I absolutely LOVE this idea. I first heard about it months ago when my friend, Carol Story, gave it to me, and I've been waiting ever since to share it with you.
On her last birthday, Carol received a beautifully wrapped gift box from her sister-in-law, Marge Parkinson, with the admonishment that she NOT open it. The box was the gift! There was more to it, of course. Inside the box, Marge had put a music box. The turning handle was on the outside of the box, so you never had to open it to play music. Because I'm a person who loves the look of presents so much that I wrap up empty boxes at Christmastime--just so we'll have presents to look at after the rest are opened--you can imagine how wonderful I think this idea is. I hope you will, too. Besides, I think it's the perfect gift to give that person who seems to have everything.
Materials:
cardboard box
music box gift
wrapping paper and ribbon
double-sided tape
scissors
marking pen
awl, compass, or ice pick
Before you begin:
The cardboard box can be as large or as small as you wish. The only requirement is that it be large enough to hold the music box. If it is of very lightweight cardboard, you can reinforce the bottom and/or sides with foam board or cardboard. On one fold-up box, I put a piece of foam board in the bottom. That was the only one.
Boxes with a lift-off top that fits only about 1/2 inch or so down the sides are the easiest. Wrap the top and bottom separately, insert the music box as described below, and tie a ribbon around it. Easy.
Steps:
- Remove the turning key from the music box. Open gift box and determine where you want to position the music box. It should be on the back wall near a corner so the key will not interfere with any ribbon you might use (figure A).
- Place a small piece of double-sided tape over the opening in the music box where the key goes, and make a mark with marking pen (figure B). Immediately press the box against the wall in the gift box where it will be placed. The ink should transfer to the cardboard so you can see where to make the hole. Remove tape.
- Poke a sharp pointed object through the cardboard where the mark is (figure C). If the box is too small to get in an awl or ice pick, use a straight pin; then you can use the ice pick from the outside. Work the hole until it is large enough to accommodate the shaft of the key.
- Place the music box in position and tape to secure (figure D). Insert the key to make sure everything is where it should be, then remove the key, and gift wrap the box. Run finger along wall where hole is located and carefully puncture the paper. Insert key.
- Wrap package with a wonderful bow so that it really is a happy-looking addition to any room (figure E). Let the music play!
A Final Note:
The package can be wrapped with a beautiful wire-ribbon bow, a series of bows stacked on top of each other, or even gobs of narrow metallic ribbon streamers that you curl madly. This time, you CAN put your money into the wrapping because basically, it's the gift!
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