Getting Crafty

I may know my way around a power sander and a paint brush but I don't consider myself terribly crafty. Though, I do come from a long line of amazingly crafty ladies on my mother's side. Maybe it skipped a generation...however when itty bitty baby items were taking over my cupboards and closets I realized I needed more closets some way to contain it all. So I headed to the thrifty lady's organizational mecca- Ikea. There in the showrooms I found a storage container for every possible type of clutter I could ever hope to own. And then I wandered around to the store and was taken aback! Ikea you are supposed to be CHEAP! Ikea you even require assembly of small storage containers! Ikea this is just a cardboard box covered in fabric why would I pay you $10.00 for it! And there it came to me-I have cardboard boxes, I have random bits of fabric, why not make my own fabric covered cardboard boxes for the purpose of corralling baby related clutter? And so I did.

From This

To This

What follows is my very real attempt at a tutorial. This tutorial makes this project seem way more complicated than it is. In reality this took only slightly longer than assembling the Ikea fabric covered box (I bought a few because I didn't know if this was going to be a craft fail or not).


Supplies
1 Box- I used a shoe box but you could use anything
Fabric- I used an old tablecloth that shrank
Scissors
Glue
Foam Brush (optional)

You will want enough fabric to wrap around the box you chose. I eyeballed everything because measurements and spatial skills are not my strong suit. 

Mark with a pen (I put masking tape to make it more visible for photos) your cuts. You want to cut away the edges of the fabric to leave a cross or plus sign when all cuts are made. IMPORTANT: In order to create the finished edges you need to leave yourself just a little extra fabric (1/4 of an inch)

After you cut out all the corners this is what your fabric should look like.

The apply a liberal amount of glue to the bottom of your box (I use the foam brush to spread it evenly but you could use your finger) and position it in the center of your fabric. Turn over and push the fabric into the glue making sure to get out any air bubbles.

Then apply glue to the side of box and bring up the corresponding panel of fabric and adhere to the box. You should have 1/4 of an inch of fabric hanging over on each edge. Then glue the fabric to the inside of the box. Pulling tight and making sure there are no air bubbles.

The ends of box should each have that 1/4 inch of fabric hanging over like so.

Repeat the above steps for the other long side of box (or if your box is square just the corresponding side).

Once both sides are done (two glued on and two naked) place a line of glue along the box next to the fabric overhang. Fold the overhang around the corner of the box and press down tightly.

Repeat for all the fabric overhangs (there should be four). Then spread glue along the two remaining sides of the box and bring up the fabric panel. Apply glue on top of the fabric overhang that you folded down and then fold in the corresponding fabric overhangs on the panels that are not yet in place. 

The finished corners should look like this. Then glue the fabric inside the box.

If your box has a top then simply repeat the same steps for the box top.

Here is my finished product next to the box I bought from Ikea. I think I like mine better.

Linking to:
Martha Mondays
Made By You Mondays
Sundae Scoop

Debbiedoos' Newbie Party
Homemaker on a Dime