DIY Storage Box

This is feeling like a trash to treasure day, but only because I’ve seem to keep finding empty boxes around my house, and I'm not sure where there coming from……..but what’s better than turning an empty box into something cute?

Here’s what I made and here’s the how to…. 

What you’ll need:

An empty box doesn’t matter what size

 glue gun

sewing machine

scissors

2 fabrics one for the outside and one for the liner

  

First cut the sides of your box on the corners - this will be your pattern

Then take the fabric that your going to use for the outside and trace around the box, I added and extra ½”  on each side for my seam allowance, then cut it out.  

Next cut out the fabric your using for the liner,I used the piece of fabric I just cut out as a guide, and also added on an extra inch on each side.

I hope this next part is not to confusing to understand...it's easy..just not easy to explain!

So your going to go ahead an sew the sides of your fabric, right sides together, pinning 1/2” from the edge. Once you’ve sewn all the sides  you have a fabric cover(it looks kind of  like a limp fabric box) that fits nicely around your cardboard box.

( I sewed the liner fabric pinning the same way I did the outer fabric except sewing with a ¼” seam allowance,because you want it to fit loosely inside the box.)

I'm not sure if this is helpful but i put different colored lines, on each corner to show where you'll be sewing right sides together.

Right sides together

Pin half an inch from the edge

Corners together.

Then you will take the lining piece of fabric and we are going to make a casing for the elastic,(the elastic will help hold it around the box) so go ahead and iron down ¼” from the top all the way around then   fold it over again ½” and iron. After ironing Pin and then sew leaving an opening for the elastic.

Once I finished sewing I fed my elastic (through the opening I left) with a safety pin I ended up using 46” of elastic, but it will vary depending on how big your box is.

After you go all the way through with your elastic, zig-zag the ends of the elastic and trim them if needed and sew close the opening.

Next go ahead and tape up the sides of your box –to make it a box again, I also trimmed the cover of the box (I had originally cut it off) and placed it on the bottom of the box to make it a little sturdier ;)

Go ahead and place the cover you sewed  around the outside of the box  and then fire up the glue gun. Your going to take the top (raw edge) of the fabric folding it over onto the inside of the box and gluing it down as you go. make sure to pull kind of tight but make sure it’s even on all side.

After gluing it should look like this.

Place liner inside box.

I also made a quick fabric flower for the front of the box, just to dress it up a bit but its optional

And your done!

Have a great weekend!