canvas lined cardboard box

Let's Make Something Together - Lined Canvas Bins (from Diaper Boxes!)

There are times when I finish a project and I am absolutely giddy to share it with you here. This was one of those! The idea for these bins came about as I was brainstorming projects for the Upcycling challenge at So You Think You're Crafty a couple of weeks ago. I have been in dire need of some new containers for the built-in shelves in our living room to hold things like DVD's and remotes, but I wasn't wanting to spend a fortune on them. It occurred to me that a diaper box had precisely the dimensions I was looking for, so I determined myself to figure out a way to gussy them up to suit my needs!
In case you missed it, here is the blurb from SYTYC...
Over the years, my household has acquired an abundance of two things in particular: 1) little items that need to be stored away in some semblance of order; and 2) diaper boxes. I actually think there could be some sort of mathematical equation that could show the direct relationship between the presence of those two categories! I have been in the market for some storage boxes to stow away movies, remotes and games in our living room, but each time I would look into purchasing some, I was stopped in my tracks by the appallingly outrageous prices asked by places like Pottery Barn and Ballard Designs. So, in the spirit of upcycling, I decided to make some on my own, for a fraction of the cost! Curious to know how I did it?

What began as three diaper boxes became in just a couple of hours a chic collection of lined, numbered canvas bins. The custom look of these really belies the fact that they all started off life as a vessel for holding diapers, don't you think? My head is already dancing with ideas for all of the other rooms in my house that will get a set of similar containers!

Ready to make a set of your own? Let's get started!
For this project, you will need...
A diaper box for each bin you want to makeHeavy canvas fabricDisappearing ink markerMeasuring tapeSpray adhesiveCraft glueFabric to make your bin linersCoordinating ribbonBasic sewing supplies: Machine, shears, thread, etc.Die cutting machine and adhesive vinyl (optional)
step 1 / Cut the flaps off off your box. Flip your box over and use your measuring tape to measure up one side of your box, over the narrow bottom width and then down the other side, as shown. Write down this width measurement. Now, rotate your box and take the box's length measurement in the same manner. Cut a piece of your canvas fabric that is your width measurement by your length measurement.

step 2 / Lay your cut piece of fabric on a flat surface, and place your box on top of it, so it is precisely centered on the fabric. (Make sure the long sides of your box is aligned with the long sides of your fabric piece.) Use your measuring tape and disappearing ink marker to mark a line out 2 inches out from one of the corners of your box, as shown. Now, mark a line out from the bottom of the mark you just made that is perpendicular to the raw outer edge of your canvas piece, as shown. Repeat with the remaining three corners of your box. Cut along all of these lines, so that you are left with a cross-shaped canvas piece, making sure to cut along the angled corner lines, as well.

step 3 / Apply a thin, even coat of spray adhesive to one of the long sides of your box. With your box precisely centered on your cut piece of canvas, fold the corresponding canvas flap up and over the box, pulling the fabric to ensure it is snug and your bottom edge is crisp. Use your hand to smooth out any bubbles. Repeat with the other long side.

step 4 / Working on one of the short sides of your box, apply an even line of glue to one of the outer edges, and fold over the corresponding flap snugly to adhere it to your box. Make sure to pull enough so your edges are crisp! Repeat this step for the remaining flaps on the short sides of your box.

step 5 / Apply an even line of glue on either side of your remaining short flap, as shown. Fold in and adhere the outer edges of the flap so that the creases formed are in perfect alignment with the outer edge of your box, as depicted below. (Once these outer edges are folded in and adhered, your flap should be precisely the same size and shape as the short end of your box.) Apply glue to the top and sides of one of the short ends of your box, and then snugly fold the flap of fabric up and over this side, making sure everything is smooth and even, and that you have a nice, crisp corner at the bottom edge. Repeat with the other flap on the opposite short side of your box.

