A beautiful and bright box is an indispensable assistant for every child, teenager or adult woman. In the original box you can store jewelry, a personal diary, and favorite souvenirs as keepsakes.
In modern stores, every buyer will undoubtedly find a huge assortment of chests of all sizes and shapes. However, you can always make a bright accessory with your own hands, using your own skills, dexterity and a set of available materials.
Drawings for making a travel bag
The first and most important stage of any master’s work is preparing a drawing. The diagram of the future casket can be found ready-made or sketched on a sheet of paper. The following points must be noted on the drawing:
- Dimensions of the accessory itself, including the height of the walls, width and length of the bottom. The lid is depicted as a separate element, since its width must exceed the dimensions of the base.
- In addition, the plan diagram should indicate what type of cover is planned to be made (folding or removable model).
- Don’t forget to display the shape of the decorative toiletry case.
The best solution would be a separate image of the accessory as a whole, and sketches of each detail.
Wooden boxes
To work on the box you will need some starting material. Therefore, they are often made from wood residues or its derivatives.
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Options for making a beautiful casket
Today there is a huge selection of plastic materials and compositions with which you can create an original craft with your own hands.
This quality can be salted dough, thick paper or cardboard, sheets of plywood or solid wood.
The choice of a specific material depends on the experience of the master, his skills and abilities.
Wood craft
The most durable caskets are made of wood. Small stumps or logs, timber or boards can be used as consumables. Also useful for this work are a chisel, a sharp knife, a plane, a jigsaw, and tools for grinding surfaces.
We should not forget about antiseptic and moisture-resistant impregnation solutions. Such a detail will significantly extend the life of the decorative accessory.
Instructions on how to make a travel bag from wood:
- All parts are cut out of timber or wooden boards using a jigsaw.
- Sharp edges and cuts are treated with a file or sanding paper to remove irregularities and nicks.
- The next step is to impregnate the surfaces using moisture-resistant oil.
- For further assembly, you can use one of the fastening methods: dowels, special grooves, screws, glue. The best methods are glue and making grooves. Such techniques do not involve the use of sharp fasteners.
- Assembly is carried out sequentially: bottom, four walls. If you use glue in your work, you should carefully remove any excess that may spoil the appearance.
The cover is mounted as a removable part, always using sides to secure the structure. The inner surface can be left untouched or the bottom and walls can be lined with chintz, velvet, or other fabric.
Plywood box
The second most popular material for creating original toiletries is plywood. In terms of strength, such a base is in no way inferior to solid wood, and also requires preliminary impregnation of the parts. Instructions for the master on the work being carried out:
- Parts are cut out of a sheet of plywood using a jigsaw, sharp edges are trimmed, and surfaces are sanded.
- Before direct assembly, impregnation with moisture-resistant oil is carried out. For plywood, this item is required, since the moisture resistance of this material is lower than that of wood.
Assembly is carried out according to a similar scheme, using glue or grooves for fastening. Unlike solid wood, plywood accessories are always decorated with acrylic paint, PVC film with a pattern, or an interesting shell.
DIY paper craft
To make a box, you can use an unnecessary cardboard box or assemble a new model from thick paper. If the first method is used, important attention is paid to subsequent decoration. For the second option, you need to prepare scissors, glue, and paints for decorative painting.
A denser casket is made from cardboard:
- A long cardboard strip, the width of which corresponds to the height of the walls of the box, is folded like an accordion in increments of 1-1.5 cm.
- Unfold the workpiece in the reverse order.
- Roll the strip into a ring and use glue for fastening.
- A blank in the shape of a circle is cut out according to the diameter of the future accessory. Another piece of the same size will be needed to assemble the bottom.
- The bottom is attached immediately, and a side frill is additionally made for the lid. This can be a cardboard piece or a frill made of fabric, guipure or a decorative facet.
After assembling the craft, you should begin decorative finishing: original painting or covering the cardboard frame with textiles.
Thread storage accessory
Another technique is often used to create original toiletries. To do this, use a cardboard frame onto which knitting threads are applied. The threads can be wrapped around a cardboard base or applied over glue.
For a large product, you can use the technique of making pompoms. Pompoms are prepared according to a single pattern from knitting yarn, and then they are pasted over a cardboard frame with bright blanks.
Salt dough box
Salt dough is a very plastic, safe and cheap material. It is very simple to prepare such a base for creating a box, using only salt, flour and water.
