Christmas Stocking Gift Card Holder

31st Oct 20251st Nov 2025 EsselleCraftsLeave a comment

If you’ve ever struggled to know what to buy someone as a gift, you will have undoubtedly opted for a gift card at some point. But how can you turn that gift into something fun and memorable? By making your very own personalised gift card holder, of course! 🎁

Four festive paper craft gift card holders in the shape of Christmas stockings decorated with snowflakes and bows

Disguised as a Christmas stocking, this interactive gift card holder is super easy to assemble and will bring an element of surprise to your gift recipient! 🎁

The templates for this gift card holder come as SVG cut files, and can be found in my Etsy shop.

To make one, you will need:

* Christmas Stocking Gift Card Holder template (available as an SVG cut file)
* Computer and printer to print the PDF instructions
* Digital cutting machine
* Double-sided cardstock (220-250gsm / 80-92lb recommended)
* Craft glue / double-sided tape

Watch my video tutorial showing how to assemble the gift card holder, and be sure to follow the tips below:

TIP 1 : When attaching the two rectangular pieces to the insert, make sure they are lined up neatly along the top edge.

Making a festive paper craft gift card holder in the shape of a Christmas stocking

TIP 2 : After slotting the gift card into place, slide the insert into the holder, then apply glue to the tab and around the curved edges. Once assembled, check that the insert slides in and out freely.

TIP 3 : If you wish to decorate your stocking with a bow, simply layer the three bow pieces and glue it on.

TIP 4 : There’s also the option to add snowflakes (which you can duplicate if you need more) and if you wish to personalise your stocking, the download also comes with a bonus full set of capital letters. Just choose your letter and size it to approximately 5.5cm / 2.16″ high.

Once assembled, your little stocking gift card holder is ready to go – it doesn’t need to be wrapped – and because it’s fairly flat, it can easily be popped into an envelope for posting! ✉️📮

You could also try punching a hole in the top of the insert, adding a length of ribbon or festive twine and hanging it on the Christmas tree or mantelpiece 🎄

Paper Craft Christmas Stocking Gift Card Holders

Happy crafting!
Suzanne 🎁

3D Papercraft Projects · Hair Bows · Papercraft Projects

Mermaid Bow Template

14th Oct 202514th Oct 2025 EsselleCrafts1 Comment

You may have seen my last three posts, where I introduced you to my Halloween Bat Bow, my Butterfly Bow and my Crown Bow templates. Well, now I have this Mermaid Bow, with its fabulous fish tails and seashell detailing.

A mermaid gift bow made from blue glitter cardstock and teal and cream cardstock that can be used on gift packaging or home decor

If this bow was made from fabric, it could be clipped onto your hair or worn as a statement brooch as part of a seaside / beach-themed costume! Alternatively, if it was made from cardstock, it could be added to a gift bag, a greeting card or used for home decor!

This multi-purpose bow is super easy to make, and the templates come in SVG and PDF format, making them accessible for a variety of crafting needs.

A mermaid hair bow made from blue glitter fabric and teal and cream faux leather that can be used on a hair clip or worn as a brooch

To make one, you will need:

* Mermaid Bow Template (SVG and PDF included)
* Computer and printer to print the PDF template and instructions
* Digital cutting machine
* Double-sided, solid core cardstock (220gsm / 80lb recommended) or faux leather / felt / fine glitter fabric
* Hot glue / E6000 glue
* Optional : Alligator clip

If you are not using a cutting machine you will also need:

* Craft knife / scissors

All of my templates come with step-by-step instructions, but you can also follow the tips below:

TIP 1 : If you want a 7.8cm / 3″ bow, size your template to 12cm / 4.7″ wide. For a larger, 10.5cm / 4.1″ bow, size your template to 16cm / 6.25″ wide.

TIP 2 : When curling the ends of the bow piece to the centre, try not to crease them or fold them. This is especially important if you are making a paper bow.

TIP 3 : Glue the bow to the centre of the fish tails, then glue the seashell piece to the centre of the bow.

TIP 4 : Glue one end of the centre strip to the back of the bow, wrap it around the front and secure the other end at the back with glue.

