Cat Shaped Box with Heart Eyes

Shallow cat-shaped box composed of lid which fits 

snugly over base presents a whimsical cat 

holding heart photo prop sticks over eyes 

in amorous expression. 

Box is large enough to hold standard gift card, 

sticky-dot affixed inside to base floor. 

Dimensions: 4.125” wide at widest x 

5” tall ears to toes. 

Companion tags designs available 

in separate file: “Cat Tags Foursome”.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:

A LID front panel

B LID top and right side boxing strip

C LID bottom and left side boxing strip

D LID front panel overlay with guide marks

E heart wands l & r (2 ea.), hearts (4), arm overlays

F mount outline and nose overlays

G BASE main panel

H BASE right and side boxing strip

I BASE left and side boxing strip

J BASE overlay    K tail overlay

L decorative liners for LID and BASE

2. Identify the LID boxing strips which each have

a small half circle notch at side tab edge.

NOTE that the LID boxing has notches

and the BASE boxing does not.

Also note that the LID main panel includes

an 'L' symbol cut in.

3. Prepare the LID boxing strips by bending back or

forward on cross perforation lines so that the strip

corresponds to the main panel edges. 

Bend edge tabs back.

Use a moderately sized rod tool such as this dowel

to add slight curl to the long side panels of

each strip, and also . . .

. . . to the shorter top center segment and

the bottom center segment (with finger notch).

4. Begin with the right side/bottom strip to position

the first segment (past end tab) on the inner ear edge

of the main panel.

Align the first segment tab with the short edge

to overlap the tab to perforation line. Apply glue

and attach in place.

5. Bend the strip to align the next segment's perf line

 with the top ear edge and attach in place.

6. Prepare to attach the side edge to strip by

tacking opposite segment edge at end of panel

side edge. Then . . .

. . . ease the edge into place and attach.

To assist in attachment, invert the assembly

face down on work surface and apply

fingertip pressure along seam tabs

(shown in later steps).

7. Continue to position and attach leg bottom and

inside edge, then position and fit the bottom body

curved portion of boxing to fit panel edge in approx.

the same manner as for long side panel.

8. Position and attach the second boxing strip

by aligning the end tab, then overlapping the end

straight edge across the end tab of strip 2, adjusting

so that top and bottom edges align, then glue seam.

As boxing strip attachment progresses, invert face down

on table top and apply fingertip pressure along seam tabs.

9. As assembly is completed to the final segment,

apply glue so that the top curved segment can be

positioned and attached at the same time as

the end straight edge is aligned for the final side seam.

10. Repeat the boxing strip and panel assembly

for the BASE and BASE strips.

11. Prepare the heart wands by layering and attaching

any multiple shapes selected for dimensional assembly.

Glue shapes for 2 pairs of wands and 2 pairs of hearts.

Then position and attach hearts over heart ends

of wands, with narrow offset margin all around.

12. On accent front panel, gently bend the arms

outward slightly, then position and attach the arm

outline overlays at cut edges.

13. Use side guide marks to position and attach

mouth/tongue accent. Then . . .

. . . position nose shape just above lowest point

in mouth arc.

14. Locate the want bottom guide marks . . .

. . . then carefully slip the wand under arm . . .

. . . and slide down into position to cover

the bottom guide mark, while also aligning

the "valley" corner at top center of heart with

"v" guide mark in face area. Apply glue to keep

the wand in place on body and underside of arm.

15. Position the assembled accent panel over the front

of LID, with narrowest of margins at all edges.

16. If desired, "embellish" the hearts by adding

crystal glaze . . .

. . . carefully outlining then filling in

the liquid, then allowing ample time to dry.

17. If desired, position and attach the tail onto

back panel, using bottom position guide marks.

18. Position and attach back accent panel onto

BASE outer face, with narrow offset edge all around.

19. Position and attach accent liner inside BASE

and LID (shown here with gift card sticky-dot attached).

20. Close the box by fitting LID over BASE,

and sliding completely closed.

Further embellish by attaching selected tags

from “Cat Tags Foursome” design group,

simulating tying around tail.