Making Decorative Storage Boxes
To make your own magazine storage box, take the largest magazine or book that you'll be storing, and use it to trace a square on a piece of cardboard. Cut this piece out and measure 5 inches up from the bottom corner on the left side. Use a ruler to align this point with the top right corner and draw a line. You can either cut across this line and leave it straight, or cut out a pattern. Use this piece as a template to create a second piece, which will form the other side. Decide how far apart the two sides need to be to hold your magazines, and cut two pieces of cardboard this wide. The front will be 5 inches high, and the back as tall as your side pieces. Use packing tape to tape the edges together, both inside and out. Then use decorative paper, such as contact paper or scrapbook paper, and glue it on the outside of your box. Trim it off at the edges, and cover it with Mod Podge to give it a polished shine.
Shoe boxes can easily be decorated in a variety of ways to add some color to your home or office while providing adequate storage. Your first option is to use a simple coat of paint on the outside, and decorate it with stamps or stickers. Another option, if you have more time on your hands, is to cover the shoe box and lid with contact paper. Measure the sides of the shoe box, and the sides and top of the lid. Cut out matching pieces from the contact paper, peel the backing and carefully stick them on to the box. Smooth it out, and you've instantly transformed a boring box. Add a plain white sticker on the front so you can label each box by its content.
There are many other boxes that can be transformed into decorative storage containers as well. Look around your house for all shapes and sizes, depending on your specific needs. A tool holder, pictured here in the middle, can be spray painted and decorated to hold office supplies. Metal tins or old jewelry boxes can be used as storage boxes without any alterations to their design. A lunch pail or wicker basket can be spray painted and decorated with stickers or stencils spelling out the name of its contents. You are not limited to typical square boxes for storage.
Finally, when you have a lot of time and money to invest in a long-term project, a beautiful container to create for storing delicate items is the stained glass box. To build a stained glass box, you must first know how to make stained glass windows. For the box, it will be like making miniature rectangular windows to fit together. If you would like to learn how, see the "Resources" section below for a link to an easy guide. You will need to create four side panels and a top panel. The bottom panel, as well as the side panels, can be stained glass, or simply a thick piece of clear or colored glass since it will not be as visible as the top. The sides of the box and the bottom are soldered together. Once they are steady, the top is attached by hinges. They should be soldered onto the box with room left to attach the pin to both pieces once the top and bottom hinges are attached together.
