How to make a photo gift box perfect for gifting

Everyone's got friends in their lives who adore the nostalgia of reminiscing on old memories. You can give those nostalgia-loving pals the gift of a concertina-style photo box that unfolds and is filled with precious memories.

Follow along to our step-by-step instructions below to make your own that's overflowing with precious happy photographs.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Photo Box
• Stitched Edge Heart Nesting Dies
• Heart Punch (Paper Pleater)
• Flamazing Flamingos light and dark pink linen card
• Hydrangea collection soft purple linen card
• White linen card
• Multi-purpose card
• Photo paper
• 12″ x 12″ Valentines shades pearl pad
• Photos printed 2 to a 4x6 page of photo paper and trimmed down
• Tools: Tacky Glue | Red liner tape of varying widths | Dotty Tape Pen/Xyron | 3D foam pads | Scoreboard/Ultimate Boxer board | Guillotine

Step-by-step instructions

To create the outer box:

1. (If using ultimate) cut two pieces of card at 5 ½ inches- score one on the lid side and one on the base side, at 5/8 of an inch on all sides, notch corners and crease on the score lines. (If using another brand of scoreboard, make the lid piece of card a fraction larger than the base, but score the same.)
2. Cut a piece of pale purple linen card for the lid, sized 4″ Square, and a piece of white linen card sized 3 ¾ of an inch square. Adhere together and add to the outside of your box lid.
3. Assemble your box parts with tacky glue and set aside.

To create the photo concertina element:

1. Using multi purpose cardstock, cut 2 pieces of card to 4 x 8 ¼ inches, one piece to 4 x 8 inches and one strip 4 x 1 inch.
2. Score the two larger pieces at ¼ of an inch, and 4 ¼ inches, the third large strip at 4 inches and the small strip at the halfway point of ½ an inch.
3. Fold and burnish the cardstock.
4. Add red liner tape to both ¼ inch tabs, and attach the pieces together, ending with a piece that has no scored tab on both ends.
5. To the top end (the piece that folds up in a mountain fold) attach one side of the 1 inch strip. This will attach to your lid later.
6. Cut 3 pieces of pale pink linen card and 3 pieces of hot pink linen card to 3 ½ inches to act as your photo mats.
7. Print and trim your photos to 2 7/8 of an inch, attach to your photo mats with a tape pen, and then glue to each front-facing square of your photo concertina. (The back side is where the tabs attach the cardstock pieces together)
8. Glue the back of the bottom piece into the bottom inner of your box, leaving an even border all round. Fold the tab on the top end back and add tacky glue before gluing it to the inner front of your photo box. (Before the glue is fully dry make sure the lid fits  snugly and no wiggling is needed)
9. To finish, die-cut a heart from the nesting dies (third Largest), and punch 12 small hearts from a sheet of red pearl card. Add the small hearts to the photo corners, and use foam pads to add the large heart to the top of the box lid.