Make a hexagonal-shaped box in several sizes, plain or decorated with stars or Adinkra symbols. These boxes may be used as gift boxes, boxes to store trinkets, party or wedding favors, or as decorative accents in your home.
Three of the boxes are sized to make into a stack and can be nested together for storage. All of the hexagonal boxes are collapsible and store flat. There are also patterns for petal-top boxes.
Related craft: For more collapsible box patterns, checkout the Little Gift Boxes craft project and for rectangular or square shapes see the Collapsible Boxes project.
Choose a box to make. Download and print the pattern. The boxes come in four sizes with four versions of each size—plain colored, plain black and white (B&W), colored with stars and black and white with stars. There are also patterns with red Adinkra symbols on colored or plain backgrounds that coordinate with Aunt Annie's Adinkra Symbols digital paper downloads. See the Petal-Top Hexagon Box pattern page for hexagon boxes with a special petal-top closure.
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 out the box pattern on the black outline. Try to make the cuts very straight. The box will be stronger and go together better if the cuts are 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.
Tip: Always cut towards an inside corner. Cut one edge leading into an inside corner, then cut the other edge. Do not try to turn the corner and cut out after cutting in on the first edge.
Turn the box with the marked lines up. Score along each of the fold lines, red in this illustration, using a bone folder or empty ballpoint pen drawn along the edge of a ruler.
Fold the box lids, lid flaps, and box flaps on the fold lines. Flatten the box out again.
Fold the glue tab on the black line, then flatten it. Fold each side on the black line, then flatten it.
Tip: Make all of the folds very sharp by running your thumbnail or a bone folder firmly along the fold.
Put glue down the entire length of the glue tab. Shape the sides into a hexagonal shape and glue the tab to the inside of the last side.
To finish the box, 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: You might decorate a plain box by gluing craft ribbon in a band around the sides or by lining the inside of the box.
Tip: To make the box stronger, cut a piece of heavy cardboard the size of the bottom of the box. Put the cardboard in the bottom of the box. Or, you can make the box stronger by gluing the bottom flaps to the bottom lid, and gluing the bottom lid flap inside the box. If you do this, your box will not be collapsible.
That's it! Your hexagonal boxes
are ready to use!