Jewel Boxes

The jumbo/box-top faceted gems are made from mirror card.

Here's a bit of bling to launch the new-look Papercraft Post (thanks to Kirsty Wiseman for the fantastic blog makeover www.kirstywiseman.com).
Bling is a little off-piste for me. I don't go in for glitz. But I do go in for geometrical challenges when it comes to paper engineering. Most of the mirror card I used for the faux gems is matte, not shiny -  the subtle sheen is classy, not flashy! (That goes for the frosted gold cardstock used for the boxes, too.)

These flip-top gift boxes are fun to make - just be precise in your scoring and folding. If you want to make it super-easy on yourself, you can photocopy the pattern onto the back of the card. If you set the copier onto draft quality, the outlines are faint (they'll be hidden on the inside, anyway...).

More how-to tips: score the fold lines on the right side of the card using
an embossing tool held against a small metal ruler. Test the card to make sure it folds smoothly without going all jaggedy. Perfectionists: run a brush marker in a matching colour along the visible cut edges of your card. (I used Tim Holtz Distress Markers .) Use tacky glue or double-sided tape to secure the tabs.

Here are the patterns:

To make the square gem, score the fold lines, glue the angled tabs, then fold under the edge tabs and stick them to the gem base. The hexagonal gem is made a bit differently. Score the fold lines, glue the
end tab to make a ring, then drop the tabbed hexagon into the centre.
You can then fix the edge tabs onto the base.

 

Mini treasure chests for gift-giving or party favours.

Cookie Monster? Audrey II?

Papers: Canford Card in Frosted Gold, Kanban Quad Metallics Card
(four shades to a sheet, folds smoothly).