Quick & Cute Neighbor “House” Gift Boxes – and Free Printable Tags!

I know I’ve posted about my obsession with the little paper milk boxes from the Recollections line at Michaels. I used them on my 12 Days of Christmas Tree and also dressed them up for the holidays with washi tape and printables. And when I was looking at them, they kind of looked like little houses. So I thought it would be fun to experiment with them and see if I could make them look like a house and create a little printable that would be festive to give as neighbor gifts!

The thing I love about the Michaels Recollections holiday products are the simplicity and design. Everything is so cute!

You can find the Recollection lines mostly in the endcaps (at the ends of the aisles). Not only can you find unique gift wrapping ideas, but also fun decor kits and package embellishments!

So here’s how to make this project:

First, I’ll show you how to fold these cool Michaels Recollections paper milk cartons…

…(I used white and kraft)

into cute “house” gift boxes:

(It may take one practice box to get the hang of this, but once you do it you’ll find it easy.)

1. Unfold the box and lay it on the table with the adhesive strips facing up. Crease the top fold towards you — this will make your milk carton/gift box much crisper-looking later. Really, it’s worth the extra few seconds.
2. Using the adhesive strip, put the box together on the side seam only.
3. Estimate about the same distance (around 1/4 of an inch) on the non-adhesive end of the top and cut from the top to the first crease on both sides of the top. This will be your chimney, so a rough estimate is fine; just try to be consistent. Tips to make later folding easier: While not necessary, you can also cut a deep v-cut to remove the section where you’d normally pour milk — this will make your later folding easier. As hinted in picture #5 above, you can also take off the corner on the non-adhesive side of the top lip.
4. Using the adhesive strip, close the bottom of the box – sides first, then the side opposite the adhesive, then the adhesive last.
5. Now is a good time to put your cookies or whatever you’re giving inside the box! !This part is the trickiest: instead of sticking the top together like you would for a milk carton, you’ll be leaving the “chimney” up while you fold the other part together. I found it easiest to pinch the chimney with one hand. Then I tucked the non-adhesive piece on that flap underneath the adhesive flap while I fold the rest of the top together.
6. Once it looks nice and tight, fold the adhesive lip over the top of the “roof” and you’re done!

And here are the printables!

Just right-click this link or the image above and choose “save link as” to download the printable PDF. Use a circle punch or scissors to cut out the tags — they work best on heavier paper or cardstock. As always, these are for personal use only.

xoxo

This post sponsored by Michaels Recollections; however, the project and printables are all mine. See my disclosures.