UPDATE Watch the video tutorial for this craft HERE

Apparently, while my mom was pregnant with me, she took a part-time job at Nordstrom (or was it JC Penney?) wrapping gifts for the holiday season. I don’t know if this story is true, or if I pieced together stories to make it to be true. Either way, it’s a great story to tell. Ang Alamat kung bakit mahilig akong mag-wrap ng regalo.

My mom loves to wrap gifts. I remember how our house in Antipolo used to have this pantry that housed all her supplies. We’d have wrapping paper for all occasions. Her stash of ribbons could rival that of Morning Glory’s (in Divisoria). The use of a gift bag was almost considered a sin. Every Christmas, I was always so excited to see what theme she’d come up with. One year, it was a shirt and tie gift bag. Another year, each gift was unique in its Japanese-inspired origami-like wrapping. Soon enough, I’d taken on the challenge myself. Why buy a gift bag when you can DIY?

I’ll try to post a gift-wrapping idea each week. Try being the operative word. Here goes the first!

These little paper delights are called pillow boxes.

Here’s all the things you’ll need to make these boxes.

First, cut a square/rectangle piece of your scrapbooking paper. I prefer the heavier weight paper only because it’s sturdier.

Fold a flap on one edge of the paper. This flap is where you will be applying the glue, so make sure it isn’t too thin. Half an inch works just right.

Next, fold the folder in half up until the edge covering the flap you just created.

Using your CD, round off both short ends of your folded paper.

Open up the folds. Using your knife and the CD as a guide, score the outer flaps. Make sure you only score it. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT cut it all the way through. The arcs will create almond-shaped indentations.

Trim off the excess paper on the glue flap.

Apply glue on the flap. Place weight to hold in place until glue is dry.

Once glue is dry, fold the scored edges inward to create the pillow effect.

You can use ribbons, twine, cord, paper, yarn, thread, rubber bands or pompoms for decoration.

I’ve been these using DIY Pillow Boxes as packaging for my friendship bracelet orders! Each bracelet and its box is made with love. ♥♥♥ Happy Crafting!