If your bow is made from paper, why not try embossing the tails with a fish scale embossing folder? I did mine half facing one way and half facing the other way. Then you can glue it directly onto your gift packaging. Alternatively, glue it to a small, wooden peg so that it can be reused. If your bow is made from fabric, then you can glue it to an alligator clip or other hair accessory, like a headband 🎀

I can’t wait to see how you use your little mermaid bows!

A mermaid bow made from blue glitter cardstock and teal and cream cardstock that can be used on gift packaging or home decor

Happy crafting
Suzanne

3D Papercraft Projects · Hair Bows · Papercraft Projects

Princess Crown Bow

2nd Oct 20257th Oct 2025 EsselleCrafts2 Comments

You may have seen my last two posts, where I introduced you to my Halloween Bat Bow and my Butterfly Bow. Well, now I have this sparkly Crown Bow, which can be used in very similar ways.

A princess crown bow made from gold glitter cardstock that can be used on gift packaging or home decor

This is such a pretty bow for so many occasions! If it was made from fabric, it could be clipped onto your hair or worn as a statement brooch as part of a princess or queen costume! Alternatively, if it was made from cardstock, it could be added to a gift bag, a greeting card or used for sparkly home decor!

This multi-purpose bow is super easy to make, and the templates come in SVG and PDF format, making them accessible for a variety of crafting needs.

A princess crown bow made from faux leather and thin gold glitter fabric that can be used as a hair bow or a brooch

To make one, you will need:

* Crown Bow Template (SVG and PDF included)
* Computer and printer to print the PDF template and instructions
* Digital cutting machine
* Double-sided, solid core cardstock (220gsm / 80lb recommended) or faux leather / felt / fine glitter fabric
* Hot glue / E6000 glue
* Optional : Alligator clip

If you are not using a cutting machine you will also need:

* Craft knife / scissors

All of my templates come with step-by-step instructions, but you can also follow the tips below:

TIP 1 : If you want a 8.5cm / 3.3″ bow, size your template to 12cm / 4.7″ wide. For a larger, 12cm / 4.7″ bow, size your template to 16cm / 6.25″ wide.

Two princess crown bows one made from faux leather and thin gold glitter fabric that can be used as a hair bow or a brooch and one made from gold glitter cardstock that can be used on gift packaging or home decor

TIP 2 : When curling the ends of the bow pieces to the centre, try not to crease them or fold them. This is especially important if you are making a paper bow.

TIP 3 : Glue the centre of the bow tails and the bows to the centre of the crown piece (between the two cut lines) before attaching the centre strip.

TIP 4 : Push one end of the centre strip in through the top cut line (from the front) and the other end through the bottom cut line (from the front). Pull the ends through the back (not too tight) until they are an equal length.

TIP 5 : Overlap the two ends (trim them down if they are too long) and secure them in place with a dot of glue.

If your bow is made from paper, then you can glue it directly onto your gift packaging. Alternatively, glue it to a small, wooden peg so that it can be reused. If your bow is made from fabric, then you can glue it to an alligator clip or other hair accessory, like a headband 🎀

I can’t wait to see how you use your little crown bows!

Happy crafting
Suzanne

3D Papercraft Projects · Hair Bows · Papercraft Projects

Multi-Purpose Butterfly Bow

1st Oct 20257th Oct 2025 EsselleCrafts3 Comments

Following on from my last post, where I introduced you to my Halloween Bat Bow design, I now have this Butterfly Bow, which can be used in similar ways.

A pink butterfly bow made from textured cardstock that can be used on gift packaging or home decor

This is such a pretty bow for all occasions! If it was made from fabric, it could be clipped onto your hair or worn as a statement brooch! Alternatively, if it was made from cardstock, it could be added to a gift bag, a greeting card or used for home decor!

This multi-purpose bow is super easy to make, and the templates come in SVG and PDF format, making them accessible for a variety of crafting needs.

