Xmas Card Racks & Gift Boxes

Snowflake Xmas Card Rack (card from W.H. Smith).

Xmas Tree Card Rack (card from W.H. Smith).

Snowflake gift boxes for small surprises.

Boxes in two sizes.

Bird's-eye view.

The prop snowflakes are the "outsies" from Tonic Studios Simplicity Daisy Dies.

Do you prefer to browse rather than display your Xmas cards? Are you awash in a sea of seasonal greetings? Today's projects are for you! I have designed two different styles of toast-rack style Xmas card racks - Snowflake or Xmas Tree motifs. Just pop your greetings cards into the slots for handy, browsable card storage. You can fit more than one card into each slot. 

In addition to the card racks, I have included Snowflake gift boxes. They are inspired by snowglobes. You never can have enough gift packaging at this time of year..

All the projects are easy-make - here are a few how-to notes and tips:

All files: I have given you files with visible outlines so you can see the pattern pieces. Before printing, ungroup the file and click Line Style invisible, so the outlines don't print. You can, of course, change the colour of any design element by ungrouping the file and changing the outline and fill colours.

All of the files are designed to be printed on A4 cardstock. 

Turn on the registration marks before printing!

Snowflake Card Rack: there are two files, one for the end pieces, and the other for the slotted rack. Score the folds with an embossing tool held against a metal ruler. Attach the bottom flaps of end pieces to the base of the slotted rack. Join the long edge of the rack to the rack base to complete the arching rack. Then attach the side flaps and top tabs of the side pieces. I used double-sided tape, but tacky glue would work fine, too. I have provided a base reinforcement to weight the rack - but you will probably not need to use it!

Xmas Tree Card Rack: two files, one for the end pieces, one for the slotted rack. Made in a similar way to the Snowflake Card Rack, but you must score a fold line in the centre of the slotted rack piece - this forms the apex of the tree. Fold this carefully! 

Snowflake Boxes: the larger boxes are in two pieces - this is required to fit onto the A4 Card. Simply attach the plain tab side of the box bottom flap (not the notched tab) to the box body, as indicated by the arrows. The smaller box is all in one. To assemble the box, score the folds, stick the side flap, and tuck in the top and bottom lids.

The plan for making a box is called a net. I learned this from a fantastic design book by Paul Jackson, the papercraft guru. The book is entitled
Structural Packaging: Design Your Own Boxes and 3-D Forms, Laurence King Publishing, Ltd, 2012. The book is a how-to course on how to design your own boxes, and it includes some very handy tricks of the trade. Here's a link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Structural-Packaging-Design-Boxes-Forms/dp/1856697533/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355326719&sr=1-3

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and a happy and creative New Year!

Big thanks to Leah - for taking the pics!