Advertisement feature

How to make an animal-themed Easter gift basket

Host the cutest of Easter egg hunts with these little gift boxes crafted with your Brother ScanNCut machine

60 mins  Medium

Create cute little gift boxes to present chocolate eggs or small gifts this Easter using your ScanNCut machine. Below are step-by-step instructions to create a rabbit, but you can experiment with the templates to create different animals for every party occasion. The ScanNCut takes the hard work out of cutting, leaving you more time to decorate your cheery animals!

How to make

Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
  •   A Brother ScanNCut SDX machine - available from Create and Craft or Makerssuperstore.com
  •   Gift box templates
  •   White and coloured card
  •   Alcohol markers
  •   White gel pen
  •   Double-sided tape
  •   Tissue paper

01.  Scan the two box base templates and the decorative elements for the rabbit into your ScanNCut machine using the scanning mat, selecting ‘scan to cut’. Adjust size if desired but at 100% both box base pieces will fit onto a sheet of A4 card. Cut the decorative elements from brown, pale pink and white card. Cut the eyes from black and blue card.

02.  Fold the two box base pieces along the scored lines. Apply adhesive to the centre square panel on the piece without the slits. Place the second base piece on top to form a cross and press down firmly to secure. Use a bone folder along each of the edges to ensure it is firmly attached then leave to one side to dry.

03.  Layer together the brown and pink ear pieces and secure with glue. Attach one pink oval to the reverse of the white cheeks, then attach the smaller pink circle on top to create the nose. Layer together the white, blue and black circles to create a pair of eyes. Using ProMarkers, add details to the nose, cheeks and mouth.

04.  Position the box base with the slits at the top and bottom. Attach the ears to the base of the slit, folding the left-hand edge over. Attach the layered cheeks and eyes to the centre of the base with glue. Hold in place to firmly secure. Add details to the ears with pink ProMarkers.

05.  To close the box, take the two sides without the slits, bring towards the centre and carefully pinch together. Lift the back of the box up (with the slit) and slot over the two tabs. Lift the front of the box and slot over the tabs, taking care not to bend the ears.

06.  Add details to the rabbit’s feet with a ProMarker then attach to the base of the box. Trim three strips of white card to create whiskers and attach to the left-hand side of the rabbit’s face. Repeat to add whiskers to the right-hand side. Fill the gift box with tissue paper and treats, to finish.

Top tips

  •   When creating the gift box, choose a medium weight card (216–230gsm) as this will create a strong box, which will still be flexible enough to open and close.
  •   Add details to the animals using ProMarkers or a textured embossing folder, decorating them before assembling the gift box.
  •   When resizing a project, don’t forget to select all the items and ‘group’ them together first, so that they all resize together. If cutting plain panels to fit with your decorative panels, remember to size them all the same.
  •   Do a test cut first using a scrap of card to check that the blade is cutting correctly.
  •   Write personalised name tags or labels to add to your gift boxes using the fonts that are installed on the ScanNCut.
  •   Keep the scanner screen clean for crisp, defined results on your uploaded designs.

Find more projects