A pink butterfly bow made from faux leather and thin glitter fabric that can be used on a hair clip or head band

To make one, you will need:

* Butterfly Bow Template (SVG and PDF included)
* Computer and printer to print the PDF template and instructions
* Digital cutting machine
* Double-sided, solid core cardstock (220gsm / 80lb recommended) or faux leather / felt / fine glitter fabric
* Hot glue / E6000 glue
* Optional : Alligator clip

If you are not using a cutting machine you will also need:

* Craft knife / scissors

All of my templates come with step-by-step instructions, but you can also follow the tips below:

TIP 1 : If you want a 7.5cm / 3″ bow, size your template to 12cm / 4.7″ wide. For a larger, 10cm / 4″ bow, size your template to 16cm / 6.25″ wide.

Two pink butterfly bows one made from faux leather and thin glitter fabric that can be used as a hair bow or a brooch and one made from cardstock that can be used on gift packaging or home decor

TIP 2 : When curling the ends of the bow piece to the centre, try not to crease it or fold it. This is especially important if you are making a paper bow.

TIP 3 : Glue the centre of the bow tails and the bow to the centre of the butterfly (between the two cut lines) before attaching the centre strip.

TIP 5 : Overlap the two ends and secure them in place with a dot of glue.

I can’t wait to see how you use your little butterfly bows !

Happy crafting
Suzanne

3D Papercraft Projects · Hair Bows · Halloween Party · Papercraft Projects

DIY Halloween Bat Bow

27th Sep 202513th Oct 2025 EsselleCrafts4 Comments

Bows come in all shapes and sizes and can have different styles and uses. Hair bows are typically made from fabric so that they are durable and weatherproof, whereas gift packaging bows are often made from paper or cardstock and are generally used only once 🎀

So, this got me thinking… What if a bow design could be used as both a hair bow and as a gift packaging bow? It would obviously depend on what material it was made from, but it could definitely be multi-purpose.

So I started with this Halloween bat bow design.

A black and purple bat bow made from textured cardstock that can be used on Halloween gift packaging or home decor

This is a great one for Halloween costumes! If it was made from fabric, it could be clipped onto your hair or worn as a brooch on a flowing cape! Alternatively, if it was made from cardstock, it could be added to a trick or treat bag, a Halloween greeting card or used for spooky home decor!

This multi-purpose bow is super easy to make, and the templates come in SVG and PDF format, making them accessible for a variety of crafting needs.

A black and purple bat bow made from faux leather and thin glitter fabric that can be used as a Halloween hair bow or a brooch

To make one, you will need:

* Halloween Bat Bow Template (SVG and PDF included)
* Computer and printer to print the PDF template and instructions
* Digital cutting machine
* Double-sided, solid core cardstock (220gsm / 80lb recommended) or faux leather / felt / fine glitter fabric
* Hot glue / E6000 glue
* Optional : Alligator clip

If you are not using a cutting machine you will also need:

* Craft knife / scissors

All of my templates come with step-by-step instructions, but you can also follow the tips below:

TIP 1 : If you want a 10cm / 4″ bow, size your template to 12cm / 4.7″ wide. For a larger, 13cm / 5.2″ bow, size your template to 16cm / 6.25″ wide.

Two black and purple bat bows one made from faux leather and thin glitter fabric that can be used as a Halloween hair bow or a brooch and one made from cardstock that can be used on Halloween gift packaging or home decor

TIP 2 : When curling the ends of the bow pieces to the centre, try not to crease it or fold it. This is especially important if you are making a paper bow.

TIP 3 : Glue the centre of the bows to the centre of the bat (between the two cut lines) before attaching the centre strip.

TIP 5 : Overlap the two ends and secure them in place with a dot of glue.

I can’t wait to see how you use your little bat bows this Halloween!

Happy crafting
Suzanne

3D Papercraft Projects · Favour Boxes · Halloween Party · Papercraft Projects · Teapot Favour Boxes

Halloween Haunted House Teapot Box

27th Jul 202528th Jul 2025 EsselleCraftsLeave a comment

Spooky season is almost upon us! Ghosts, bats, spiders and skeletons will soon be adorning our homes, and pumpkins will be glowing menacingly at our doors and windows 🎃 So it’s only right that the next design in my house-shaped teapot box collection is this eerie-looking, gothic haunted house!

