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Balloon Box Tutorial:
How to Make a Balloon Gift Box

A balloon box is a super gift idea for many occasions, from birthdays to Mother's Day, Father's Day and - of course - Valentine's Day. I've even seen it at gender reveal parties or underneath the Christmas tree.

With our step-by-step tutorial, you'll know how to make a balloon gift box yourself in no time at all!

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What You Need for a Balloon in a Box

Balloon Box Materials
Balloon Box: Step-by-Step TutorialLike this tutorial? Pin it for later!

Step 1: Lining the Balloon Box

Take four pieces of tissue paper and cut them to the width of your box. The length you require will be the height plus the width, which gives you enough to line each side and four overlapping layers to cover the bottom of the box.

Starting on one side, run your glue stick around the edges and three or four times across the middle (fig. 1). Now take the first sheet of tissue paper and carefully line it up with the top edge of the box (fig. 2).

Before pressing it into position, make sure that the remainder of the tissue paper will not come into contact with the glue on the surface. 

Putting glue on the inside of a balloon box.
Lining the box with red tissue paper

Now, working from the top down to the bottom, begin lightly and evenly pressing the tissue paper onto the side (fig. 3). The remaining length of the tissue paper should be covering the bottom of the box completely (fig. 4). 

Lining the balloon box with tissue paper
Box almost completely lined with tissue paper

Repeat these steps on the remaining three sides and the box should finish up neatly lined and with four overlapping layers of tissue paper to 'soften' the bottom of the box (fig. 5).

Box almost completely lined with tissue paper

Step Two: Applying the Decorative Ribbon

Take the deco ribbon and bring it around the underside of the box. Making sure it's centralised, line up the end of the ribbon with the edge of the first closure flap and attach it with a piece of clear packing tape (fig. 6).

Now bring the other end of the ribbon around and cut it so that it lines up with the edge of the second flap. Again, attach it with a piece of clear packing tape (fig. 7). 

Adding deco ribbon to the outside of the box
Adding deco ribbon to the outside of the box

Take your second length of deco ribbon, giving enough to wrap around the box and overlap at each end by about 10 cm (fig. 8).

Now, making sure that the ribbon runs centrally across the seam of the two flaps, take a piece of clear packing tape to stick the ribbon at the top edge of the side of the box (fig. 9). Repeat this on the opposite side of the box. 

Adding the deco ribbon to the outside of the box
Adding the deco ribbon to the outside of the surprise balloon box

And this is how your box should look!

Self-made box for a balloon in a box gift

Step 3: Filling the Balloon Box

Sprinkle some decorative metallic confetti into the box. We used multi-colored balloon and star shaped confetti (fig. 11).

Add your 5" latex balloons and the party poppers. If you like, you can always add some extra little gifts and, of course, a greeting card. For example, in our gift box we chose two small bottles of sparkling wine (fig. 12). 

Filling the balloon box with glitter confetti
Two small bottles of sparkling wine as an extra surprise in the balloon box

Now you need to attach your curling ribbon to the mylar heart and inflate it with helium as shown on our 'Valentine Balloon Bouquet' page.

If you don't want to stretch to the cost of a large helium tank, you have two options. Either get an already inflated mylar balloon from your local Walmart or party store or purchase a disposable helium tank.

Next, tie the balloon weight to the other end of the ribbon (fig. 13) and place the balloon heart in the box (fig. 14). 

Balloon weight tied to the helium filled mylar balloon heart
Positioning the mylar balloon heart in the balloon box

How to Make a Balloon Gift Box: Finishing Touches

Fold in the first two ribbon-less flaps (fig. 15), followed by the remaining two with pre-attached ribbons (fig. 16). 

Closing the balloon box
Folding in the last two flaps of the balloon box

Now take the two loose ribbons and bring them across the top of the box to meet one another and join them together using a piece of clear packing tape (fig. 17).

Next, add the finishing touch by attaching the self-adhesive decorative bow to the center of the box (fig. 18). 

Bringing the loose ribbon ends together on the closed balloon box
Finished surprise balloon box with self-adhesive decorative bow on top

And there is your fun surprise balloon box, all set for delivery to the lucky recipient! 

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