Make a pentagonal-shaped box with an attached lid in various sizes with colored and black & white patterns. Three of the boxes are decorated with Adinkra symbols, range in size from 3" to 1¾", and nest together for storage. There are also boxes decorated for Independence Day and St. Patrick's Day, as well as, a tall box. Use the boxes individually or stacked as gift boxes and favors, or for storing jewelry and other trinkets.
Make these cardstock boxes more substantial by adhering decorative paper to the back of the printed cardstock pattern. Then increase their durability by coating the box with an acrylic varnish. Use any of Aunt Annie's digital papers to print a sheet of decorative paper.
Related crafts: To make six-sided boxes, see the Hexagon Box project, and for another type of pentagon box pattern see the Five-Sided Box craft.
Choose a box to make. Download and print the pattern. The nesting boxes come in three sizes with four versions of each size—plain colored, plain black & white, patterned colored, and patterned black & white. The patterned boxes feature Adinkra symbols from Ghana in West Africa with the blue box featuring Mframadan, a symbol of fortitude and preparedness; the small purple box featuring Dwennimmen, a symbol of humility and strength; the small green box featuring Adinkrahene, a symbol of leadership and greatness. There is also a tall box with colored, plain and patterned options. Bonus patterns: Make a patriotic-themed box with the the Stars & Stripes pattern or celebrate St. Patrick's Day with the Shamrocks pattern.
Tip: Want other colors or patterns for your boxes? Print the black & white patterns onto colored cardstock, or print the plain patterns onto patterned cardstock. Download Aunt Annie's digital papers to print your own patterned cardstock.
Patterns are Adobe PDF files. The Adobe Reader is available for free.
All of Aunt Annie's project patterns are designed to be printed on standard letter-size paper (8.5"x11" or A4). When printing from Adobe Reader, you may need to select Auto-Rotate and Center or Choose paper source by PDF page size to ensure the best fit.
Cut out the box pattern on the black outline. Try to make the cuts very straight. The box will be stronger and fit together better if the cuts are straight.
Using a straight edge and craft knife will make some of the cutting easier, but be sure to protect the table with a cutting mat or thick piece of cardboard. Caution: Be careful. Craft knives are sharp and should not be used by children.
Turn the box with the marked lines up. Score along each of the fold lines (red in this illustration) using a bone folder or empty ballpoint pen drawn along the edge of a ruler.
Fold one side along the score line, then unfold. Repeat for the other sides and glue tabs for both the box and the lid.
Tip: Make all of the folds sharp by running your thumbnail or a bone folder firmly along the fold.
Gently shape the box sides into a pentagon shape. Be sure the glue tabs are on the inside. Glue the tabs to the sides of the box with a good craft glue. Repeat for the lid. Decorate as you please, but be sure the box bottom and lid will still go together easily.
Tip: Use alligator hair clips or paperclips to hold the glued joints until the glue has set.
Your box is now complete!