A paper craft haunted house gift box for Halloween trick or treating in the shape of a teapot with yellow arched gothic windows and three bats flying out of the spout

Perfect to make for Halloween parties, trick or treating or seasonal home decor, this versatile candy box can also serve as a glowing lantern centrepiece – guaranteed to surprise your guests!

A paper craft haunted house gift box for Halloween trick or treating in the shape of a teapot with yellow arched gothic windows a white paper ghost inside and three bats flying out of the spout

The templates come as both SVG cut files and printable PDFs, making them accessible for a variety of crafting needs.

To make one, you will need:

* Haunted House Teapot Box template (SVG and PDF available)
* Computer and printer to print the PDF templates and instructions
* Digital cutting machine
* Double-sided cardstock (220-250gsm / 80-92lb recommended)
* Vellum or tracing paper
* Yellow or orange permanent marker
* Thin strip of acetate
* Craft glue and red-liner tape

If you are not using a cutting machine you will also need:
* Craft knife / scissors
* Scoring tool
* Ruler

Watch my video tutorial showing how to assemble the box, and be sure to follow the tips below:

TIP 1 : If you would like to add more texture to your box, then you can try embossing the pieces before assembling. For this teapot, I used this Sizzix 3D Texture Fades Mini Brickwork embossing folder by Tim Holtz on the main body, the handle, spout, chimney and pitched roof piece. I had to do three passes on both of the main body pieces, carefully covering one side at a time. I actually debossed it instead to create more interest, then added black ink to pick out the details.

TIP 2 : Colour the vellum (or tracing paper) window pieces with a yellow or orange permanent marker. This will add to the eerie glowing effect when you place battery operated lights inside.

Colouring arched vellum windows with a yellow permanent marker to put onto a paper craft haunted house gift box for Halloween

TIP 3 : Add a dimensional foam pad or scraps of layered cardstock to the back of the ghost and position it wherever you like on the teapot. I placed mine inside as a scary surprise! 👻

A paper craft haunted house gift box for Halloween trick or treating in the shape of a teapot with yellow arched gothic windows and a white paper ghost inside

TIP 4 : The three bats can also be placed anywhere around the teapot. I attached mine to a thin strip of acetate using red-liner tape, and stuck it to the inside of the spout. It looks as though the bats are flying out of the teapot! This could work equally as well coming out of the chimney.

TIP 5 : You really don’t need to be neat when assembling this box as it’s meant to look old and abandoned. Try gluing the window sills on at a crooked angle or maybe board up a window or two.

A paper craft haunted house gift box for Halloween trick or treating in the shape of a teapot with yellow arched gothic windows

Once assembled, your little teapot boxes are ready to be filled with candy treats. A spooky customised chocolate orange fits perfectly! 🎃 Or try putting a string of battery operated lights inside for an eerie glowing lantern!

What do you think of this new teapot box design? Will you be brave enough to make some?

Happy crafting! 👻
Suzanne

3D Papercraft Projects · Christmas Papercraft · Favour Boxes · Papercraft Projects · Teapot Favour Boxes

Gingerbread House Teapot Gift Box

6th Jul 20256th Jul 2025 EsselleCraftsLeave a comment

During one of the hottest weeks of the year so far, here I am thinking about Christmas!

I had such lovely feedback following the launch of my Cottage Teapot Box design last month that I decided to continue with the house-shaped theme and create one in the style of a classic gingerbread house!

A brown paper craft teapot gift box in the style of a classic gingerbread house with a white icing lid white icing door and windows and white icing swirls

If you’re ready to sprinkle some early Christmas magic, then these charming little boxes are perfect to make for table favours, teacher gifts or seasonal home decor. Fill them with sweet treats or small gifts and they’re guaranteed to deliver warm memories to anyone who receives one!

The templates come as both SVG cut files and printable PDFs, making them accessible for a variety of crafting needs.

To make one, you will need:

* Gingerbread House Teapot Box template (SVG and PDF available)
* Computer and printer to print the PDF templates and instructions
* Digital cutting machine
* Double-sided cardstock (220-250gsm / 80-92lb recommended)
* Craft glue / double-sided tape

If you are not using a cutting machine you will also need:
* Craft knife / scissors
* Scoring tool
* Ruler

Watch my video tutorial showing how to assemble the box, and be sure to follow the tips below:

TIP 1 : Glue the white icing piece to the front pitched window piece using the two triangular tabs only. Do this before attaching it to the inside of the pitched roof.

