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Heart Shaped Box

by ChrysN on February 7, 2010 Table of Contents Heart Shaped Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intro: Heart Shaped Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 1: Materials and Tools: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 2: Punch out hearts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 3: Preparing to glue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 4: Glue hearts together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 5: Make opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 6: Glue on bottom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 7: Sand edges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 3 5 5 7 7 8

Step 8: Add lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Step 9: Dust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Step 10: Gloss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

http://www.instructables.com/id/Heart-Shaped-Box/

Author:ChrysN
I like sewing and crafts,and trying new things. I'm vegetarian and always looking for new recipes. My cat's name is Mirko and likes to be in the centre of things, so you will see him in several of my instructables.

Intro: Heart Shaped Box

I made a little box for Valentine's Day by layering and gluing a stack of paper hearts together, sanding it and applying a glossy coat. To make it extra special you can write your sweetie's name or a romantic phrase on the lid.

Image Notes 1. Use for jewelry.

Image Notes 1. With lid on.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Heart-Shaped-Box/

Step 1: Materials and Tools:

Old magazines or catalogs Coloured paper; reds and pinks (paper with colour on both sides works the best) Heart punch (I used a 2 inch one) Dremel/ sandpaper Glue (the white stuff that dries clear - ie; Weldbond, Mod Podge) Small plastic container Brush for applying glue

Image Notes 1. Heart punch 2. Dremel 3. Sandpaper 4. Red and pink paper. 5. Catalog or magazines. 6. Glue.

Step 2: Punch out hearts

Punch out a ~2.5cm thick stack of red, pink and magazine or catalog paper hearts. Layer the paper hearts in an alternating pattern. Punch out two more smaller stacks about 0.5cm thick, for the lid and bottom piece.

Image Notes 1. Ikea catalog hearts.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Heart-Shaped-Box/

Image Notes 1. Alternating layers.

Image Notes 1. Add red and pink paper.

Image Notes 1. Lid. 2. Bottom piece. 3. Repeat with smaller pieces. 4. Centre piece.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Heart-Shaped-Box/

Step 3: Preparing to glue

Mix equal quantities of glue and water into a small container, enough to cover your stack of paper. To hold the paper stack together while dipping it into glue wrap an elastic band around it, try to line up all the paper hearts evenly.

Image Notes 1. Pour glue into container.

Image Notes 1. Add equal part water.

Image Notes 1. Put elastic band around heart.

Step 4: Glue hearts together

Immerse the stack of paper hearts. The gluey water should cover all parts of the heart. Wiggle the elastic band around so that it gets underneath and flip through the paper at the ends. Ideally the glue will find its way between the hearts. Drain and lie flat to dry, put something heavy on top to prevent the paper from warping . Repeat with the top and bottom pieces (separately). It may take a day or two to dry. To prevent them from sticking to the surface it is lying on, move it around every once and a while. If it does stick, and the paper tears, just punch out a new paper heart and glue it over the torn piece.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Heart-Shaped-Box/

Image Notes 1. Flip through the ends so that the gluey water can get in.

Image Notes 1. Drain.

Image Notes 1. Heavy rocks to weigh it down. 2. Inukshuk.

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Step 5: Make opening

I used a dremel to cut out a hole in the centre piece (2.5cm thick), then sanded the edges to make it smooth. Alternatively if you had a smaller paper punch to make a shape that would fit inside the heart, you could just punch out the inner shape before you glue the paper stack together, you will still need to sand the opening to make it smooth.

Image Notes 1. Cut opening.

Image Notes 1. Sand to opening to make smooth.

Step 6: Glue on bottom

Once the opening in the centre piece is finished you can glue the bottom piece on.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Heart-Shaped-Box/

Image Notes 1. Bottom piece. 2. Glue to bottom.

Step 7: Sand edges

Use a Dremel or ordinary sandpaper to even out the edges of the heart. I gradually increased the grit to create a smooth finish. I noticed that the vigor of sanding the heart caused some separation between the layers of paper around the edges. I applied glue with a brush into these cracks and but a heavy book on top while the glue dried.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Heart-Shaped-Box/

Image Notes 1. Sand until smooth 2. Separation, needs to be re-glued!

Image Notes 1. Uneven edges need smoothing.

Image Notes 1. Smooth! 2. Separation between layers. Just re-glue and but a heavy object on top to hold it together while it dries.

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Step 8: Add lid

I placed the lid on and held the two pieces together while I sanded the lid so that it was even with the bottom piece. I then rounded the edges of the lid.

Image Notes 1. I round the edges of the lid with sandpaper.

Image Notes 1. Put lid on.

Image Notes 1. Rounded edges.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Heart-Shaped-Box/

Step 9: Dust
All that sanding and cutting creates a lot of paper dust on the heart. I used a Dremel attachment that nicely cleaned all of it off. It is important to remove all of the dust before you do the next step.

Step 10: Gloss

Adding a coat of clear drying glue is a great way to protect the paper heart and give it a nice glossy finish. (If you want to write something on the lid, this is the time to do it.) Using a brush, liberally coat the heart, do the lid and base separately.

Image Notes 1. Coat with glue.

Image Notes 1. Glue will dry clear.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Heart-Shaped-Box/

Image Notes 1. With lid on.

Related Instructables

Anatomical Heart-shaped Box (for your unique Valentine.) by Bindlestiff

Make a heartshaped gift box for Valentine's Knitted Heart Day! by sharkh2o for St. Valentine (Photos) by stinkymum

Make A Special Valentine Gift by Creativeman

How to enter the Heart Pencil 2007 Show Your Monsters by Heart SomArtMama Valentine's Day Project Contest! by ewilhelm

Comments
7 comments

Add Comment
Feb 11, 2010. 8:14 AM REPLY

handprints says:
once again,you've made a treasure!! thanks for being on instructables!!

ChrysN says:
Thanks!

Feb 12, 2010. 4:16 PM REPLY

Creativeman says:
Your creativity keeps shining through! Thanks for posting this project. Cman

Feb 11, 2010. 6:26 AM REPLY

ChrysN says:
Thanks Cman!

Feb 12, 2010. 4:16 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Heart-Shaped-Box/

Sunbanks says:
That's so cute! I never would have guessed that it's paper!

Feb 10, 2010. 3:31 PM REPLY

ChrysN says:
Ya, coating it with glue makes look almost like plastic.

Feb 10, 2010. 3:47 PM REPLY

gmjhowe says:
Thats a perfect little project! Keep it up.

Feb 10, 2010. 11:27 AM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Heart-Shaped-Box/