Boxes, Tins and Pouches
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For something a little different, think outside the box—or maybe inside the box! This section focuses on special places to store personal keepsakes. Why shouldn’t the exterior of a container be as impressive as, or more impressive than, its contents? And why should you bother wrapping a gift, when you can make the gift box itself a treasure? You might be surprised how just a little fabric, some ribbon and a few stitches can make a plain old container spectacular! Some of these projects incorporate store-bought containers, such as wooden and papier-mâché boxes. These are like prefabricated blank canvases, with surfaces that are ready to be decorated. Other containers are waiting to be discovered in the most unexpected places. Who would’ve guessed you could recycle old mint tins or crocheted potholders in such a unique way!
MATERIALS AND TOOLS
papier-mâché boxes (set of three, if desired) cardstock fabric (in three coordinating patterns,
if desired) ribbon (coordinating with fabric) scissors fabric glue liquid seam sealant (such as fray check) hole punch eyelets eyelet setter pencil ruler iron
1. Cut fabric
__Cut a length of fabric to fi t around the sides of a papier-mâché box, allowing about 2" (5cm) of fabric around the top edge of the box and 1" (3cm) of fabric (or less) around the bottom edge of the box .
2. Adhere fabric to box
Use fabric glue to adhere the fabric to the box. Fold the 2" (5cm) of extra fabric into the box, adhering it to the interior sides with glue.
3. Glue bottom edges of fabric
Fold the remaining fabric over the bottom edges of the box and glue the fabric to the bottom surface.
4. Cover bottom surface with fabric
Cut a piece of the same fabric used to cover the box, trimming it just slightly smaller than the box’s bottom surface. Glue the fabric to the bottom, then add liquid seam sealant to the fabric edges.
5. Line box interior
On a piece of cardstock, trace around the bottom edges of the box. Th en, measure the sides of the box; using these dimensions, measure and mark pieces of the same cardstock to line the box interior. Cut out the bottom and side pieces. Use the cardstock to line the box, adhering the pieces to the bottom and side panels with fabric glue.
6. Cover box lid
Cut a piece of fabric 1" (3cm) wider and 1" (3cm) longer than the box top. Glue the fabric onto the top surface of the lid, centering the lid so there is ½" (12mm) of fabric on either side. Cut the corners of the fabric at an angle, then glue the corners in place for a mitred look.
7. Prepare fabric for sides of lid
Measure the width of the box lid sides. Cut a long strip of fabric that is double this width. Fold in both sides of the strip to make the width equal to the sides of the box lid, then glue and iron the strip.
8. Cover sides of lid
Glue the fabric strip around the sides of the lid. If the strip is not long enough to cover all four sides, repeat Step 7 to make another strip. Line the lid of the box, as you did the bottom in Step 5.
9. Set Eyelets
Determine a center placement for the eyelets on two opposing sides of the box. Punch one hole on each side, then set the eyelets with an eyelet setter.
10. Tie bow
Cut and place a length of ribbon around the exterior of the box, running each end through an eyelet. Put the lid on the box, then bring the ends of the ribbon on top of the lid and tie the ribbon in a bow. If desired, cover two more boxes with coordinating fabric to make a complete set.
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papier-mâché boxes (set of three, if desired) cardstock fabric (in three coordinating patterns,
if desired) ribbon (coordinating with fabric) scissors fabric glue liquid seam sealant (such as fray check) hole punch eyelets eyelet setter pencil ruler iron
1. Cut fabric
__Cut a length of fabric to fi t around the sides of a papier-mâché box, allowing about 2" (5cm) of fabric around the top edge of the box and 1" (3cm) of fabric (or less) around the bottom edge of the box .
2. Adhere fabric to box
Use fabric glue to adhere the fabric to the box. Fold the 2" (5cm) of extra fabric into the box, adhering it to the interior sides with glue.
3. Glue bottom edges of fabric
Fold the remaining fabric over the bottom edges of the box and glue the fabric to the bottom surface.
4. Cover bottom surface with fabric
Cut a piece of the same fabric used to cover the box, trimming it just slightly smaller than the box’s bottom surface. Glue the fabric to the bottom, then add liquid seam sealant to the fabric edges.
5. Line box interior
On a piece of cardstock, trace around the bottom edges of the box. Th en, measure the sides of the box; using these dimensions, measure and mark pieces of the same cardstock to line the box interior. Cut out the bottom and side pieces. Use the cardstock to line the box, adhering the pieces to the bottom and side panels with fabric glue.
6. Cover box lid
Cut a piece of fabric 1" (3cm) wider and 1" (3cm) longer than the box top. Glue the fabric onto the top surface of the lid, centering the lid so there is ½" (12mm) of fabric on either side. Cut the corners of the fabric at an angle, then glue the corners in place for a mitred look.
7. Prepare fabric for sides of lid
Measure the width of the box lid sides. Cut a long strip of fabric that is double this width. Fold in both sides of the strip to make the width equal to the sides of the box lid, then glue and iron the strip.
8. Cover sides of lid
Glue the fabric strip around the sides of the lid. If the strip is not long enough to cover all four sides, repeat Step 7 to make another strip. Line the lid of the box, as you did the bottom in Step 5.
9. Set Eyelets
Determine a center placement for the eyelets on two opposing sides of the box. Punch one hole on each side, then set the eyelets with an eyelet setter.
10. Tie bow
Cut and place a length of ribbon around the exterior of the box, running each end through an eyelet. Put the lid on the box, then bring the ends of the ribbon on top of the lid and tie the ribbon in a bow. If desired, cover two more boxes with coordinating fabric to make a complete set.