Making part of a brown paper craft teapot gift box in the style of a classic gingerbread house

TIP 2 : Assemble the chimney before gluing the icing to the top. The chimney icing piece has no score lines, but will simply wrap around the chimney. Just remember to keep the join at the back.

A brown paper craft teapot gift box in the style of a classic gingerbread house

TIP 3 : The decorative icing swirls can be placed anywhere around the teapot box. The designs are mirrored (flipped), so if you add them to the handle and spout, they will be the same on both sides.

A brown paper craft teapot gift box in the style of a classic gingerbread house with a white icing lid white icing windows and white icing swirls

Once assembled, your little teapot boxes are ready to be filled with delicious sweet treats! These packets of mini gingerbread men fit perfectly!

A brown paper craft teapot gift box in the style of a classic gingerbread house with white icing door and windows and white icing swirls with some mini gingerbread men around it

One teapot box will hold a surprising amount of mini gingerbread men! But they may not last long!

What do you think of this new teapot box design? Would you like to see more house-shaped designs? Let me know in the comments!

A 3D paper craft teapot gift box made in the style of a gingerbread house with a white lid and white iced door and windows decorated with white icing swirls

Happy crafting!
Suzanne

3D Papercraft Projects · Christmas Papercraft

Present Gift Card Holder

20th Oct 202430th Oct 2025 EsselleCraftsLeave a comment

Sometimes it can be difficult to know what to buy someone special as a gift, and so you opt for a gift card. But how can you elevate your choice of gift into something fun and memorable? By making your very own cute gift card holder, of course! 🎁

Paper Craft Present Gift Card Holder for Special Occasions

Disguised as a wrapped present, this interactive gift card holder is super easy to assemble and will undoubtedly bring an element of surprise to your gift recipient! 🎁

The templates for this gift card holder come as SVG cut files, and can be found in my Etsy shop.

Paper Craft Christmas Present Gift Card Holders for Special Occasions

To make one, you will need:

* Present Gift Card Holder template (available as an SVG cut file)
* Computer and printer to print the PDF instructions
* Digital cutting machine
* Double-sided cardstock (220-250gsm / 80-92lb recommended)
* Craft glue / double-sided tape
* Thin cord / string / thread for the optional gift tag

Watch my video tutorial showing how to assemble the gift card holder, and be sure to follow the tips below:

TIP 1 : Glue the long ribbon piece down the centre of the insert, making sure that the two hearts meet neatly at the top.

TIP 2 : Slide the insert into the holder, then glue the shorter ribbon piece down the centre, so that the ends join up with the other ribbon piece on the front and the back. You can then trim off any excess.

TIP 3 : Attach the two separate heart pieces to the larger heart using dimensional foam or scraps of layered cardstock (one on the front and one on the back).

There’s also an optional gift tag that you could stamp a sentiment onto and attach it behind the smaller heart.

Paper Craft Christmas Present Gift Card Holder for Special Occasions

And don’t think that they have to be just for Christmas, you can customize them for any occasion using any cardstock of your choice!

Once assembled, your cute little gift card holder is ready to go – it doesn’t need to be wrapped – and because it’s fairly flat, it can easily be popped into an envelope for posting! ✉️📮

Happy crafting!
Suzanne 🎁

3D Papercraft Projects · Cricut Design Space · Favour Boxes · Graduation Gift Boxes

Pencil Favour Boxes

26th Aug 202430th Aug 2024 EsselleCraftsLeave a comment

Easy to open, these super cute pencil favour boxes can be filled with sweets or small treats. Ideal for stationery addicts, teacher gifts, back to school gifts and so much more!

3D Paper Craft Pencil Favour Boxes for Gifting Small Treats

The template comes as an SVG cut file, as well as a plain black and white PDF if you prefer to cut out by hand. You can therefore choose your own colour scheme and easily resize it to suit your needs.

