Special Delivery Christmas Matchbox with Tiny Package Tutorial

Here's another Christmas shadowbox, this one made with a 2" by 3" Chunky Matchbox with Window from Alpha Stamps. It's got a little of everything: kids with stars, a bottle brush tree, a sweet pink puppy, silver snowflakes, and Santa! There are also some teeny wrapped packages.

I used papers from the Jingle 6x6 Paper Pad to wrap the tiny boxes (tutorial below) and the chunky matchbox itself. I used red striped paper on the ends because it reminds me of a candy cane.

The chunky box allows for lots of items to be displayed inside. Isn't the tiny silver tree charm so cute?

I love the tiny pre-wrapped packages you can purchase, but they were a little too large for this matchbox, and I did want to feature packages wrapped with paper from the same pad I used in making the box. Here's how it was done:
First, you need a box to wrap. I happened to have a bit of gray linoleum (for carving stamps), so that's what I used. Other things you might use would be a rubber eraser or some foam core. Cut to size with an x-acto knife.

Cut some paper squares large enough to wrap around the top and sides of the box. No need to cover the bottom as it will be glued to the matchbox. Center your package on the square and glue down with a little white glue.

Cut the corners out of the paper as shown below, carefully fold the flaps around the side, and glue. You'll probably need to hold the sides down for a bit to let the glue take hold.

Cut a long length of embroidery floss for the ribbon. I separated and used two strands for my package. Put a tiny drop of glue on the top of the package and lay the center of the floss down. This helps keep that ribbon in place as it's wrapped up around the box.

Wrap the floss around the bottom of the box and tie it in a knot on the top of the box. See how long that floss is? You're going to need it long to tie a bow in it.

Tie your bow! Once you get it tied, pull on each end one at a time until you get the loops to the size you want. Alternate pulling the ends and then pulling out the loops a bit to keep the knot tight. 

Once you're happy with your bow, put a tiny drop of glue on it so it won't come untied. Trim the ends of the floss, and there you have it: a teeny tiny wrapped package.

Ho ho ho! For a list of supplies used, click here.