It’s the time of the year when you are done with exams, the result is out and now many of you are celebrating and relaxing. There are many ways to celebrate success of any kind, but sometimes you don’t have an idea of what to present to others on their achievement.

So today’s craft is a surprise box, which you can fill with chocolates or even put a small present inside. What’s unique about this gift box is that it’s shaped in graduation or mortarboard cap, typically worn to signify achievement in high levels of education, usually Masters or doctorate degrees. But an achievement is an achievement so why waiting for the masters or doctorate level? Let’s make one today!

Things you need:

1. Black hard paper or black cardboard sheet
2. White glue
3. Scissors
4. Compass or any round mould (you can use plate or bowl)
5. Silk thread to make the tassel (Colour of your choice)

Directions:

Note: If you have a particular present, you can take its measurement and make a cap large enough to hold it. If not, then follow the measurements below for a small present.

The cap (surprise box) is made in two parts, the top will be the actual cap that can be seen, but beneath it hides the surprise.

1. Cut two 6-inch wide and 6-inch long, square-shaped pieces from black hard paper; picture 2.

2. Measure 2.5 width from the centre of the square-shaped piece, picture 3.

3. Make a circle, cut it out; make another circle inside the first one, now at 2cm width. The centre point remains the same; pictures 4 and 5.

4. Make slits from the edge of the main circle, reaching the circle inside it, (this is the base of our box); curve the slits inward as shown in pictures 6 and 7.

5. Cut at least 11-inch long and 2-inch wide strip from the black sheet, then glue half centimetre from one side of the strip, picture 8.

6. Paste it around the slits on the base of the gift box, picture 9.

7. Cut another strip from the sheet, the same size (11-inch long and 2-inch wide), but make slits at about half centimetre on this strip; picture 10.

8. Make a ring from this strip by pasting both the ends to each other; then curve the slits inward just like we did before, picture 11.

9. Now dab glue on the slits, then paste this side in the middle of the remaining square paper piece, pictures 12 and 13.

10. As both parts of the cap are ready, it’s time to paste the tassel on top of the cap, picture 14.

Our graduation cap is ready! Hide your surprise inside and let your friends keep guessing what’s in there!

The writer can be contacted at ithecraftman@gmail.com

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 25th, 2022