Covering a box with wrapping paper is nothing new, but attaching a metallic handle is certainly a lovely addition! And when the box is actually an old shoe box, that is certainly a transformation! My new storage boxes look super cute on the shelf and they’re so convenient ~ I can now organize any smaller objects, paper, etc. Who would know that they used to be shoe boxes? All you need is an old box with a detachable lid, nice looking wrapping paper, a foam brush and some Mod Podge. Pick a handle that you like and use an electric drill to make perfectly round holes for the screws.
I made one a couple of months ago and now two more so that I can organize the shelves above my desk. I chose rolls of wrapping paper with matching patterns and a color palette that would complement the space.
I already filled one with magazine clippings.
I used the smaller one for markers.
And the third one is for cards.
The handles were actually a shiny, old fashioned gold and I used shiny gold spray paint to give them a more modern look.
Here are the very easy instructions! You can also follow these steps to cover boxes with fabric, in which case you should substitute Mod Podge with simple glue stick.
1. Lay out the paper, good side down. Position the box on the paper, making sure that there is enough paper around the box to cover all the sides, plus an additional two-inch margin. Trace the outline of the box. With a long ruler, continue tracing horizontal lines, extending from the longer sides of the box.
2. Add Mod Podge on the bottom part of the box and affix the box onto the paper. Cut along the extended horizontal lines that you just traced, like so:
3. Now trace a vertical line, two inches from the exterior long side of the box, and cut. Repeat for all four corners.
4. Apply Mod Podge on one larger side of the box, adhere the paper, and leave a two inch margin along the top to fold on the inside, and cut off the rest. Repeat for the other long side.
5. Apply some Mode Podge on the margins you left in the previous step, as well as on the paper on the smaller sides of the box.
6. Add glue on the small sides of the box, measure a two-inch margin to fold inside, cut, add glue and flip margin.
7. Repeat the same process for the lid, as if it was a box, leaving a smaller margin (about one inch).
8. Use an electric drill to make perfect holes. Place the handles and screws in place and fasten them from the inside with a flat washer and a screw nut.
The screws that came with the handles were too long and they extended too far into the box (see left). So, I decided to replace them with shorter flat-headed ones (machine screws). I added one more screw nut so the screw wouldn’t show.
With a different paper pattern, my boxes could fit nicely in the kids’ rooms: bright red and blue for my nine year old and maybe grays with geometrical patterns for my daughter. They would also be convenient in the closet to store shoes.
Check out more do-it-yourself box ideas:
Kate Spade Inspired DIY Colorful Boxes,
2 Acrylic Photo Frames = 1 Stylish Acrylic Box,
Taking A Bottle Opener To A New Level Of Chic,
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That’s brilliant- and your work is so neat!!
I love this. Thanks.
I love these — especially those handles. I would not have been able to make them that neat, great job!
Melissa, thank you for the link party and for the opportunity to share my project! I really like your blog!
Beautiful idea! I’ll definitely be doing this. Thank you for sharing!
Where did you get that beautiful paper?
Lori, the wrapping paper is either from Marshalls or from Home Goods. I cant’ remember because it has been a while, but that’s where I usually get wrapping paper from.
Absolutely gorgeous!!