Sunflower 3D Hex Box

Sunny hexagon shaped gift box composed of lid 

and base with dimensional sunflower blossom 

on top built of two sizes of slice-form petals. 

Layered rosette and center design embellish the top. 

Great as a treasures box or gift box to celebrate 

the sun-flowery days of summer, 

or many other great occasions. 

Or, simply use as cheery decor. 

Measures approx. 5.5" tall x 6.5" wide 

x 2.2" tall (plus top decoration). 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A main LID shape with accent rectangles
B main BASE shape with accent rectangles
C base "liner" to reinforce & strengthen base
D lid accent shape (with slots for E riser)
E riser to provide platform for sunflower center
F rosette pleated strips (2)
G rosette front and back stabilizing centers (2)
H large petal units (6 sets)
I small petal units (6 sets)
J leaf units (6)   K flower center layers

2. Prepare the riser shape by bending back on

all the panel perforation and tab lines,

except bend the end tabs forward.

3. Bend the sides back to join the corner seams:

bring the straight side edge to overlap the opposite

tab to the perforation line, and glue in place.

Complete all 6 corner seams.

This is the completed riser unit.

4. Position the riser in the center face side
of the lid accent, and insert the tabs into
the slots. Then push completely in . . . 

. . . and bend tabs outward. Glue each tab in place.

On the face side, apply pressure through the lid

accent to make sure that the tabs are secured.

5. Prepare each of 6 LARGE petal units by bending

three perforated petal shapes with the right side

of paper bent face to face (valley fold).

Each unit also can include the optional

plain (un-perforated and un-bent) petal base.

To ensure that the tips will be uniform
and crisp, crease along the fold with thumbnail
extending all the way to the tip on each petal.

6. Join the first two of the "slices" by lining them

up side by side, identifying the backs of each

that correspond, then gluing those two backs together.

Take care to line up the fold edges as precisely
as possible, with the tip and inward ends
also aligned precisely.

Press the stack flat to ensure that the connection

between the two slides being joined is complete

and secure.

7. Position the third slice in similar fashion,
then join the back surfaces that correspond,
repeating the accurate adjustment and pressure
on the stack steps.

8. If using the plain base back shape, apply
adhesive to the back faces of the slide unit,
then position and attach the two.
NOTE that the base shape may not reach
completely to the edges of the slice unit underside.
Prepare 6 large petal units.

9. These are the shapes for each of the 6

smaller petal units: four slice shapes plus

optional base plain shape.

Prepare the perforated shapes by

bending in half with face sides together,

and thumbnail crease all the way to tips.

10. Position and join the 4 slices in a manner

similar to the large petal process . . . 

. . . joining slice back halves to adjoining

and corresponding slice shapes until all four

are joined.

NOTE that it is possible to spread the slice

fins to be able to apply pressure to the slices

being joined to ensure secure joining.

Add the optional base plain shape if desired.

Complete 6 small petal units.

Here are the completed small and large petal units.

11. Position (center base edge against riser side)

each leaf shape on the lid accent, 

and attach in place.

12. Position each large petal unit onto the lide
accent, with base touching the corner of the riser,
and tip aligned at the hex corner, and glue
underside in place securely.

13. Position each small petal unit between
the large petal units, overlapping the bottom
slice layer of the large neighboring petals.
Petal should be centered along riser side edge
and touching, with point bisecting the outer hex edge.

14. Identify the tab end of each of the 2

pleated medallion strips, then . . . 

. . . prepare each by bending the perforations

in accordion fashion, beginning with a valley fold

at the tab end first perforation, then alternating

mountain-valley-mountain across the strip.

15. Join the pleated strips by overlapping
the straight (left in this image) side edge over 
the opposite strip's tab to perforation.
Make sure top and bottom cut edges align,
and join the seam.
16. Form the strips into a ring tube (face side outward)
and complete the second seam in the same way.

(Heat up the glue gun before the next steps.)
17. Begin to form the pleated strips ring into
its flattened form by gathering the pleats together. . .

. . . while at the same time forcing 
the top inward . . . 

. . . until the pleats are flattened.
Continue to hold this form, pressing inward
from all sides toward the center.

18. Apply hot glue around the pleats at the
middle opening, then quickly position the front
cover circle, centered . . .

. . . and glue in place. Continue to force

the medallion into its smallest diameter

while the hot glue cools and solidifies

to ensure that the pleating is uniform all around.

19. Position and attach the back cover.

20. Layer the bottom two center shapes (large scalloped 

shape with hole-punched decorative overlay,

center, and join.

21. Position and join (centered) over the front

of the pleated medallion.

To help center the unit over the riser box,

use a pointed piercing tool such as this awl

to punch a hole through the center of the front

and back cover circles of the medallion.

22. Position the medallion unit over the petal
assembly, using the center guide hole to
align the two.

23. Position and attach the top layer center
(to hide the guide hole).

24. Prepare the LID and BASE main shapes

by bending back on all panel perforation lines,

side seam tabs and rim flanges all around.

25. Unfold LID side walls, then position and

attach each of the side accent rectangles

offset within the creased lines.

26. Bring two adjacent sides into position
to overlap the straight edge to the adjacent
tab perf line, and glue the seam. Complete
each of the six side seams.