It is better to work with the material with gloves, since salt can be irritating to the skin.
The plastic mass is prepared in a separate container, dyes are added if they are provided according to the plan. Then proceed according to the instructions:
- A layer of dough is rolled out on a cutting board, the thickness of which should be at least 2 cm. For the main assembly you will need 5 identical pieces.
- Assembly can be done either without a base or using any base. For example, the walls and bottom can be sculpted on top of a plastic cube, which is removed from the craft as the dough hardens.
- The lid is sculpted in a separate step, and in this case the master has the opportunity to make the part in relief, with an original ornament.
The craft is left to dry in the open air, and then they begin to decorate (if paints and pigments were not used).
Plywood box
You can make a convenient box with your own hands from the plywood left over after the renovation. The design and dimensions of the product depend on the individual needs and imagination of the craftsman.
It’s easy to come up with diagrams for making a box with your own hands from plywood yourself or copy it from the Internet.
To work you need to prepare:
- plywood about 6 mm thick,
- sawing machine,
- sandpaper,
- router,
- brush,
- wood glue,
- plain and double-sided tape,
- pencil.
The procedure for making a plywood box can be considered using the example of working on a product measuring 10 X 14 X 7 cm.
Step-by-step instruction.
- Cut out two pieces 10 x 14 cm for the lid and bottom of the box.
- Paired parts measuring 10 x 7 cm and 14 x 7 cm form the walls of the product.
- Cut the cuts with a router at an angle of 45 degrees.
- Clean their surface.
- Lay out the side parts one by one on a flat surface and glue them with construction tape.
- Turn the resulting tape over and apply glue to the seams.
- Carefully assemble the body, glue the bottom and lid. Secure with tape.
- After drying, the lid is cut off at a distance of about 2 mm. The tape is removed.
- You can make small partitions inside the case. While the glue dries, it is convenient to fix them with small pieces of wood.
- Treat the product with oil, attach the hinges for the lid.
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After completing work on the body of the box and processing the wooden surfaces, the product must be decorated, giving it a beautiful appearance.
Toy bags made from improvised means
Many master classes are conducted using various improvised means, for example, ice cream sticks, toilet paper rolls. The shape of the classic box allows the use of a wide variety of materials for this purpose.
Craft from a box
The easiest way to make a beautiful box is to use an old box (shoe box, doll house box, household appliance packaging).
The main focus of independent work is on decorating the craft, for which illustrated paper, shells, stained glass paints, and broken walnut shells are used.
Bright chest from a postcard
If the craftsman has a sufficient number of old greeting cards on hand, you can use them in your work.
To make a beautiful box, you need to glue or fasten postcards with metal staples, forming the walls, bottom and even an opening lid (this option is possible for double postcards).
Accessory from tetra pack packaging
Tetrapack technology has given craftsmen and creative enthusiasts an excellent basis for making various boxes and original accessories. Instructions for creating an interesting craft:
- The top part of the cardboard bag must be cut off.
- The inner surface should be thoroughly washed and dried.
- The outer walls of the future box are decorated with paints or PVC film with various images.
The main focus is on making the lid. This can be a blank made of cardboard, the dimensions of which exceed the dimensions of the main part. You can make a decorative handle on the upper contour of the lid or attach an original decoration.
Egg tray toiletry bag
Another interesting blank for creating an accessory is egg trays with an opening lid.
To work, you should thoroughly clean the inner surface of the tray, and then apply pearlescent paint or any other type of decor to the material.
You can store rings, earrings, small bracelets, and personal items in the cells.
Cardboard Core Accessories
Every fashionista will be pleased with miniature boxes made from toilet paper rolls:
- The outer surface of the bushing should be decorated with a bright pattern or original stickers.
- The next step is to prepare a lid, for example, assembled from matches or made from cardboard in the form of an accordion.
- As an alternative, you can assemble a spacious box from bushings glued together.
Ice cream stick box
For independent creative work, wooden ice cream sticks are often used. This consumable is safe, affordable, amenable to glue and can be combined with all materials.
For assembly, they use the technique of alternately laying sticks with 4 attachment points. This product “breathes” well and is therefore not susceptible to fungal infections and mold development.
Making a shell casket
Sea or river shells act as an excellent material for creating a personal toiletry case. The future craft will acquire a unique design with a marine touch. You can use ordinary boxes as a solid base, or you can choose especially strong glue for assembly.
