Floral boxes for a country look.



Gather your supplies
Various boxes (box files, shoe boxes, papier-mache boxes etc); fabrics; thin wadding; thin cardboard; sharp scissors; tacky craft glue

Here's how

• Since every box is a different size these instructions are general. Read them through, then work out how to cover your own particular box.
  
• Look at your box and think about the order in which you need to cover it, so all the raw edges of fabric will be concealed. If the shape is very complex use a newspaper pattern.
  
• When covering the main body of the box, remember to allow for extra fabric to fold over to the inside at the top edge and underneath at the bottom.
  
• When covering the lids of round or oval boxes, the easiest way is to cover the rim first and glue the raw edges onto the top of the lid (and around the rim to the underside). Then cut the lid shape from thin cardboard (trace for a perfect fit) and cover this flat shape with fabric, gluing raw edges underneath. Now glue this covered piece in place on the box lid, concealing all the raw edges between.
  
• To cover square or rectangular lids, cut fabric large enough to cover the top and the rim (plus enough extra to fold to the inside). Fold the fabric neatly at the corners (as though you were wrapping a present] or cut the excess carefully away, before gluing the edges to the inside.
  
• If you like a padded look, you can glue thin wadding to the tops ol lids before covering them with fabric.
  
• Use the craft glue sparingly and wash your hands as you work when they get sticky, to avoid marking and spoiling your fabric.
  

Source: Better Homes and Gardens August 2004