Christmas Present Ornaments

If you’re looking for gift ideas to make for family, friends, or co-workers, why not make them a set of Christmas Present Ornaments to hang on their tree? If you’re a crafter, you may already have the supplies on hand so you could start making these today!

Supplies:

• Cardstock (Kraft, solid, or patterned)
• Paper Cutter
• Scoring Board
• Scissors
• Adhesive (tape runner, score-tape, or hot glue)
• Ribbon
• Twine
• Embellishments

I took a box that was lying in my closet and broke it down to come up with the dimensions and cut lines. To make a cute 2 inch square box, follow these dimensions:

• Cut cardstock to measure 4 inches wide by 8.5 inches long.
• Using a scoring board, score the 4 inch width part at one inch, then two inches, then one inch. The one inch parts will be the flaps on the box.
• Turn paper around to score the 8.5 inch length at 2 inches, 2 inches, 2 inches, 2 inches, then .5 inches. The .5 inch will be your tab to make the box.
• Use a bone folder to fold the paper where scored.
• Use scissors to cut the scored lines that make the flaps. (see picture below)

2×2 square box – cut cardstock at 4 inches wide by 8.5 inches long. Score width at 1 inch, 2 inch, 1 inch. Turn paper and score the length at 2 inch, 2 inch, 2 inch, 2 inch, and .5 inch.

Snip off the corners of the .5 inch tab and apply adhesive on the outside of the tab. This will be folded inward to secure to the first two inch section. You should now have a box that looks similar to a cardboard moving box but with the flaps open on top and bottom. Then fold the flaps as you like – you could fold two sides inward, and then secure the other two flaps on top with adhesive, or you could interlace them if you don’t want to use adhesive.

Inside of box showing tab that constructs the box’s shape

Next is the fun part ~ embellish your little presents with ribbon or twine. I wrapped red ribbon around one of the boxes. I then made a tiny bow out of left over ribbon and secured it with a glue dot. To make a hanger, run a small piece of twine underneath the ribbon and knot it at the top. You can also add other embellishments - tiny tags with the recipient’s name, holly leaves, gems, etc. For this Kraft box, I made a little snowman out of white pom poms I had in my stash! You could also stamp little images on plain cardstock!

Kraft box embellished with snowmen – use pom poms, hot glue gun, and draw hands with a fine point black pen (Pilot Precise V7) – add eyes, mouth, and buttons with the same pen

The measurements can be adjusted to make smaller or larger boxes. Here’s a smaller version that I had fun with by leaving the top flaps open and adding tissue paper! It measures 2 x 6 & 1/4 inches before assembly. I scored at 1/2 inch, 1 inch, 1/2 inch and then turned the paper around and scored 2 inch, 1 inch, 2 inch, 1 inch, and then 1/4 inch for the tab. This gives you a rectangular box. Did you notice I stamped little blue stars on the tissue paper to coordinate with the stamped images on the box? I also added faux stitching with a white gel pen before assembling. I think this is my favorite one so far! You can even go further by placing a tiny ornament inside the box – such as a teddy bear or miniature trumpet. The possibilities are endless!

Side view of the tiny rectangular box – embellished with a white gel pen and indigo blue ink stamped onto kraft cardstock and tissue paper.

Scoring the lines for a 1×2 inch rectangular box. This shows the .5 inch, 1 inch, .5 inch score lines on the paper that measures 2 inches x 6 & 1/4 inches.

Score the other lines for the 1×2 rectangular box. The paper has been turned and scored at 2 inch, 1 inch, 2 inch, 1 inch, and 1/4 inch.

Do embellishments before assembling

Run a hanger made of twine through the open box – tie off with a knot and glue the flaps shut

Stamped tissue paper – cut hole to go over hanger – push in and fluff

Inside of the small rectangular box showing how the hanger is threaded through the bottom flaps and through a hole cut in the tissue paper.

If you don’t want to use them as ornaments, leave off the hanger and you have cute boxes for little trinkets to give at Christmas! You can also use them as decorations under a small tree or place them in a bowl or basket for the table!

Using a fun holiday patterned paper is an easy method because the box already looks like a wrapped present – just add a bow. But if you want to coordinate with your “real” presents, you could wrap these little boxes in your favorite Christmas wrapping paper! And don’t forget to utilize your local dollar store – if you don’t want to use up the ribbon in your stash, buy miniature bows from the dollar store to make it even easier!

Size comparison – miniature gift box ornaments

Close up view

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