This project features a diamond-shaped box with an attached lid in a variety of colors, plain and patterned. Use these boxes for gifts, as decorative containers, or for storage around the home or craft room.
The diamond shape offers the versatility of creating other shapes when multiple boxes are combined. You can make a larger diamond, a hexagon and even a heart shape by joining boxes together. After you are done with the diamond box, it can be folded flat and stored away for use another time.
Choose a box to make. The box is offered in plain and diamond decorated versions. Download and print the pattern. Each pattern includes a diamond box template and a diamond cutout to reinforce the box's bottom. The Pink Diamonds pattern includes a black & white option with a harlequin-diamond design you can color.
Tip: Make a lightweight box by printing directly on cardstock. For a stronger box, print the plain black & white pattern on computer paper, and trace or transfer the template to cardboard before proceeding.
Patterns are Adobe PDF files. The Adobe Reader is available for free.
All of Aunt Annie's project patterns are designed to be printed on standard letter-size paper (8.5"x11" or A4). When printing from Adobe Reader, you may need to select Auto-Rotate and Center or Choose paper source by PDF page size to ensure the best fit.
Cut around the box pattern and the diamond cutout on the solid black lines. Try to make your cuts very straight. The box will be stronger and fit together better if the cuts are very straight.
Using a straight edge and craft knife will make some of the cutting easier, but be sure to protect the table with a cutting mat or thick piece of cardboard. Caution: Be careful. Craft knives are sharp and should not be used by children.
Scoring the fold lines makes for easier folding and sharper creases.
To score: Turn the box with the marked lines up. Score along each of the fold lines—red in this illustration. On cardstock, use the bone folder or empty ballpoint pen to make an indent, not a cut. If you are using cardboard or poster board, use a straight edge and a craft knife or scissors to make a half-cut.
Fold lids and flaps in on the scored fold lines. Flatten the box out again. Fold the glue tab and each side in on the vertical fold lines, then flatten the box.
When using thick cardboard like Bristol board, fold back so that the score is on the outside of the box. Lighter cardboard can be folded either way.
Cut a rectangular piece of decorative paper larger than the box pattern by ¼" to ½" all around. Center and glue to what will be the outside of the box. Fold the excess paper over and glue, or just trim away.
The box's only glue tab is at the end of the row of box sides. Apply glue down the entire length of the glue tab. Shape the sides into a box shape and glue the tab to the inside of the last side.
Tip: You can use double-sided tape in place of the glue.
Tip: Notice that the box is collapsible and folds flat for easy storage.
Fold the bottom flaps in and close the bottom lid over them. Tuck the bottom lid's flap inside the box. Repeat for the top lid.
Tip: Make the box stronger by putting the diamond cutout in the bottom of the box. You can also glue the bottom flaps to the box's bottom, but the box will no longer be collapsible.
That's it! Make three diamond
boxes to create a hexagon!
Tip: The Pink Harlequin Diamonds, Orange Harlequin Diamonds and Multi-color Harlequin Diamonds digital papers coordinate with the diamond boxes in this project. They can also be used to make greeting cards or other boxes or in your scrapbooking.
Tip: Wrap the diamond box with paper ribbon cut from Aunt Annie's Pastel hearts digital paper. This ribbon in this illustration is fastened with a heart-shaped paper clip.
Tip: The Red Diamonds pattern features nine small diamonds on the lid.
Tip: Print the plain black & white pattern on colored cardstock, then group three boxes together with a paper ribbon to form a hexagon.
Tip: Arrange multiple boxes in a variety of shapes and glue or tape them together.
