Berry Gift Basket: A Paper Berry Box Filled With Tissue Shreds

This little Berry Gift Basket looks like a pint-sized produce box dressed up for a party. It is made from patterned paper, edged with a woven border in a contrasting color, and packed with fluffy tissue strips. A small tag sits on the front, lifted off the surface so it casts a tiny shadow.

It works well as an end-of-year teacher gift, and it is easy to make once you have the pieces cut. Stuff it with a gift card, a few paper or fresh flowers, or wrapped candy.

Supplies

A cutting machine with a berry container die (the kind that cuts a flat, foldable berry box)
A woven border die, for the basket-weave strip
Patterned paper in a spring or vintage style; a paper pad with a few pre-printed tags is handy
A second paper in a contrasting color for the border
Glue stick
Tissue paper for the filler
Pop-up glue spots (foam adhesive dots)
Scissors

Cardstock-weight paper holds the box shape best. Very thin paper may sag once the box is filled.

Steps

Cut the pieces. Run the patterned paper through your machine with the berry container die. Then cut the woven border from your contrasting paper. Cutting the border in a different color makes it stand out, though a matching shade looks subtle and tidy.
Glue the base. Fold up the box shape and glue the base tabs together with the glue stick. Press each tab firmly for a few seconds so it stays put.
Attach the border. Find the center of the woven strip and glue it to one side of the berry box.
Close the sides. Use the loose ends of the border to join the remaining sides of the container. The strip acts as both trim and glue flap, so wrap it around and press it down one side at a time.
Make the filler. Cut a sheet of tissue paper into thin strips. Fluff them with your fingers and tuck them into the box until they peek over the rim.
Add the tag. Cut out a tag from your paper pad, or make one from a scrap. Stick two or three pop-up glue spots on the back and press the tag onto the front of the box, so it sits slightly raised.

Variations and tips

Change the occasion. Choose red and green papers for a holiday version, soft pastels for a baby shower favor, or bright florals for Mother’s Day. Write a name or short message on the tag to match.

Change the filler. Shredded kraft paper gives a rustic look, and crinkle paper in a bold color adds contrast with the patterned box. Tissue in a shade pulled from the print always looks coordinated.

Choose what goes inside. A gift card tucked into the tissue is the simplest option. Small flowers, a mini candle, a lip balm or a handful of wrapped chocolates also fit well. Keep the contents light, because paper boxes do not carry heavy items.

Make a batch. If you are giving several gifts, cut all the pieces first, then glue the bases in one go, and finish with the borders. Working in stages is faster than completing one box at a time.

Avoid common problems.

Use only a thin layer of glue. Too much will wrinkle the paper.
Do not fill the box until all the glue is dry.
Press the pop-up spots on the tag first, then line it up before sticking it down, since the foam grips quickly.

If you do not have a cutting machine, you can draw a simple open-top box on cardstock with a ruler, score the folds, and weave thin paper strips for a hand-made border. The result is slightly different but just as charming.