27. Bend the rim flanges inward and glue in place

to the backside of the side wall.

28. Repeat for the BASE: the attachment of

 the accent rectangles, the shape the wall alignment

and seaming, and the rim folding 

inward and attaching.

29. Position and attach the BASE interior

hexagon reinforcement shape inside the base.

30. Position the lid sunflower unit, with the accent

hexagon shape slightly offset within the lid's

top edges, and attach in place.

(NOTE: it may be helpful to use a quick grab

glue such as Fabri-Tack or hot glue.)

31. To close the gift box, carefully fit the lid
over the base.
NOTE that this may be a snug fit.

Here is the completed sunflower box.

Sunflower 3d Box Tutorial

For those sunny days from mid summer to fall,
here is a snappy little sunflower 3d box with lid
made from cardstock measuring approx. 4 1/4" x 5" x 1 3/4". 
The design file is available for purchase
from SnapDragon Snippets through the
Silhouette America online store.
Create one to freshen your decor displays,
fill with lemon drops as a gift, 
hold paper clips or other small desktop items.

As shapes are cut, mark the "north" position on the petal rings and centers as they are removed from cutting mat. Also number the 6 individual petals 1-6 from "north" position clockwise around as they are shown in original design download. 

The bottom set of star shapes and boxing strips are for the BASE, and the top set are for the LID (with centering alignment hole). NOTE that the lid and base each have two star shapes cut: one to attach to boxing strip, and the other for top (or bottom) FACE shape to hide construction tabs. 

Begin by folding the boxing shapes at perforations. (See the next two images for specifics.)

For BASE, identify the narrower "curve" sections on the strip (tabs will have 3 wedges). Fold perforations on each side of curve sections as "valley" or face-to-face folds. Fold remaining perfs as "mountain" or back-to-back folds. Then fold the lower edge tabs back (mountain folds).

For LID, repeat the folding prep process. The lid has a set of straight "tabs" at the top edge as shown in this image (actually will be the lower edge of lid boxing when in place). These are the rim reinforcement tabs to strengthen the lid edge, and will be folded back (mountain) to the inside and glued in place.

Add curl to narrow sections.

Use a round pencil shaft placed behind

the base boxing strip then curl just that section slightly as shown.

For the lid strips, first fold back (mountain folds) and rim edge tabs and glue in place. Leave the end narrow tab unfolded (to be folded back after boxing is attached), then repeat the shaping process for the narrow "curl" sections. 

Begin to add first strip to base star shape. Apply adhesive to one curl tab and 2 straight "star point" tabs only. With bottom tabs folded perpendicular to strip, slide the star edge curve edge into the curve of the strip until it is snug. 

Immediately align the star point tabs around the adjacent point, pushing until point edges are snug against perforations.Place on a flat surface and apply pressure BOTH down against star and tabs, and from side to ensure that perforation is snug against curved and straight cut edges of star shape.  

Use a pointed tool (like this knitting needle) to ensure that star point does NOT curl or bend out of place, and to apply pressure to create a good bond of tabs to star all the way to point. Work the three edges and hold until glue is secure.

Repeat this "3 tab" gluing operation until the first strip is in place. This image shows the progress as more tabs are glued in place. NOTE that the tabs are visible on the bottom (outside) of the base star shape.

Apply pressure from the outside of the point and curve to continue to "snug" the star shape edges into the angle of the strip and tab perforations. Pieces should fit together accurately at each step to prevent an accumulation of inaccuracies. 

When one strip is in place, attach the first 3-tab set to appropriate star edges, THEN glue the strip-to-strip tab and strip end; make sure the end edge aligns snuggly against the vertical perforation of the tab. Doing it in this order helps ensure that the boxing perforations end up perpendicular to the base star shape.

Continue until the second strip is completely attached, then join the end tab to the lead edge as shown here. 

This picture shows the tab and lead edge being glued from the outside view of the base box.

Apply glue to all of underside of outer star shape, then position to cover tabs construction. Once adjusted for accurate placement, place face-side down on flat surface and apply pressure until glue is secure.

The base is now completed.

Repeat the boxing strip process for lid. When both strips are in place with end tabs joined, fold the final rim reinforcement tabs inward and glue in place. Attach the top FACE star shape, and the lid is now complete.

Build the sunflower on the six point star shape (shown as green in sample). Compare shapes to layour for "north" positioning, then to attach bottom & second rings of petals, and "solid" flower center. Attach the top center (with punched holes). Here one shape is shown with pencilled "north" arrow to help as it was removed from the cutting mat. "North" on the box lid is a point, shown top center on the largest image at the beginning of this tutorial.

With center shapes in place, glue individual top petals in place over their specific undershapes of the middle section. No. 1 shape is just left of the "north" position, then 2-5 rotate clockwise around the flower. Refer to the photo image of completed flower, next, to see in which positions these petals will be placed.

Here is the completed lid with north point of star at the top center.

Prepare and attach bee layers. Fold wing layer at center, then apply glue to fold ONLY, attach and hold fold in position on body until secure. Attach eyes.

Attach a small foam square to bee underside at front and tail. This image shows prepared bee. Determine your desired position, then remove protector strips from foam squares surface and affix bee in place.

Fit lid over base, and your box is complete!