Home / Jewelry Making Tips and Techniques / Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes

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.

Pin This Post
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 scrapbook cardstock comes in a 12"x12" size, so you'll likely need to cut it down to fit your printer.

Be sure the reverse side is facing the correct way for printing.

The backs of themed cardstock are usually white, which makes the printed template easy to see and cut out.
The dotted lines on the template are scoring or folding lines. On some templates, these may appear as solid lines.

Once these lines are compressed, the box folds easily into the pillow shape.

Place the cardstock template side up on a firm surface.

Position a ruler just outside the center straight line so the small 1mm ball of the embossing stylus can run directly over the line, using the ruler as a guide.

Press the ball firmly while pulling the tool along the line but not so hard that the paper surface shreds.

It's better to make two lighter passes until you get a feel for the right pressure.

Repeat this process on the dotted flap line.

For the curved inner dotted lines, freehand the scoring tool over them.

These are harder to go over twice, but by now, you should have a good feel for how much pressure to apply.
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , box templates
Cut out the pillow box shape, being careful not to cut along the dotted scoring lines.

Leave the narrow flap edge as wide as possible to make it easier to apply double-stick tape in Step 7.

The half circles on the box ends can be tricky to cut cleanly.

Simply cut straight across them they'll be shaped properly 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, opening the pillow box's inner end can be tricky.

The half circles cut into the marquise-shaped ends make it easier to open the box.

A ½" hole punch works well for this small box.

Center the punch to cut the half circle carefully.

You don't need to use the full half of the punch just enough to create a good finger opening.
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 glued parts need to be held until the glue sets.

If glue seeps inside the pillow box, it can ruin the box.

I prefer using double-stick tape instead.

Attach a piece of tape slightly longer than needed to the outside of the flap, aligning the tape edge with the flap fold.

Trim any excess tape and flap for a clean finish.
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, , Attach a piece of tape slightly
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 inside the box (see first photo).

While holding the flap down, fold the box in half along the center, aligning the cut edge with the folded flap edge (see second photo).

Press the layers firmly together (see 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-shaped end with the cut-out half circle inside the box (second photo).

Use your fingernail or a bone folder to sharpen the folded edge.

Fold the other marquise-shaped end over the first and crisp that edge as well (third photo).

Repeat the process on the other end, and the box is complete (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, , Use your fingernail or a bone folder to sharpen the folded edge
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , Fold the other marquise-shaped
Judy Larson's Jewelry Packaging for Small Items - Pillow Boxes - , General Education, , Repeat the process
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, , wrap wirejewelry supplies for shipping

Materials

No materials listed

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
Add to Bag
Add All Items to Cart
  • Category: General Education
  • Technique(s): General Education

Reviews

Login to post a Review
Login to be the first to review this Tip!