Is your New Year’s resolution to be 100% organised for the year? I think this sweet little Fabric Covered Card Box can help. It’s the perfect place for a year’s worth of birthday cards. Buy or make a bunch of cards and store them in date order, with a few extras just in case.
One of the best things about this project is that you’ll probably have most of the tools and materials you need. Use an old pillow case or piece of clothing for your fabric. The button I had left over from an old project. Who doesn’t have a junk drawer with a few stray buttons (or is that just me?) Otherwise, be creative with your latch, use a shell, a sturdy twig, a wooden bead, you get the gist.
Before
After
The Project In a Nutshell
Explore your pantry for a good size box. This box will form the base of your Fabric Covered Card Box.
Give your box extra strength by gluing thicker cardboard to the outside.
Then the pretty stuff – glue fabric strips onto the outside of your box. Use fabric remnants from previous projects, old clothes or old bed linen to give it a positive repurpose feel. Alternatively, you can buy a ¼ metre of your favourite cotton or linen.
When attaching the cardboard panels onto the base box, use 100% glue. But when gluing the fabric onto your box, use a watered down glue mix, roughly 50% water, 50% glue. You’ll find this watered down glue easier to spread. It also saturates the fabric and helps to press it flat against your box. I use Bondcrete but any white glue that dries clear will work for this project.
Lastly, explore your options for a latch, be creative and resourceful.
Tools and Materials Required
Process
Step One
Measure the area to be cut, ie 45 mm from top of box. Draw a line across front of box. The lines on each side should be at an angle from the 45 mm point at the front, right up to the back corner of the box.
Step Two
Cut the box at front and both sides. Use the lines you have marked as a cutting guide. The side of the box will have lots of little cardboard pieces, some of which may become loose. This is ok, as long as you have a lid that sits shut over the base of the box. Use tape to secure the box at seams.
Step Three
Here you can see how the masking tape reinforces the box in places where there are joins.
Step Four
Using your cracker box as a stencil, mark and cut the heavier cardboard so that you have a piece to attach to each part of your biscuit box. This will make your box extra sturdy. Apply full strength glue to the heavier cardboard and attach to the cracker box . Use pegs and masking tape to hold the cardboard in place until dry.
Step Five
Cut or tear fabric into small strips (about 50 cm wide). You’ll need various lengths and sizes, so these strips can be cut down further once you start applying the fabric to your box.
Step Six
Mix about a teaspoon of water and a teaspoon of glue together. Spread this onto the top and back side of box with a paint brush. Glue down a long piece of fabric along the back top and side of your box (as shown). This will create a reinforced hinged opening. Allow to dry.
Step Seven
Mix another small batch of glue and water (as in step six). Open box and attach another strip of fabric to act as the inner hinge. Allow to dry.
Step Eight
Mix about ¼ cup glue with ¼ cup water. Apply glue to box in workable sections and adhere fabric strips and squares. It’s not necessary to cover inside of box entirely, only top part of inside.
When gluing, ensure that you apply ample glue, especially along the edges of fabric so that it adheres securely. Remember – this process can be done in segments.
Step Nine
Once box is completely covered and dry, use a large sewing needle to pierce three small holes into box as shown in photo.
Step Ten
Using elastic, attach button to bottom part of box. Feed elastic through button and then through the box. Secure with double knot on inside of box.
Step Eleven
Measure elastic so that you have a loop that will securely sit around your button. I use 1 mm black, millinery elastic. Anchor elastic to box with double knot on inside of box. Then, to secure elastic in place, tie knot at front of box too.
And there you have it, your Cracker Box is now a sweet little Fabric Covered Card Box. Go ahead and load it up with greeting cards or whatever else you chose.
