DIY Paper Mache Cake Gift Box

I am old enough to remember when gift bags came into “style” for gift giving. Prior to that, everything was wrapped! I was so excited to have an alternative to the tedious chore of gift wrapping – I am not one of those people who enjoy it. I was inspired by my niece’s recent SMASH cake. The smaller cake is a perfect size for a one year old, but more than that- it makes for adorable birthday photos. Today’s project is a darling gift box DIY that is sure to a big hit next time you present a gift!

Cute, right?

Supplies needed to make your own gift box DIY cake:

• Lime Green Striped Paper Straws
• 3 inch Round Paper Mache Box with Embossed Design
• Colored Tissue Paper (Hot Pink, Yellow)
• White Craft Paint
• Heavy Duty Professional Craft Glue Gun

Paint your paper mache box. This may take a couple of coats. I chose white paint. The great thing about this paper mache box- is that it comes embossed. It already looks like an icing-piped cake!

Make sure you get a good coat on the bottom of the box, it will become the top.

You may notice some inconstant seams on your box. This is okay. We will be covering this part.

Accordion fold a piece of hot pink tissue paper. You will want about 5 folds, measuring about 1/2″ wide.

Cut along the folded paper- leaving it in one piece.

Cut fringe along one full edge of the folded paper. Take care not to cut all the way through the fold.

Using a hot glue gun, and working in small sections, adhere the fringed tissue paper to the bottom (lid) of the box. Be careful. The tissue paper is thin, and the hot glue will go through all of the layers of paper.

Repeat for the top edge of the box (which is actually the box bottom).

Slightly “crumple” the tissue paper to fill it out.

Cut a paper straw into “candle” lengths.

Trim yellow tissue paper into 3″x 3″ squares.

Pinch the tissue paper square in the center and fold it inward.

Add a small amount of hot glue to the pinched end and insert it into the cut straw piece.

Using scissors trim the tissue paper into a “flame” shape.

Repeat for all of your “candles.”

Adhere the “candles” to the cake gift box diy using hot glue.

Insert your chosen gift like these mini shadow box fridge magnets, and add a small tag or card!

This would also be a cute centerpiece!

Try this project on a larger scale as well, paper mache boxes are inexpensive and come in many shapes and sizes!

About Shaunte

Shaunte is a 30-something, chocolate-loving, SAHM from Utah. She has been scrapbooking since 1997, the dreaded era of photos cropped with deco scissors. Since then, her work has evolved into a clean, linear, photo-focused style. Her favorite subjects to scrap are her husband and five kids (never a lack for subject material there).

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