You are looking for a personal and unique gift for your loved ones for Christmas, a birthday or any other occasion? Then I have the perfect solution to this problem here: a DIY When-box.

Back in Germany the When-Book was popular. Basically, it consists of many small gifts that the recipient can use in different situations. But since I found it so sad that you only can pack very small and thin gifts in there, because otherwise the book would be too thick and no longer closed, I switched to the When-box. There is a lot more space in a box or basket, even for larger gifts. You can give away little “helpers” for all possible situations.

Thanks to its individual adaptability, this gift box is suitable for every person and really every occasion.

The When-box

At first I thought I’m giving away the When-box because I like it. But everyone will recognize the effort and love behind such a When-box-making process. Almost everyone would be happy about a When-box. But what is it really?

What is a When-box?

A lot happens in life. And you want to prepare your loved ones for that. For almost all situations. 🙂

The When-Box is a box or basket full of great gifts. Every gift should be opened when a certain situation arises.

That means in plain language: You write a When-saying, e.g. “When you have a tickle in your throat …” and stick the corresponding mini-gift with it. In this case, for example, cough drops or cold tea or something like this.

I love this idea. It is effective and funny and not that difficult to implement! AND you can make it really sustainable too. Reuse boxes, baskets and use sustainable gifts.

The Wenn-Box is a practical gift because it can be adapted for any occasion. 

Examples:

• Emergency box (a friend is getting married soon)
• Self-care box (you know someone who had a lot of stress lately)
• When we are not together box (you won’t see someone for a long (or short 😉 ) time)
• Welcome to the “real” world box (graduation from college) 

It goes on and on.

DIY instructions:

• storage box
• Paper bags
• Stamp and ink pad
• pen
• filling material
• Instructions (saying, cardboard, double-sided tape or glue stick)

You are also completely free in the design idea. For example, I normally attach the “When” Slogans directly. But you can glue numbers on the parcels and give them an instruction that shows what the numbers mean. 

How to do it

Step 1: Take the first paper bag, card, or small box and stamp the word “WHEN” on it. You complete the sentence with a pencil (e.g. When you lack a bit of spice in life).
Put the appropriate product in the bag and seal it.
Repeat this process until you have placed all the products in their respective bags.

Step 2: Put all the bags in a large storage box or a nice basket and decorate it.

Step 3: So that the recipient knows what to do with the box, you write a corresponding saying on a card and put it in the box.

Your When-Box is ready to be given away.

These are my 30 sustainable filling ideas:

WHEN…

You can see that it is not difficult at all. Your box can have as many items as you want and you can easily combine it with no cost items.

How do you like this gift idea? Who would you give a When-Box to? And what would you give away?