Magic Boxes: A Life As Lou Online Class
Due to popular demand, I am doing a tutorial on the Magic Boxes I showed off in some previous posts.
To begin, choose your paper. You need six sheets of matching paper (preferably a heavier weight). Choose one for your outside, a contrasting one for your lid, and 4 to create the inside boxes. Cut as follows (all measurement are in inches):
Outside: 6 x 11 3/4ths
Lid: 8.5 x 8.5
4 inner boxes: 8 x 8
The only challenging part of this project is creating the lid and inside compartments. The good news is, they follow the exact same process.
1. Draw a line from corner to corner on the back side of your paper. 
2. fold the tips of your paper in so that they meet at the center. It will look as though you are folding an envelope. 
Fold in all four sides, and then unfold. 
3. Fold the tips up to the folded line on each side. 
This fold gives you the sides of your box. Do it on all four sides. When you are finished you should have creases all the way around. I have taken a marker and drawn lines on my creases. This is not neccesary. This is to help you see where there should be folds. The first two lines you drew will NOT be creased.
4. 
I have also colored four triangles. Cut those out. You will be left with this:
5. 
See the arrows? Cut those lines up to the tip of the arrows. You should get this: 
6. You have created two sets of tabs. Bring them together to form a wall of the box like so: 
Now fold the flap over those tabs. 
Do the same thing on the other side.
7. 
Your flaps won’t want to stay down on their own. Fold in the other two flaps and press the corners in firmly. 
Once all four corners are in, the box will stay together without any glue. 
Repeat this process on your 8 inch and 8.5 inch papers. You should have 4 boxes and the lid.
Now for the outside.
1. Take the 11 3/4ths x 6 inch paper and fold it in half.
2. Open it up and fold the ends into the center. You should have four perfectly even quadrants.
To put the boxes in, first adhere one to the very top right corner, making certain that you are flush with the corner of the outside paper.
Adhere the next one to the bottom left corner, once again flush to the edge.
Align the inside two boxes so that they are in centered in their own quarter of the paper, but not overlapping each other so you can still fold the box shut.
Once the glue is dry (I do reccomend a liquid glue to extra staying power) you should be able to close your box and the lid should fit perfectly on top. One corner of the box will remain open, as no part is designed to overlap. To remedy this, I like to tie mine up with ribbons. You can embellish them any way that you like.
Here are a few that I’ve made.
transparency
so cute!
Comment by Amie — January 31, 2008 @ 7:31 pm
Thank you Leah! I love this, and I could probably even do it myself!!! Woo hoo!
Comment by Ellie — January 31, 2008 @ 7:31 pm
Those boxes are very impressive. Maybe for Ellie’s birthday, I’ll have to go to the trouble to make one since I’m notorious for doing the male thing and just going with the gift bag. I’d have to 1) find the time to make one, 2) find something to give her that fits in one, and 3) find a place to hide it all.
Neat boxes.
Comment by Robert — January 31, 2008 @ 7:36 pm
Yay! Thanks so much for the tutorial and saving me the headache of figuring out all the fiddly measurements. Can’t wait to make some!
Comment by Heidi — January 31, 2008 @ 7:51 pm
It’s wonderful and now I can make my own - thank you!
Comment by Zarah — January 31, 2008 @ 10:47 pm
Oh so very cute, thanks for the measurements so I can try to tackle one myself!
Comment by Joni Kuehl — February 1, 2008 @ 7:09 am
Wow, thanks for posting this! I love these, espcially the transpanecy one.
Comment by Angie DeMeyers — February 1, 2008 @ 9:48 am
You never sence to amaze me with the things that you come up with. I am going home to make one.
Maria
Comment by Maria Mears — February 1, 2008 @ 2:01 pm
These are way cute. I am so going to make some of these.
Comment by Selena Kimsey — February 1, 2008 @ 5:13 pm
Thanks for posting this Leah! Such a great project. Yours are so beautiful!
Comment by Kate O'Brien — February 1, 2008 @ 6:16 pm
Just gorgeous, thanks for the tutorial!! I will have to make one this weekend.
Comment by Roxanne — February 2, 2008 @ 11:51 am
Thank you Leah, you’re my hero!
Comment by Jan — February 3, 2008 @ 11:50 am
I just have to say thank you for posting this. You have inspired me to be a little more creative. I went out and bought enough paper for 6 magic boxes. I have posted pictures of the first one on my blog -http://eteamphonehome.blogspot.com/
Thanks again.
Comment by Esther — February 3, 2008 @ 7:47 pm
These are soo cute! Thanks so much for the tutorial! I can’t wait to make some, but what do you put in them??
Comment by Julee — February 4, 2008 @ 2:06 pm
What a great idea and I love the boxes you have made - awesome job. Thanks so much for sharing!
Comment by Lesli — February 4, 2008 @ 6:34 pm
I love these boxes! I’ll definitely try them!
Comment by Rosanne — February 4, 2008 @ 7:37 pm
Fantastic!! And thanks so much for such a great tutorial!
Comment by Kathleen Summers — February 5, 2008 @ 10:05 am
Thanks these are great. Have placed a link in my blog.
Comment by SewDelish — February 6, 2008 @ 4:41 pm
Absolutely FANTASTIC - the descriptions are so good ( for dummies like me). THANKS !
Comment by Stine Byager — February 8, 2008 @ 12:40 am
You are so creative! I love this box. Thanks for the tutorial. I can’t wait to try to make one.
Comment by Marie — February 10, 2008 @ 11:49 am
Ah, this is wonderful!!! I’ve been making those little boxes and lids since childhood, and I’m so excited by this tutorial that I’m going to make one right now! I’ll have to blog it when I’m done. Thanks for the inspiration.
Comment by Tanja — February 10, 2008 @ 9:31 pm
thank you - these boxes are great. i made one the other day, and i loved it.
(i found your blog from ‘today’s creative blog’ - i just love it)
Comment by Tiffany — February 13, 2008 @ 3:39 pm
Wow, these boxes are great. I especially love the black one with the transparency wrap. Thanks for sharing how to make them.
Comment by Christine — February 13, 2008 @ 7:17 pm
Hey, thank you for sharing they are awesome and I can’ wait to make them.
Comment by Lynn — February 26, 2008 @ 11:41 pm
These are wonderful - I will have to try one of these soon!!! What brand of glue did you use - I generally don’t use much liquid glue - and really don’t have the first clue what kind would work best! Thanks!
Comment by Stephanie — February 28, 2008 @ 4:00 pm
This is so cool I’ll have to try one.
Thanks for sharing
Pat
Comment by pat — March 6, 2008 @ 8:52 pm
This is wonderful, you certainly have my creative juices running, thank you
Comment by Chris — March 17, 2008 @ 9:19 pm
Love the tutorial! Awesome idea to help organize my “craft crap” (as my kids say!) and look pretty too! Thanks again from Calgary, Canada!
Comment by TamStamper — March 22, 2008 @ 8:02 pm
Thanks for sharing.. I love this idea.. and can’t wait to make some!!!
Comment by Bridget — August 4, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
THANKS!
I loved ir, so beautifull and so easy, you rock!
Comment by Jo marini — September 1, 2008 @ 10:34 am