Shells are chosen to be approximately the same shape and size to form parallel rows (as in brickwork). The only requirement for the master is to use a rigid base for the bottom of the box.
Chest made of newspaper tubes
In interior styles such as High-Tech or Loft, it is customary to use original interior items and souvenirs. A lightweight box for the mantelpiece can be easily made from newspaper tubes.
This detail fits perfectly into the style of a modern living room.
To work, they use the technique of rolling tubes from newspapers, which are then laid in rows and secured with glue.
Wooden box
To create a classic wooden box, you will need a small scrap of wood.
A small box can be made, for example, from the remainder of a wooden block.
To work you will need:
- jigsaw,
- sanding machine or sandpaper,
- figured chisels,
- clamps,
- brush,
- wood glue.
Operating procedure.
- The first step is to saw off the part for the lid about 2 mm wide from the workpiece.
- Then parts of the main storage container of arbitrary shape are cut from the blank.
- The resulting elements must be cleaned to obtain a smooth surface.
- The seams of the parts are carefully covered with wood glue. When working, it is important to ensure that excess adhesive does not extend beyond the boundaries of the seams. They are difficult to remove.
- The body is tightened with clamps, preventing distortions.
- A groove is cut on the edge of the lid and the upper edge of the body for connection. This will allow the lid to close tightly.
- The bottom is glued to the body.
- Attach small furniture hinges to the top wall and lid.
The product requires surface treatment. To do this, you can use wax; it is ideal for dark wood. Light wood species are treated with linseed oil.
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Decorating a personal toiletry case
The style and design of the future accessory depends on the creative skills of the master. In practice, the following techniques and technologies are used to decorate a personal casket:
- Burning and figured wood carving.
- For less durable materials, you can use special stickers with different images.
- Having a template or excellent artistic skills at hand, craftsmen conduct luxurious master classes on stained glass painting of finished products.
Figurative modeling, for example, from salt dough or cold porcelain, and decoration using decorative stones and shells are also popular.
A stylish and neat toiletry case will be an excellent addition to the interior of a living room or bedroom, and will take the main place on the bedside table, near the boudoir near the mirror, on the mantelpiece. To obtain the desired effect, you just need to have desire, creative skills and some dexterity.
Box made from adhesive tape
A durable roll of masking tape can serve as the basis for an original small box for jewelry or various small items.
To work you need to prepare:
- tape sleeve,
- cardboard,
- corrugated cardboard or decorative paper,
- cover with screw thread of suitable diameter,
- acrylic paint,
- universal glue,
- PVA glue,
- decorative elements,
- colorless varnish.
Operating procedure.
- Paint the edges of the bushing with white paint.
- Cover the inner surface of the workpiece with corrugated cardboard.
- Decorate the inside of the bottom and glue it to the sleeve.
- Cover the sleeve and lid with white decorative paper.
- Decorate the lid and walls of the product from the outside.
- Cover the box with clear varnish.
Baguette box
The boxes, for the manufacture of which a baguette was used, look dignified and noble. You can simplify the task by taking the plastic version.
To work you need to prepare:
- baguette,
- hardboard blanks for the lid and bottom,
- universal glue,
- clasp and loops,
- decorative elements.
Step-by-step instruction.
- Cut 4 pieces for the lid from the baguette. The cut is made at an angle of 45 degrees.
- Glue the parts of the lid using universal glue.
- Cut out 4 elements for the side parts and glue them around the perimeter to the bottom part.
- Cover the inner walls with fabric.
- Glue the hinges and lock.
Instead of hardboard, you can make the bottom and lid from thick cardboard.
To decorate the appearance of such a box, you can effectively shade the convex parts of the baguette pattern with a shade of paint.
Painted baguette boxes also look stylish. Additional decor options must match the style of the item.
If desired, you can make a box with your own hands from materials available at home. You can think of decor options yourself or take jewelry box decor ideas from the Internet as a basis.
You can make the task easier by looking at the instructions for making boxes on thematic websites. In general, creating a box with your own hands does not require much experience or special skills.
Box out of the box
A small box for storing small items can be easily made from a box of a suitable size and shape.
Before starting work, the box must be inspected and any stickers removed from the surface.
To decorate such a box, you can use fabric or beautiful paper. Boxes in folk style, covered with burlap, look original. You can get an unusual box if you cover the blank with jeans or guipure.
There are a lot of options for decorating ready-made boxes to turn them into a beautiful box.
