First DIY of 2017! Woohoo! In the spirit of getting the year off on the right foot, I committed to creating more with what I already own; so, when Megan of C’mon Get Crafty invited a bunch of bloggers to participate in a “de-stash” crafting challenge, I knew it was the perfect way to start 2017. We seem to have a plethora of diaper boxes lying around these days (hmm, I wonder why?), so I thought I’d work on culling my crapload COLLECTION of fabric. With just fabric, glue, ribbon, and my mathematical prowess (HA!), I made a gorgeous DIY fabric-covered storage box.
The idea of the Craft Room De-Stash Challenge was to make something (anything!) using supplies we already owned. We were allowed to spend an additional $10, but I didn’t end up needing to. 🙂 Not sure what that says about the extent of my craft stash…
Like all first babies (and, I imagine, second and third babies), our little girl has been totally and completely spoiled. She has a different doudou (what we in Quebec call a stuffed animal) for every day of the week (and then some!), and a extensive selection of hand-made quilts and blankets. Seriously, this kid has had a whole lot of love showered on her, and we couldn’t be more grateful. It does, however, present something of a storage challenge, so I thought I’d make something pretty and practical in which to house her many snuggly things.
Everyone can use an extra storage box, and if it can be attractive and inexpensive, all the better! Here’s how to cover a cardboard box with fabric to make a lovely storage solution.
Materials
- Two pieces of contrasting fabric (I used approximately 1 meter of each colour)
- Straight pins (or binder clips)
- Glue gun
- Fabric glue (optional)
- Approximately 1 meter ribbon and/or trim
- Scissors
- Ruler
Directions for Making a Fabric-Covered Storage Box
- Print my DIY Fabric-Covered Box Template, and plug in the measurements for the height, width, and length of your box. Use the formulas on the template to determine the required length and width of your fabric. (Don’t forget to add 2 cm to every side for the fabric overhang!)
- Cut out two rectangular pieces of fabric (one of each colour), according to your box’s measurements. (I folded my fabric in half to simplify this step.)
- Fold your rectangles in four (half and then half again) and pin them together for accuracy. Out of the fully-open corner (where there are no folds), cut a square equal to the height of your box (measurement C on the template). Your unfolded fabric should now be in a cross shape.
- Iron your fabric!
- To line your box, take your lining fabric (white, in my case) and begin by glueing the top 2 cm over the top of one of the sides of your box. Smooth out the fabric and glue along the inside seams of the box.
- Repeat on the opposite side of your box.
- For the other two inside panels, folder under the fabric at the box seam and glue. This will give you a crisp corner. Glue along the seams and top.
- Lay your lined box in the centre of your outer fabric. Mark the placement of the corners with a pencil. Glue the base of the box to the base of the fabric.
- Cut diagonally towards the base in between each of the side panels. Cut the fabric almost to the box’s corner.
- Fold over and glue the outer edge of each panel of fabric (these will be at the top of the box).
- Repeat steps 5 and 6, but on the outside of the box.
- To finish the last two sides, fold under your fabric at the box seam and glue along the seam. Stretch the fabric evenly and glue the folded edge to the top of the box. Fold over and glue the other seam.
- Add any desired trims or decorations! First, I glued on some wide rose satin ribbon, then over that I added a simple white upholstery trim. I then made a K out of three lengths each of ribbon and trim, which I glued onto the centre of the front of my box. I added a little flower detail just for an extra touch.
My box makes the perfect storage solution for Katherine’s stuffed animals and blankets, and it fits LOTS of things. (When it isn’t artfully styled with the animals’ eyes peeking over the top, that is. If you just toss ’em in, you can fit LOADS into this box.) I love that it cost me exactly NOTHING to make, I recycled something, and I saved myself a trip to the home decor store in -20° weather. Anything to avoid going out!
I know in my heart of hearts that it won’t be a long-lasting solution to Katherine’s storage needs (she will be mobile soon, and then the pretty things will never again be contained, but rather strewn all over the house), but it will definitely do the trick for the time being. Perhaps during that tear-everything-apart stage I’ll use it for special keepsakes or outgrown clothing, and give it back to her when she is less likely to pick off all the pretty pretty trim. 🙂
↓ Pin me! Pin me! ↓
I’d love for you to take a look at the other participants’ projects from the De-Stash Challenge! There are some amazing ideas, and all of them made using materials we already owned. SUCH a great way to economize and be ecological!
P.S. In case you didn’t hear, I’m hosting a DECLUTTERING challenge starting later this week! To sign up, simply use the form below to subscribe to Flourish & Knot’s newsletter, Knotty News. I’ll send you all the details of the challenge! I’d love to have you on board.
Love it Sarah! I have a bunch of shipping boxes (my Amazon ordering obsession) that I can do this with. We are always needing storage bins for one reason or another.
Doesn’t everyone need about a million storage bins?? Thanks for reading, Ali!
This reuse girl LOVES THIS!
I love repurposing projects!
Cute idea! Can never get enough storage, esp. with kids. Visiting from Crafty Destash.
How do such little people have so much STUFF?? 🙂
What a great way to repurpose that diaper box. Thanks for the inspiration.
Glad you liked it!
What a great upcycle. So many possibilities. LOVE.
Thanks, Sue!
This is a fabulous idea. The boxes are pretty and so useful.
Cute! I love simple storage solutions like this. 🙂
Absolutely!
What a great idea! These are too cute! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Mary!
Looks like a good use for all those boxes I have!
Definitely! Re-use and recycle! 🙂
You can never have too much storage space, great idea!
This is great. Diaper boxes really are good sturdy ones. I used to have several covered ones for storage. If I wanted to use a fabric that was thinner, instead of lining the fabric, I covered the box first with a layer of solid colored duct tape, that way the printing on the box didn’t show through a lighter fabric. Stopping by from the Crafty destash challenge and sharing!
Yeah, that would definitely be an option if I did this again. Thanks!
We did something like this recently as well. Love how expensive they look for so little, and that they’re not plastic!
Agreed about the plastic! Too much plastic in the world…
Buying storage totes can be so expensive. Love this idea! Pinning and checking out some of the other ideas.
Thanks Rachel. I agree: they are expensive and it’s always nice to make your own.
I cannot tell you how many times I wanted to reuse my millions of diaper boxes. This is a very useful and clever upcycle, well done!
Thanks, Megan. They are just such great, sturdy boxes, so it kills me to recycle them all the time…
What a great idea! I always hate the waste from all those boxes and packages I receive~ especially from amazon! Now you’ve got me thinking of how to reuse them. Thanks!
Reusing them is useful and ecological! 🙂
Such a cute project. I’ve got tons of big diaper boxes and could really use something like this! Great idea.
Ugh, I had so many boxes that I just tossed. And I have tons of fabric to use up too. Great upcycle!
Thanks, Erlene!