To make one, you will need:

* Pencil Favour Box template (SVG and PDF available)
* Computer and printer to print the PDF template and instructions
* Digital cutting machine
* Double sided cardstock (220-250gsm / 80-92lb recommended)
* Thinner card or paper for the pencil lead pieces (90-160gsm / 33-60lb recommended)
* Craft glue / double-sided tape

If you are not using a cutting machine, you will also need:

* Craft knife / scissors
* Scoring tool
* Ruler

Watch my video tutorial showing how to assemble the box and be sure to follow the tips below:

TIP 1 : This isn’t necessary, but I tried to follow the decorative pattern around the pencil by adding the panels in the same order that they had been cut out by my Cricut. I lined the panels up fairly closely like this in Design Space to try to keep as much of the pattern continuity as possible.

TIP 2 : Start with the shortest tab on the pencil point piece and glue it to the first section of the pencil. Make sure that the (red) curved edge is not stuck down.

TIP 3 : When gluing the two long tabs, interlock them and use a long pencil or pen to press against the join from the inside.

The pencil lead point and the lead circle on the end need to be cut out of thin card or paper. This will give it a nice smooth, flush finish. You can use a traditional pencil lead (dark grey) colour, or choose to make it a coloured pencil, matching the lead with the colour of the pencil box.

TIP 4 : Fold the lead point into shape before attaching it to the pencil, making sure the two edges join neatly without leaving a gap.

TIP 5 : Glue the lid insert to the underside of the lid, making sure that it is lined up centrally with an equal distance (approximately 1mm) around the outside.

TIP 6 : If needed, glue one or two small tabs of matching cardstock to the front of the lid insert to help hold the lid closed. The need for this varies depending on the thickness of the cardstock used.

This really is a fabulous little favour box, and I love how mixing up the colours and patterns recreates how real pencils look when they are together in a pencil case or pencil pot!

3D Paper Craft Pencil Favour Boxes Blog Post by Esselle Crafts

Happy crafting!
Suzanne

3D Papercraft Projects · Favour Boxes · Graduation Gift Boxes

Graduation Cap Gift Box

4th Aug 20246th Aug 2024 EsselleCraftsLeave a comment

With the end of the academic year fast approaching, this adorable little Graduation Cap Gift Box can be made quickly and easily to celebrate a forthcoming graduation.

Graduation Cap Gift Box for Academic Celebrations

You can choose to make the traditional black cap and tassel, or any variation of colours.

Black Graduation Cap Gift Box for Academic Celebrations

Blue Graduation Cap Gift Box for Academic Celebrations

To make one, you will need:

* Graduation Cap Gift Box template (PDF and SVG available)
* Computer and printer to print the PDF template and instructions
* Digital cutting machine
* Double sided cardstock (220-250gsm / 80-92lb recommended)
* Double-sided thinner card or paper (90-160gsm / 33-60lb recommended)
* Craft glue / double-sided tape

If you are not using a cutting machine, you will also need:

* Craft knife / scissors
* Scoring tool
* Ruler

Watch my video tutorial showing how to assemble the box and be sure to follow the tips below.

TIP 1 : Glue each of the five base tabs to the inside of the base, then glue the hexagon piece to the inside to cover the tabs and strengthen the base.

Graduation Cap Gift Box by Esselle Crafts

TIP 2 : Glue the five lid tabs to the outside of the top.

TIP 3 : When rolling the tassel, I like to use a pair of narrow tweezers to start it off, but you could use a cocktail stick or a quilling tool instead.

TIP 4 : Before you reach the other end of the tassel, apply a little glue and attach one end of the long strip to it. Then continue to roll the tassel to the end and secure with glue.

TIP 5 : As an alternative to paper, you could try using a more traditional cord tassel. Just cut the ends to the desired length, then glue them to the top of the square piece. This will then be covered by the little circle piece.

TIP 6 : Line the square up so that the tassel hangs over the right side and one flat hexagonal side faces the front.

Now, what to fill it with? Chocolates? Small gifts? Or how about a congratulatory message rolled up and disguised as a diploma!

White Graduation Cap Gift Box for Academic Celebrations

Graduation Cap Gift Box Blog Post by Esselle Crafts

Happy crafting!
Suzanne