Galaxy Gift Card Pillow Box & Printable Template

Today Erica (@ericalligraphy2) is sharing a cute birthday pillow box PLUS a free template for you to download and use!

Kelly Creates Supplies: Metallic Jewel Bullet Tip Pens, Galaxy Paper Pad

Other Supplies: PDF template files, cutting blade or scissors, tool for scoring, adhesive

One of the things that makes me happiest in life is finding THE PERFECT gift for someone. However, as impersonal as it feels, a gift card sometimes makes the best sense for any number of reasons.

But it IS possible to add a personal touch to giving a gift card. I’m going to walk you through how to make your own pillow box using Kelly Creates products! The template you can download below will fit any standard size gift card.

To begin, click HERE to download and print Template 1 and click HERE to download and print Template 2. 

After printing the templates, choose any piece of the Kelly Creates Galaxy Paper for your occasion. The Kelly Creates Galaxy Paper is fantastic paper for this project because of the weight. It’s strong enough to that it doesn’t crinkle and crush but it’s still pliable to fold into a pillow box!

Lay the Kelly Creates Galaxy Paper with the patterned side down on Template 1 (alignment template) so that the white side is up. Tape all top and bottom edges of the Kelly Creates Galaxy Paper to the template. If you do not tape the entire top edge, it might curl and cause a paper jam when it’s in the printer.

Now we will print Template 2 right onto the Kelly Creates Galaxy paper. Place the sheet in your printer’s paper tray and print the pillow box template onto the white side of the Kelly Creates Galaxy Paper. For my printer, I placed the taped template sheet facing down, since that’s how the paper feeds. If you happen to put it in the wrong way, there is no harm; just insert it the other way and print it again.

OPTION 2: You could print the template on regular printer paper and then tape it on top of the galaxy paper to cut and score along the lines.

Now it’s time to cut the box out! NOTE: ONLY CUT ON THE SOLID LINES. Do not cut on the dotted lines. Use either a blade (craft knife) or scissors to cut out the pillow box.

My personal preference for projects like this is to use a cutting blade instead of scissors. I feel I have more control, especially when cutting the flaps with the semi-circles. Both options work; it’s up to you and will depend on your preference and what tools you have on hand. If you choose a cutting blade, don’t forget to protect your work surface.

 The next step is to lightly “score” the dotted lines. Scoring creates a grooved line in the paper, which makes for a smooth fold. If you don’t have a scoring tool, then improvise! I used a random tool out of my sewing kit to score this project. You could use anything pointed from a kabob skewer to a darning needle. You could even use your fingernail! Just be careful you don’t cut or tear through the paper when you are scoring.

Now fold the two straight dotted lines so that the white side of the paper is on the “inside.”

You can either place double-sided adhesive on the patterned side of the small flap and then fold the other side over so that they stick together like I have done, or you can simply tape them together with regular tape.

Now is the ideal time to hand letter your pillow box. I recommend you briefly fold the flaps in, just so you know what space you have to work with for your lettering. Then unfold it again so you have flat surface for lettering.

I used a Kelly Creates Metallic Jewel Bullet Tip Pen in Jade to letter “Happy birthday” on this box. It’s a perfect compliment to the colors in the Galaxy Paper I chose to use. Instead of faux calligraphy for the word “birthday”, you could use the new Kelly Creates Metallic Jewel Small Brush pens for brush lettering. 

Once the lettering is complete, fold the ends in (folding the flaps with the semi-circle in first). You could add a pretty ribbon to the box or brush letter a gift tag using the same piece of Kelly Creates Galaxy Paper.

Beautiful AND functional! This project showcases both your crafty side and your lettering skills. In addition to a gift card, this pillow box would be perfect for holding candies or small favors at weddings, showers, birthdays, anniversary parties and more.

What would YOU use this pretty box for?

Thank you, Erica, for this quick tutorial and easy to follow printable pillow box template! Giving my gift cards will always look ‘pretty’!

For more lettering inspiration and creative ideas, follow Erica on Instagram @ericalligraphy2

Shop the supplies Erica used by clicking the affiliate shopping links below:

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