DIY Heart Pop-up Gift Box With Cricut

If you’re looking for a fun Valentine’s Day Cricut project to make from cardstock using your Cricut, this DIY Heart Pop-Up Gift Box is going to be a favorite. Interactive paper crafts such as pop-up cards and treat boxes are always popular for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, and special occasions. This Valentine treat box using Cricut adds an extra wow factor when it opens to reveal a pop-up heart message along with a small hidden space for candy or a sweet gift — perfect for handmade Valentine gifts and heartfelt surprises.

Supplies for Making The DIY Heart Pop-Up Gift Box

Here’s everything you’ll need to create this cute pop-up Valentine box.

• Cricut cutting machine
• 65-pound medium-weight cardstock. I recommend 12×12 Cardstock Shop for high-quality cardstock options. (For this project, I used solid colors and optionally, glitter cardstock.)
• Cutting mat
• Brayer tool
• Scoring stylus (or scoring wheel if you have a Maker, Maker 3, or Maker 4)
• Craft glue. I use Bearly Art glue, which dries clear and works well with any papercraft projects. 
• Cricut pen (optional, for writing a message on the heart)
• Small candy or gift to place inside the box
• Optional embellishments such as rhinestones, stickers, foam dots, or pearls
• Heart Surprise Pop-Up Gift Box Templates

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Download The DIY Valentine Pop-Up Gift Box Templates

• If you’re an existing A-Star Crafter, log in to access and download the Heart Pop-Up Gift Box templates here.

• If you haven’t yet joined A-Star Crafters, click JOIN A-STAR CRAFTERS below, create your account, log in, and go directly to the collection here! Join to get access to the templates for this Cricut Valentine project and so much more!

How to Make The DIY Heart Pop-Up Gift Box: Video Tutorial

Once you’ve gathered your supplies and downloaded the heart gift box templates, watch the video below for hands-on visual instruction and/or follow the step-by-step tutorial below the video.

Steps for Making the DIY Heart Pop-Up Gift Box

The following steps take you through each phase of creating the gift box, from preparing and cutting the templates to assembling the box and inserting the pop-up piece, along with adding an optional ribbon, bow, and other preferred embellishments.

1. Upload the Files Into Cricut Design Space.

Start by uploading the files into Cricut Design Space. If you need help uploading, see how to upload an SVG into Cricut Design Space or watch the process on my YouTube channel.

2. Adjust Lines and Add a Message.

To ensure that everything cuts, scores, and writes exactly where it should within Design Space:

• Change all black guide lines to Score lines and click the Attach tool at the bottom of the layers panel to hold the score lines in place.

• If you’re adding a message, type your text and then have your Cricut write it on the little heart that will go on the inside of the box, again, using the Attach tool to hold the text to the heart.

3. Cut Out The Gift Box and Other Pieces.

Place your cardstock onto the Cricut mat, using your brayer tool to press it down firmly.

• Cut out the main gift box, surprise insert, ribbon, bow, and heart from medium-weight cardstock. Use glitter cardstock for decorative pieces, if desired.
• Once cutting is complete, remove all pieces carefully from the mat.

4. Fold All The Score Lines.

Carefully fold along each of the score lines that you set in Design Space. You’ll see score lines on the main box piece, several tabs, the long rectangular pop-up support piece, and the small inner pop-up (heart holder).

Pro Tip: Take your time here — crisp folds are key to making sure the box opens and closes smoothly. Good creases make a big difference with pop-up projects.

5. Assemble The Main Box.

Now that you have all the score lines creased, we’ll put together the main box.

• Apply glue to each of the tabs on the main box piece and fold them inward.

• Be sure to align the edges cleanly, edge-to-edge, pressing gently until the glue grabs. You want the folds to be crisp and square so that once assembled, the box resembles a little square shape that opens and closes smoothly.

6. Add The Pop-Up Piece to The Box.

Next, we’re ready to assemble the pop-up piece for the Valentine box.

• First, fold the long rectangular piece along its three score lines. You’ll notice three short guide score marks in the center — these show exactly where the pop-up piece should be glued. This is what allows the heart to pop up when the box opens.
• Glue the smaller folded pop-up piece to this section.

• To ensure you’re gluing the pop-up piece to the box in the right direction, notice that the actual length of the pop-up area you’re gluing to the box should match the length of its score line. (They’re designed to line up perfectly.)

7. Create The Decorative Ribbon And Bow.

Next, glue the paper ribbon that wraps around the outside of the box.

• Holding the longer piece, start where the box lifts open.
• Wrap up, around the back, and down the front of the box, making sure not to cover the opening edge.
• Add the top and bottom ribbon strips to complete the wrapped look.

Assemble the bow:

• First, gently curl each bow piece using your Cricut scraper (or a pencil or dowel). It’s helpful to do this before you glue the centers together to give the bow a more natural curvy look (since the cardstock is medium-weight).

• Glue each end inward to form the loops, then stack and glue the two bow layers together.

• Attach the bow where the ribbon crosses over the center of the box.

You now have a cute little paper bow that looks like you just tied it to your handmade Valentine gift box!

8. Add Any Embellishments (Optional).

At this point, feel free to add little sticker rhinestones or other embellishments to the center for that extra sparkle!

9. Attach The Valentine Heart And Pop-Up Piece.

Add glue to the two long pieces parallel to each other and place the heart right on top.

Next, we’ll glue and place the entire pop-up piece inside the box.

• The bottom folded section becomes the bottom front inside of the box. Add glue to the bottom front part of the box that’s folded down, carefully aligning the folded edges. Hold this glued section in place for a moment to allow the glue to set before moving on.

• The top folded section becomes the top inside of the box. Add glue to this section. Again, hold in place to allow the glue to set.

Pro Tip: Hold off on opening/closing the box for a few minutes as the glue continues to dry since you don’t want your alignments to shift in any way.

10. Add The Front Heart And Any Finishing Touches (Optional).

As a last step, attach a heart embellishment (I used glitter cardstock) to the front of the box where it opens. This step is optional, but it does add a cute visual cue on where to lift the lid and discover the surprise. I used glitter cardstock here, but you could substitute another Valentine-themed cutout if you prefer.

Once everything is dry, add your candy or small gift inside the box.

‘Sometimes,’ said Pooh, ‘the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.‘
– A. A. Milne

Final Thoughts

This Heart Surprise Pop-Up Gift Box is such a fun and easy way to celebrate not only on Valentine’s Day but whenever you want to give a sweet treat or pen an endearing note to that special someone. I love that it’s interactive and completely customizable to fit any gathering or group event— or give to just one person as a caring sentiment any time of the year.

Happy crafting, and enjoy spreading a little handmade love!

Looking for Other Valentine’s Day Gift And Craft Tutorials?

Be sure to check out my entire holiday section devoted to Valentine’s Day crafting, especially these A-Star Crafter favorites below!