The short answer: a bead box is one cross-shaped net: a square base with four wall panels around it. Iron it on one side only, fold the walls up, and fuse or glue the corner seams. Add a fifth panel as a lid with a small handle bead.
Making the whole box as one piece instead of five separate panels keeps the corners perfectly aligned. This is the best first 3D project after the cube.
Step by step
- Design the net: a base of 10 by 10 beads, with a 10 by 8 wall on each side. Draw it on grid paper first.
- Iron the whole net on one side only and cool flat.
- Fold the four walls up along the base edge, bending toward the un-ironed side.
- Hold the first corner closed and fuse the two wall edges together through paper, or use a thin line of hot glue.
- Do all four corners, then square the box up while it is still warm.
- Make a lid: a 12 by 12 panel with a small loop or handle bead on top.
Design ideas
- Heart box: shape the walls into hearts and the base becomes a tray.
- Jewelry box: use a 14 by 14 base with 6-high walls, plus a padded look with striped walls.
- Gift box: no lid, just fold four flaps inward like real gift boxes.
- Pen holder: taller walls, 10 high, and a plain base.
Net design and one-sided fusing are explained in our 3D patterns guide, and ready nets are in the pattern library. Beads, boards, and paper are in our shop.