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Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes

by Judy Larson
We all have boxes and bags to use as jewelry packaging, but often do not have packaging for smaller items that do not take up much room, such as earrings, pendants, and chains. Using themed scrapbooking cardstock means that packaging can be customized to the season or event.

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Instructions
Choose one of the free pillow box templates below and enlarge or shrink it to fit your needs.

Download Large Pillow Box Template
(approx. 6 x 4 inches)

Download Medium Pillow Box Template
(approx. 4.8 x 3.4 inches)

Download Small Pillow Box Template
(approx. 3.75 x 2.6 inches)

After a bit of experimenting with different sizes, I settled on one that would fit all the jewelry pieces being given as holiday gifts.

Make a template of boxes that will fit on the size themed scrapbook cardstock being printed.
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , trace the template
Print the template on the reverse side of the themed scrapbook cardstock. Most scrapbooking cardstock is found in a 12"x12" size so it will probably need to be cut it down to a size that will fit in your printer.

Make sure the reverse side will be the side printed. The reverse side of themed scrapbooking cardstock is usually white, making any templates used easy to see after printing.
The dotted lines on the template I am using are scoring/folding lines. They may be solid lines on other templates. After these lines are compressed, it is very easy to fold the box into the pillow shape.

Place the template side of the themed cardstock face up on a firm surface. Position a ruler just outside the center straight line so the small 1mm ball of the embossing stylus can be run directly on top of the line when running the tool alongside the ruler.

Press the ball firmly on the paper while pulling the tool along the line, but not so firmly that the surface of the paper shreds. It is better to make two passes until you get the feel of how hard to press the tool down on the paper.

Repeat the process on the dotted flap line. Compress the curved inner dotted lines by freehand drawing the scoring tool over them.

These lines are hard to make a second pass on, but you should have the hang of the pressure needed after doing the first straight lines.
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , box templates
Cut out the pillow box shape, making sure not to cut on the dotted scoring lines. Leave the narrow flap edge width as wide as possible to make it easier to attach double-stick tape - Step 7.

The half circles on the box ends are difficult to cut out neatly. Cut across the half circles-they will be cut with a hole punch in the next step.
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , cut out the template
Without fingernails the pillow box inner end can be difficult to open. The half circles cut out on the marquise shape ends are there to make it easier open the box.

A ½" hole punch is a good size to use on this small box. Center the punch to cut the half circle.

It is not necessary to use the full half of the punch circle. Use just enough to make a good finger opening to open the box.
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , cut a finger hole in the box
Fold the flap to the inside of the pillow box. Run a bone folder over the folded flap edge to make the fold more crisp.
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , fold in one edge of the box
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , fold over one edge of the box
Glue can be messy, and the two glued parts need to be held together until the glue grabs. If the glue leaks into the pillow box, the box becomes unusable.

I use double stick tape. Secure a slightly longer than needed piece of tape to the outside of the flap, lining up the edge of the tape with the flap fold. Trim the excess tape and flap.
Pro Tip: I have found that dollar store double-stick tape does not have good securing power so make sure to use a good brand of tape.
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , use double stick tape
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , use double stick tape
Place the pillow box template side up on a firm surface. Fold the taped flap to the inside of the pillow box-first photo.

Holding the flap down, fold the pillow box in half on the center, pulling it over to line the cut edge with the folded flap edge-second photo (I generally have this edge facing away from me but that was hard to photograph).

Press the layers together-third photo.
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , fold in the edge of the box
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , fold the box
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , press the edges together
Use a bone folder to flatten both folded side edges. Doing this will also help the double-stick tape better adhere the layers together.
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , use a bone folder to flatten the folds
Shaping the pillow box: Squeeze the sides to open the box-first photo.

Fold the marquise shape end with the cut out half circle to the inside of the box-second photo.

Carefully use your fingernail or bone folder to make the folded edge a bit crisper.

Fold the other marquise shape end over the inner one and crisp the edge-third photo. Repeat the process with the other end and the box is done - fourth photo.
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , fold the box
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , fold the box
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , fold the box
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , fold the box
Storage: A box is easy to find to store the pillow boxes in until they are needed.

The purple tissue paper that is used to wrap wirejewelry supplies for shipping can be cut and folded into sizes that will fit inside the flat box to be ready when you need it.
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , store pillow boxes flat
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , store pillow boxes flat

Materials

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Tools

12 Inch Stainless Steel Ruler
G7-30
  • G7-30
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.97
  • Gold Club Price: $2.23
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  • Category: General Education
  • Technique(s): General Education

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