 |
| I made these organizing boxes for my mom for Christmas. I saw the idea on craigslist and figured out how to make them. I just used good strong cardboard from paper boxes we had saved. The size and fabric possibilities are endless. They are reversible and can also lay flat for easy storage if you untie the ribbons. Depending on how much you pay for the fabric they can be really cheap. In the end mine cost about $2.50 a piece. |
 |
| All the supplies you need - cardboard, pins, 2 kinds of coordinating fabric, I think a solid and print work well (at least 1/2 yard each), ribbon,glue stick, exacto knife |
 |
| Cut coardboard pieces to size that you want it to be in the end (my sides were 3 inches deep and the base is 10 in by 13.5 in) If you do this size then you will need at least 1/2 yard of fabric as long as you don't mess up, so cut 19 inches to be safe. Whatever size you make it, just have at least an inch of fabric around all sides. The one I made is good for papers/magazines |
 |
| lay second piece on top (iron first, I didn't but should have) |
 |
| use a glue stick to keep the fabric in place for when you sew later, just on the main big piece |
 |
| flip it over and glue the other piece on so that all the edge of the two pieces of fabric stay lined up, to do this just fold back one corner at a time |
 |
| draw lines so that you keep sewing straight once you get off the cardboard, I used my side pieces as a ruler to draw my corners, sorry you can't see my lines very well |
 |
| pin the two pieces of fabric together next to the cardboard edge |
 |
| sew the two pieces together right next to the cardboard. I kept half the foot on the cardboard sot hat I would stay close to the edge, you want to be close so that you have enough fabric available to insert the side pieces and still have that extra inch or so |
 |
| so it will look like this on all 4 corners when you are done, doesn't have to be too perfect, because when it's all folded up you can't even tell |
 |
| insert your side pieces |
 |
| fold your print side over the solid side twice to hide the raw edge, make sure it is pulled tight so that the fabric doesn't bunch over the cardboard (like my first ones did, see the green and pink one below) |
 |
| I just sewed it right onto the cardboard |
 |
| then I sewed two pieces of 6 inch long gross grain ribbon, melted the ends with a match so they wouldn't fray |
 |
