Fabric Boxes

Make a holiday gift even more special by making the box as useful as the gift! Fabric-covered boxes are sure to find a permanent home in the closet or as storage for special holiday ornaments and will remind the recipient of your thoughtfulness for years to come.

Materials

• Cardboard Box
• Fabric
• Lightweight Fusible Web or craft paper
• Pencil
• Scissors and/or rotary cutter and mat
• Straight Pins (optional)
• Spray Adhesive (optional)
• Iron

 

Use a sturdy cardboard box in good condition.

Refer to diagram below for steps 1-7.

1. To create a template for the fabric covering, place a piece of Lightweight fusible web, paper side up, or craft paper on a work surface. Trace around bottom of box with a pencil.
2. Rotate box to one side so the side of the box is flat on the paper. Line up bottom edge with the outline just drawn. Trace around side of box.
3. Draw line 1” parallel from line just drawn for inside top edge of box.
4. Repeat step 2 for opposite side of box.
5. Extend side tracing by 3/4” on each end of side for both sides. (Red Line on diagram)
6. Rotate box and draw around end of box. Repeat for other end.
7. Draw 1” line parallel to end line of each end for inside top edge of box.
8. Fuse fabric to web or secure paper template to fabric and cut on outside lines. For the side extensions, cut along end line to intersection where sides meet bottom of box. (Yellow Line on diagram)
9. Before removing paper or fusible web, fold along drawn lines.
10. Place bottom of box on the wrong side of fabric, matching corners, and either fuse in place or adhere with spray adhesive.
11. Wrap the fabric up the side of the box, and fold the 1” excess to the inside of the box. Adhere in place. Repeat for other side of box. Fuse all side extensions by adhering extension to end side of box.
12. Repeat for end sides.

For top of box, repeat steps 1-12. Adjust parallel line width to size needed for inside of box top, (Step 3 and Step 7) approximately 3/4” or to desired width.

Add top embellishment as desired.

Round Box

Materials

• Round cardboard box
• Fabric
• Fusible web or craft paper
• Ribbon
• Pencil
• Scissors and/or rotary cutter and mat
• Iron
• Spray Adhesive
• Ribbon

1. Measure circumference and height of box. Add 2” to circumference and 1” to height. Draw that rectangle onto the paper side of fusible web or craft paper.
2. Fuse rectangle to fabric or secure paper template to fabric and cut on outside lines.
3. Fuse rectangle to side of box, extending 1/2” over bottom and top of box.
4. Clip fabric every 1/4” and adhere to bottom and inside top edge of box.
5. Draw a 1” x circumference plus 2” rectangle on to paper side of fusible web or craft paper. Fuse rectangle to fabric or secure paper template to fabric and cut on outside lines.
6. Fuse rectangle to inside top edge of box.
7. Place box top on paper side of fusible web and trace outside circle. Add 1/2” to outside edge of circle.
8. Fuse circle to fabric or secure paper template to fabric and cut on outside line.
9. Fuse circle to box top, extending 1/2” over top edges. Clip curve every 1/4” and fuse to box top side.
10. Cut ribbon the circumference of the box top plus 2” and adhere in place with spray adhesive along box top side. Overlap and secure ends firmly.
11. Embellish box top with fabric motif if desired. Cut a piece of fusible web larger than motif by 1/4” around all edges. Fuse fabric motif to web and trim to desired size. For added definition and/or contrast add another layer underneath the motif by cutting fusible web 1 1/2” larger than motif around all edges. Fuse to fabric and then center motif on background and fuse. Trim evenly around all edges and fuse to top of box.
12. Add other embellishment as desired to box top.

Website visitors have permission to print this project for personal use only. This project may not be copied or otherwise reproduced without the express written permission of Debbie Mumm®.