Top Tip Tuesday – How to Calculate Measurements for Boxes. I have had a few requests for help with working out how to calculate the measurements for boxes. I am hoping that the video in particular will help, but I will try to explain it here too. This box is for a Nails Inc Nail Varnish. This is the brand I always use, I find it goes on well and last a long time. It also stands up to the vigors of crafting and, if you use the top coat, will not mark the card. I should add that I get nothing for promoting this brand!

The Nail Varnish comes in a rectangular pot, which does make measuring a little easier. The box needs to be slightly larger than the item you are putting in it and I always go up to the next ‘sensible’ measurement. In inches I think of a ‘sensible’ measurement as being 1/4″, but if you are brave, you could go to 1/8″. This box is 2-3/4 (height) x 1-1/2 (width) x 1″ (depth) and I decided that it would open at the top with a flap into the box. I also decided that the flap would run across the width of the box. These are important decisions to make as you need to add extra card to allow for the flap and understand where to add it.

If we start by looking at how we calculate measurements for the card needed to wrap around the pot, we will need 2 x width, plus 2 x depth, but we also need to add a seam (I use 1/2″). This will give us this mathematics:

1-1/2 + 1-1/2 + 1 + 1 + 1/2″ = 5-1/2″

Next we look at how we calculate measurements for the card needed to go from top to bottom. For this we need 1 x height, plus 2 x depth plus the flap. Again I have used 1/2″ for the flap. I find it is easier if you always use the same measurement for seams and flaps. The maths for this is:

2-3/4 + 1 + 1 +1/2″ = 5-1/4″

We now have the measurements we need for the card to make the box. A piece of card measuring 5-1/2 x 5-1/4″. Next we need to look at the scoring. Let’s start with the 5-1/2″ edge. This will wrap around the pot and we already know the number of widths and depths, so let’s just follow those round. We start with a the seam, so score at 1/2″. Next we need to alternate widths and depths, so starting with a width, we need to move 1-1/2″ along and score at 2″, move a depth of 1″ and score at 3″, a width of 1-1/2″ and score at 4-1/2″. This will leave us with 1″, or a depth. Magic, just what we need!

Rotate your card by 90 degrees, it really is not vital which way. We then repeat the same process. Start with the flap and score at 1/2″. Next allow a depth by moving 1″ and score at 1-1/2″, allow a height by moving 2-3/4″ and score at 4-1/4″. This will leave you with 1″, or a depth. Again this is magic! Well actually it is all just maths.

You will see how I construct the box from here in the video above. For the patterned paper I generally reduce the dimensions of the each of the panels by 1/4″ to allow 1/8″ margin between the card and the paper. I did not cover the base of the box, so cut 2 panels at 2-1/2 x 1-1/4″, 2 panels at 2-1/2 x 3/4″ and 1 at 1-1/2 x 3/4″.

So, the BIG QUESTION. Helpful or totally confusing? Although in the video I said I would show how to calculate the dimensions for more box styles only if I was asked, I have decided to do some more in the coming few weeks so do come back for more!

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