By Gail Allen
Finding a gift for others can sometimes be hard, and so giving a gift card can often be a very welcome option as it allows the person to find something for themselves that they would like. But sometimes that might seem a little impersonal and might therefore be rejected as an option, which is a shame since it’s often a very appreciated gift and it is easy to make it more exciting.
With this pattern you can create a box which will fall open and reveal a small flower envelope with a butterfly on it. In the flower envelope you can write whatever message you want. You can place the gift card in an envelope placed on top of the box and place another folded butterfly on top of that.
Cut out the pattern and fold the butterflies in the middle as well as along all straight lines. The curved lines are just there to help you with the placement of the next part:
Cut out this pattern piece in a different colour to the first. In the example it’s blue and white, but you can pick any you like. Glue them onto the first pattern piece along the lines mentioned before and fold along the same lines you did before.
To create the lid, cut out this pattern and fold along the lines. Tape the sides together so they will hold their shape.
To create the envelope for the gift card, cut out this piece and fold along the lines. Fold in all the half circles one after the other in a clockwise manner and then tug the last one under the first one to close it.
This is the pattern for the inner flower envelope. Fold along all lines and start bending one half moon over to one side, fold the next one towards the same side on top of it and continue all the way around until you have a flower. It might be a bit fiddly at the start, but once you get towards the end it will fall into place. Like the previous envelope you close it by tugging the last flap underneath the first one.
Now for the decorative butterflies: here is an instruction on how to create them. You will need two for this project.
And this is what the folded butterfly will look like when it’s done.
Now all you have to do is put the flower envelope into the box, place one of the butterflies on top, and then close the box with the lid. Put the gift card into the square envelope and close it and place the second butterfly on top of it.
Now you can hand it over to the lucky recipient of your gift and watch them open it.