1 Measure the object
Measure across the widest point in each direction, including knobs or handles. The box is a plain rectangle that fits around all of it.
2 Hide a message
3 Paper
Use 160–200 gsm card (about 0.2 mm thick). The fold allowances assume that thickness. The printed side ends up inside, so coloured card gives a coloured box.
Card colour (preview only)
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4 Print it at 100%
Print at Actual size / 100%. Turn off “Fit to page”. Then measure the calibration square with a ruler. If it is off by more than half a millimetre, fix the print scale before you cut. The PDF asks viewers not to scale it, but some drivers still do.
5 Cut, fold, close
- Check the square. It must measure exactly what it says.
- Cut the solid lines, including the four short slits where each tuck flap meets its lid.
- Score every dashed line with a dry ballpoint pen against a ruler. Then fold each one toward the printed side. The print goes inside.
- Glue the tube. Put glue stick or double-sided tape on the plain side of the narrow glue tab. Fold the four panels into a tube with the tab tucked inside the far side panel, then press it flat until it holds.
- Close the bottom. Fold in the two small dust flaps, then the bottom lid. Slide its rounded tuck inside the wall.
- Put the object in and close the top the same way. The slits catch the dust flaps so the lid stays shut.
- The message is on the inside of the top lid. Whoever opens it finds it.
What this is and isn't
- A neat rectangular enclosure. It is not padding or protection for fragile things.
- One closure (reverse tuck end with slit locks), one card thickness (≈0.2 mm), one sheet.
- Inside dimensions are never smaller than 15 mm. Smaller objects get the minimum box and some rattle room.
- The message must use Latin characters. Emoji and other scripts can't be printed in the PDF, so they are left out.