On your wedding day, you shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not your cards are scattered–and possibly lost.
Here’s how you can make a fabric covered wedding box for a green-colored wedding, for very little money and in less than a day. You may also want to check out more pictures at my Wedding Box Slideshow.
Materials:
Boxes
Craft knife
Scissors
Fabric to cover boxes: estimate ½ yard or less per box (depends upon size of box)
Ruler
Pencil or marker to mark boxes
Glue or glue stick or adhesive
Needle and thread or sewing machine with thread
4 straight pins
Optional Materials:
Ribbon
Protection for working surface
Heat transfer paper for transferring computer image to cotton fabric
Cotton fabric piece approximately 6 x 8 inches
Cardboard approximately 4 x 5 inches, or size desired
Fabric markers
Iron
Computer with ink jet printer
Artificial flowers, leaves, etc. for decoration
Estimated time: 5 hours
Steps:
1. Decide about how many boxes you’ll need. I’m using two shoe boxes. One has an attached lid and one a separate lid. Using the box with a separate lid as the bottom box allows you to still open the wedding box (to collect the cards).
2. Decide about where you’ll place the opening slot for the cards. You can place it on the top or front.
A minimum size is approximately ½ inch wide by 7 inches long. Be sure the slot leaves at least ¾- inch around on all sides for stability.
Using a pencil or marker, mark the slot. Look at it to be sure it’s where you want it. It’s a lot easier to change it now-before you cut.
3. Using the craft knife, carefully cut the opening for the slot. With the craft knife and all tools, be sure to follow safety instructions.
4. Make opening in bottom of upper box and lid of lower one for cards to drop down.
Leave at least ¾ inch around boxes for stability
Tip: Use ruler to quickly draw wide enough lines
5. Cover boxes with fabric. I used a glue stick, and started with the bottom box. If you cover the ends first, you can avoid some thickness. Another option is to cover the box like you would wrap a present, but I wanted to avoid those extra thick folds.
I folded the edges along the sides of the fabric under the fabric and glued it to the edge fabric that I’d already wrapped over the corners.
Test your fabric either before you start the project or as you work. Different adhesives work better for different fabrics.
Any lids that are separate should be covered separately. It’s easy to cover the lid as if it was solid. Then, go back and cut the fabric to fold it around the opening for the cards you cut earlier.
A single box with a slot for the cards in the top and one in its bottom to allow cards to fall into the next box does present some unique challenges. The slot in my box was too narrow for the fabric to wrap around the box to the underside.
While I could have made the card slot wider, I decided instead to make a buttonhole-style opening. Buttonholes used to be made not of thread but of two pieces of fabric sewn together, then the lining turned inside the buttonhole.
It’s actually easier to simply do it, than to try to visualize it as you go. If you’ve never made a buttonhole pocket or a fabric buttonhole, you may want to check out directions or practice first.
I marked the placement of the corners of the slot on the fabric with pins. A pencil or fabric marker may work on lighter fabric. Using a smaller piece of fabric for the lining, I pinned it to the fabric at those four corners. Then, using my needle and thread I sewed a rectangle from corner to corner. Could I have used a sewing machine? Sure. In this case, the fabric I used is wiggly, and sewing by hand was faster and easier.
I made a center cut for the buttonhole slot. Next, I turned the lining fabric into the hole, finger pressing and manipulating it into place. Then, I glued it to the box.
6. Label the box “Cards” or something similar. I used my computer, creating a headline and mini-border to print. I used Print Shop2 for Mac, and there are other programs available. After printing the design on the transfer paper, I ironed it on to fabric. I then folded the fabric around cardboard, gluing it in place. The design was then ready for gluing onto the front of the wedding box.
You could also draw a design by hand using fabric pens, or even embroider one if you like-and have the added time!
7. Now you’re ready to glue the top box to the bottom lid. The bottom lid can still be lifted to open the box after filling. You may want to camouflage the seam between the lid and box by wrapping ribbon around it. You can tie a big bow if you like!
8. Attach optional items, such as artificial flowers, figures, etc.
SOURCES:
DIY Wedding Preparation: How to Make a Wedding Card Box. You Tube.
DIY Wedding Card Box Instructions. Do It Yourself Weddings.
