How to make a box smaller for wrapping

Wrapping gifts is often an essential part of a festive occasion or holiday event. Finding just the right box to hold that special gift can be difficult. While it's almost impossible to make a small box larger, there is a simple way to make a large gift box smaller.

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I wanted to wrap some magazines in a shirt box but the box was too large.

I knew the magazines would move around too much inside the box.

So I came up with a simple way to reduce the size of the box.

• The lid at the top of the photo shows the original length of the box (a shirt box).

• The pink paper in the bottom half of the box indicates the new length required. Cut off a portion of the box as shown, leaving slightly more than enough to make the new side (the excess will be trimmed later).

• Score the cardboard lightly along the length of the pink paper to make it easier to bend the cardboard up to form the new side.

• Bend the new side up along the score line and press with fingertips.

• Cut on a slant from the outer corner of the new side into the corner of the bend to form flaps.

• Wrap the flaps around the outside corner and tape to the outside of the box.

• Trim the excess along the top to line up level with the other three sides.

Here is photo of the box with flaps taped to the side of the box and trimming started along the top.

• Set the bottom portion of the box into the top of the box. Trim the excess length from the top of the box leaving enough for the height of the new side.

• Place a ruler close to the base of the box and draw a line to indicate where the bend will be for the new side.

• Score lightly. Finish the top of the box with the same instructions used to complete the bottom half of the box.

Here is the finished smaller box. Now you are ready to wrap smaller items with more precision.

My magazines fit perfectly

DIY projects on Pinterest.

Free printables for making your own gift boxes!

Printable Gift Boxes / Easy Peasy and Fun 

Printable Christmas Gift Boxes / Picklebums 

Free Printable Gift Boxes / Moms & Crafters    

Today I'm going to share a little trick with you that my mom taught my sister and I several years ago when we started wrapping lots of gifts ourselves... how to turn half of a shirt box into a whole smaller box.

Ever wished you didn't have to use up whole shirt boxes to wrap smaller items? Ever ended up with one misplaced box top or bottom? Ever ended up with a torn up box top or bottom leaving you with only one usable half? Is it just me or do these tend to rip easily. Well if so this tutorial is for you!

Turn a box lid or bottom into a whole box

In a few easy steps you can create a box out of half of a shirt box or two boxes out of one box!

Step 1: Buy a box. (or use one you already have)

Step 2: Cut a hole in the box. Just kidding, don't do that. But do go watch Justin's video if you are so inclined. Love that skit and JT.

The real step 2 is taking half of the box and folding it down flat if it isn't already.

Then fold over each end of the rectangle to meet up with the opposite folded down side and make a crease as shown in the the 2nd and 3rd photos below.

Step 3: Open the box back up to see where your creases are. Notice how it is the same width as the two sides at the ends. Well this middle piece will become a new "side" in the smaller box you are creating. Then cut slits on the long sides where the creases are. Make sure the slits go all the way to the edge where the box is folded.

Step 4: Fold over half of the rectangle to become the new box top and bring it over the other half using the creases and slits as the new side. If it doesn't seem to fit over the other half well then try the opposite side as the new top instead.

Tada! A whole box is born! I have found this size of box to be perfect for wrapping so many smaller things like books, socks, kids clothes, scarves, gadgets, etc.

This also works for rectangular boxes that are smaller than shirt boxes but made out of that same thin cardboard. Hope this simplifies your wrapping and gives you a wider range of box size options!