Birthday in a Box Gift Idea

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

Do you love celebrating? And do you have friends or family that live far away? If so, a birthday in a box gift idea is just the thing! You can create it in any combination of colors, customize it for your birthday boy or girl, and mail it off for a fun surprise! This idea is fun even if the recipient doesn’t live far away … just drop it on the doorstep and run {wink}!

One of my favorite things about the Cricut Maker is its versatility. You can use it to cut all different kinds of materials, creating a full birthday party with Cricut or a fun DIY birthday party in a box.

First, choose a color theme then use those colors for all the supplies you use for the projects below.

Start with a plain box, large enough to hold all the items. Use a cake box from the craft store or recycle a box from the mail. Fill it with coordinating paper filler, either storebought or homemade and then get crafting!

DIY Felt Banner

To make a felt banner, you’ll need felt in coordinating colors {I used three different colors}, matching baker’s twine or ribbon, and a glue gun.

In Cricut Design Space, use the shapes feature to make triangles. You want to create them in a size that will fit well within the box. I made them about two inches wide and around three inches long then used the duplicate feature to create the number I needed and cut them out in each color.

To cut the felt, use a fabric grip mat, and click on edit tools to select the rotary blade. You can cut with the fine point blade but I love the results I get cutting felt with the rotary blade. It doesn’t pull and creates a perfect shape every time.

Use hot glue to attach the felt triangles to twine and hot glue the ends inside the lid of the box, making sure you set it inside enough that the box will be able to close.

Happy Birthday Banner

Next, use colorful cardstock and a coordinating pen color to create a happy birthday banner.

Add a banner image and text in Cricut Design Space.

Don’t limit yourself if you find an image but only like certain aspects of it. It’s easy to customize an image. I liked the text on an image but didn’t want the wreath surrounding it so I used the contour tool to eliminate what I didn’t want.

To use the contour tool, simply click on contour in the bottom right corner of Cricut Design Space and click on each of the elements that you don’t want. This is such a cool and easy way to customize an image.

Add the text to the center of the banner image, use the align tool to center horizontally and attach. If you don’t attach the two layers together, they’ll create as separate items rather than drawing the text and cutting around it.

To make the banner, use a standard grip mat, the fine point blade, and a pen in clamp A. The Cricut Maker will create the text first then cut around it.

Using pens is one of my favorite things to do with the Cricut Maker. You can create tags, cards, and wall art in just minutes with only one machine!

Glue the banner to the inside top of the box just above the garland and then you’re ready to make the goodies to go inside the box.

DIY Confetti Jar

Every party is better with confetti, right? Including a jar full of confetti is a fun way to add a festive tone to the birthday box.

Use a small mason jar, colorful cardstock, and vinyl to create the confetti jar.

Spray paint the lid of the jar, if desired, so it matches the theme and prepare the other elements while the paint is drying.

In Cricut Design Space, create circles in all different sizes {add a circle shape, alter the size as needed, then use the duplicate tool to quickly make as many as you want} then create a vinyl message to add to the jar.

Cut the confetti circles out of cardstock then cut the message from regular vinyl. Put the confetti inside the jar, use transfer paper to attach the vinyl to the mason jar, and seal it with the lid.

DIY Birthday Tag

Birthday cards are so expensive so make a Cricut DIY birthday card or a tag instead! You can make a tag from cardstock, kraft board, or even leather and customize it with pens!

To create a tag in Cricut Design Space, add a tag shape, then add a text message or birthday image. I added an image and then changed the cut lines to draw lines.

Use a standard grip mat and use a pen in clamp A and the fine point blade in clamp B.

Create the tag then add some twine or ribbon to the top.

DIY Birthday Cake Slice Gift Box

If you’d like to make a cake slice gift box like this, you can use a file in Cricut Design Space but let me show you how I did it so you can also customize images.

Add a pie slice box shape from images then decrease the size to fit on one mat.

To create the cake decorations, add a squiggle line image then alter it to make it look more like icing.

I used the slice tool to cut off the ends {see this post for instructions on using the slice tool}, then duplicated it twice and laid the pieces over each other, overlapping. I then used the weld tool to attach them together, eliminating any cut lines and creating one piece.

Duplicate and enlarge for the side icing pieces.

To create the sprinkles, I placed circles on either end of a rectangle then welded them together. A bit over the top but cake has to have sprinkles, right {wink}?

To create the layer of icing on the cake, I duplicated the entire box, changed all the lines to cut lines and then once cut, I just used the pieces I needed.

To cut the pie box, use a strong grip mat for the kraft board {the main box} and a standard grip mat for the cardstock.

This box uses a scoring wheel so you can easily fold it into shape. When sending it to the machine, the Cricut Maker will recommend using a double scoring wheel but you can click on edit tools and change it to a single scoring wheel as well. {To learn more about the scoring wheel, be sure to check out the post I wrote all about how to use the scoring wheel}.

After the box is scored, the Cricut Maker will prompt you to change to a fine point blade to finish the rest.

Once all the pieces for the cake box are cut, assemble them …

… and attach with hot glue or another preferred adhesive.

DIY Glittery Cake Topper

To make a glittery cake topper, you’ll need kraft board, mod podge, colored fine glitter, and a wooden skewer or toothpick. If you use a wooden skewer, I recommend cutting it in half to shorten it.

Insert an image or create your own text but you’ll need to use a script font that’s all joined together. I used an image that was already in Cricut Design Space because I loved the font style.

You should be able to use a scrap piece of kraft board left over from cutting out the cake slice gift box.

Once cut, use the spatula tool to lift gently from the mat so you don’t tear it. For something really thin like this, I actually like to use the scraper tool to lift it because you can get under it from the bottom and slowly lift it all up at once. That eliminates any bends or folds and gives it a lot more stability.

Place the paper on top of wax paper and use a small paint brush to lightly coat it with mod podge …

… then sprinkle it with fine glitter, and shake off the excess.

Let it dry completely then hot glue a skewer or toothpick to the back …

… to create the cake topper.

DIY Cricut Birthday in a Box Gift Idea

It sounds like a lot of work but these projects are all quite easy. Once you’ve got them all made, package them in the box filled with coordinating filler, add a few balloons, colorful paper straws, a mini bundt cake or cupcake, and a candle or two.