Fancy Fabric Box - Directions

  I promised (suggested) (hoped) that I would make a tutorial for the Fancy Fabric Boxes I first introduced in this post.  These directions came, many years ago, from a dear lady in our 'Quilt Chat' at the local public library.  I have never seen a box like this on the web, so I thought I would share the directions here.  

I would like to ask you to not sell these directions - as they were given freely.  Use them to make boxes, but not to profit from the sale of the directions.

This is my most recent Fancy Box.

In this post I am only going to give the written instructions.  I have not yet figured out how to include a PDF file on my blog - and did not really like the options I saw.  

So here is my plan:  This post will have the written instructions.  You can copy them and paste them into a word processing document.  Then you can print a copy without photos and conserve printer ink!

I will also create an PHOTO-ILLUSTRATED post.  There you can see the way the materials are supposed to go together.

Supplies:	Materials:
scissors ruler newspaper masking tape Scotch tape Fraycheck two big purple gluesticks double-sided tape X-acto knife	A cardboard half-gallon container (like orange juice or milk) washed and dried. muslin two complementary fabrics some batting a manila folder foam board a pretty button for a lid handle

Pick any colors you like!  One fabric will be the main body of the box, and one will be the contrast color.  Keep in mind if you pick a stripe or a plaid, it looks better and takes extra effort to match the stripe or plaid around the curved corners.

OUTSIDE OF THE BOX (Step 1 – Step 7)

Step 1

To prepare your carton, open the top fully.  You may need to remove the little plastic "spout" found on some cartons.  Mark a straight line 3 and 1/2 inches from the bottom of the carton.  Score across this line with your scissors.  Cut down the four edges of the carton until you reach the scored line.  Trim the top of the carton to form 4 triangles, one on each side of the carton.  These triangles must have a height of 1 3/4" and come from the corner of the carton. These triangles actually mimic the fold that is already apparent on the carton.

Step 2

Rolled-up newspaper is used in order to give the box its pretty rounded sides.  Cut strips that are 3 and 1/2 inches wide and 22 inches long.  Stack 8 of these strips together and roll them up very tightly.  Then tape around it to keep your little roll all rolled up.  You will need 8 rolls like this, 2 for each side.  (These look like a roll of 50 pennies)

Step 3

Now, tape the newspaper rolls to the sides of the carton, about in the middle.  Fold down the flaps you cut, and securely masking tape the triangles to the bottom of the box.  They should meet in a square.

Step 4

Using template "B" as shown below, cut from the manila folder 4 corners.  Template "B" is 3.5" tall and 1.25" wide.  (I'm not sure how well my template is going to work when you copy these instructions!!)  You may need to trim each one to fit its corner on the box.  Once it is trimmed to fit, use the scotch tape to tape the corners down.  Our carton is beginning to look like a box!  In the next step, you will use muslin to cover up the wads of tape.  Muslin is a cheap fabric made of unrefined cotton, which explains the beige color.

Step 5

Cut

four 3 & 1/2 by 5 & 1/2 rectangles and

four  template "A"s from the muslin (leaf shape)  Template "A" is 4.75" tall and 2" wide.  

On the leaf-shaped pieces, make little clips around the edges so that they will lie flat.  Using the big purple gluestick, apply lots of glue on one side of each piece of fabric.  Remember how your kindergarten teacher taught you to never, ever use more than 5 drops or 2 rubs of glue?  Well, forget that now!  Slather it on!  If you don't use a lot of glue, the fabric may come unstuck.  Or, it might stick to your fingers more than it does to your box.  Glue the corners on first, then the side panels.

Step 6

On the wrong side of your main fabric, mark a 14" by 6" rectangle, and divide it into 4 3&1/2 inch rectangles. 

Fraycheck the fabric along these lines.  This will keep your box cover from unraveling and fraying.  Allow this to dry, and then cut out the 4 rectangles. 


You may have to fussy-cut these rectangles if you have a distinctly repetitive print.

Step 7

Cut out 4 template "A"s, and clip the edges, like you did with the muslin.  Be careful not to clip too much, or you will cut into the part needed to cover the corner.  Glue on the corners, then the side panels.  Remember, don't be stingy with the glue!

INSIDE OF THE BOX (Step 8 – Step 10)

Now the outside of your box is all beautiful, but the inside still looks suspiciously like an orange juice carton.  We are going to make an inner panel next. 

Step 8

With that manilla folder, cut a strip that is 14&1/2 by 3 inches.  Make 3 folds in it so that it will fit in the carton and up the edges.  Now, using your contrast fabric, cut a strip that measures 15 by 3&3/4 inches.  Put lots of glue all over it, and put the cardboard piece in the middle.  Fold over both short sides, and the top long side, but leave the bottom side unfolded.  Put strips of double-sided tape on the back of the panel, and fit it snugly inside the carton, with the loose fabric sitting on the bottom of the box.

Step 9

Cut 5 squares of the following sizes out of the foamboard:   

3.25 inches            3.5 inches            3.625 inches    (3 5/8")       

3.75 inches             4.75 inches

An X-acto knife works best to cut it, but scissors will work all right. 

Step 10

From your main fabric, cut one 5 inch square. 

From your contrast fabric cut three 5 inch squares and a 7 inch square. 

Using the 5 inch squares of the contrast fabric,
cover the 3.25 inch and 3.5 inch foamboard squares.
Put glue and/or tape on the bottoms. Drop the 3.5 inch square in the bottom of the box, and press firmly.

The 3.25 inch square will cover the foundation of the box. Press it on firmly also. You may want to turn the box upside down and put a heavy book on top to make sure the foundation sticks. While it dries, you can assemble the lid.

THE LID (Step 11 – Step 12)

Step 11

To make the little cushiony top, cut three squares of batting-a 3 inch square, a 2.5 inch square and a 1.75 inch square. Build a little pyramid with them on top of the 3.75 inch foamboard square, then cover with a 5 inch square of your main fabric. Take the 3.625 inch square of foamboard, and trim it to fit loosely in the top of the box. Cover it with the other 5 inch square of your main fabric, and cover the 4.75 inch foamboard square with the 7 inch square of contrast fabric.
Now you stack the three together, big one in the middle and cushiony one on top. You can stack them straight, or at an artistic angle. Use glue, doublestick tape or both to put the lid together.

Step 12

With a big needle and a few strands of thread, sew your button on from bottom to top, and then back down to the bottom. Tie a secure knot and trim the threads.

YEAH - you have a Fancy Fabric Box!!

CathyH

Here are the templates...