If at this point the edges of your fabric aren't exactly aligned with the top rim of your box, don't worry! The liners to make will cover up this part of the box. If the canvas sticks up taller than the rim of your box, though, I do recommend that you trim away the excess so that you liner will fit your box properly.

step 6 / Use the basket liner tutorial of your choice to make liners for your bins. There are so many great tutorials out there! For this set of bins, I used this tutorial from Make It and Love It, with the following modifications: instead of creating a casing as the tutorial details, I simply hemmed the edge of the liner, and then I added two button holes to the center front of each liner to thread a piece of coordinating ribbon through.

step 7 (optional) / Use your die cutting machine to cut coordinating numbers and/or letters from your vinyl to label the front of your bins. I labeled mine Nos. 1 through 3, but another great option would be to make a label to indicate the contents of each bin (movies, games, etc.).

All finished!

Helpful hints and tips

Here is another terrific basket liner tutorial found at Sew 4 Home I might try on my next set. Peruse the blogosphere to find a basket liner tutorial or pattern that suits your tastes!

The fonts I used for the lettering on my bins are Engravers and Lobster.

No die cutting machine, but still wanting to label your bins? Stencils and acrylic paint are another great option!

http://www.positivelysplendid.com/2011/02/lets-make-something-together-lined.html

Fabric Flower

Today we have another fabric flower tutorial for the 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days !

This one is very similar to the fabric flower we made before but instead of pointed petals you get round petals.

Here's what you need to get started:

-Fabric
-Needle and Thread
-Scissors
-Buttons

Step One

Cut six 3x3 squares of fabric.

Step Two

Fold in a triangle shape, wrongs sides together and press.

Step Three

Stitch a loose gathering stitch around the open edges of the triangle.

Step Four

Now gather the fabric into a petal shape by pulling the thread through.

Step Five

Attach the next petal to the first and then stitch around the edges and gather. Repeat this for all five petals.

Step Six

Once you've finished gathering all your petals attach the last petal to the first petal to form the flower.

Step Seven

Add a button to the center and your pretty fabric flower is finished!

Try putting these on:

-tote bags

-journals

-barrettes

-a brooch

-a scrapbook cover

-a t-shirt

-a bulletin board pin

Coffee Filter Christmas Tree

You ever have those days where an idea just pops into your head? Jut out of nowhere? That's what happened with this Christmas tree craft! I was actually thinking about making some coffee filter angels with these natural coffee filters. That got me thinking about how you use the filter as a dress, and the ruffled look got me thinking about trees, and bam! There was the idea. Love that. :)


I have an entire box of these brown coffee filters, better known as natural coffee filters. I bought them when the store was out of Bunn filters. Regular filters just don't cut it for a Bunn though, they just aren't tall enough. I knew I could use them up sometime, so into the craft supplies they went.

I love the vintage look the natural coffee filters give to this tree. You could use old vintage buttons, but I chose red to add a bit of color. I had a couple of white flowers left over from another project, and used white round topped stick pins to use as ornaments as well. For the base, I used a round slice of wood I had left over from the rustic north woods ornaments I made last year.

Want to make one of these trees? You could even use white filters for a pretty white tree, or paint the filters with green water color paints for a green tree. If you paint the filters, they may lose some of their ruffle, so be prepared for that.

Coffee Filter Christmas Tree
designed by Amanda Formaro

printable version

You will need

foam cone
regular stick pins
9-10 natural coffee filters
white round topped stick pins
red buttons
2 white flowers glued back to back
scissors
hot glue gun
something flat for the base (optional but adds a little weight)

What you do

First, fold a few coffee filters in half and cut the center circle out.

Open a filter and place it over the top of the foam cone, like a ring, and bring it all the way down to the base of the cone. Use the stick pins to tack the filter to the cone, pushing the pins in at the top of the filter, not down by the ruffles.

Repeat this step, working your way up the cone.

When you get about half way up the cone you will need to trim a little off the filter ring. Since the cone will naturally get smaller toward the top, you will need less and less filter as you work upward. Just trim off what you don't need, but set those pieces aside and use them at the top of the tree.

Use one of the center circles that you cut out of the filters to cover the top of the cone, securing with stick pins.

To decorate the tree, push round topped pins into the tree in various places, but don't push the pin all the way in. This will allow the ruffles to look more natural. If you push the pin in all the way it will flatten the ruffles against the cone. So push the pin in halfway or three quarters of the way, then gently pull the filter toward you to hide the pin section.

Use hot glue to add buttons. I glued the two flowers together, back to back, so that either side of the tree had a flower face. Glue that to the top of the tree. Then just glue it to your base (I used a round slice of wood).