of you for your wonderful comments on my Tool Time posts and especially my Christmas Home Tour post from yesterday. I'm trying to catch up on emails, but just wanted you to know I appreciate each and every comment I receive. They mean the world to me!!