I found this to be a great place to store and organize all my pressed flowers. When I was doing a project I would just pull the whole drawer out, place it on the table and it's all right at my fingertips. On smaller projects I'd just pull the drawers out partially.
On the inside flap I recorded useful information for myself and even tested some pressed flowers by gluing them there. Later down the road I would see if the flowers had faded.
I made this box 12 years ago, when I was fully into the craft. Hope my memory serves me correctly! The pictures give a good idea of what you have to do. I'll guide you through it. Measurements will differ because your box might be different in size.
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Approximate Time: about 2-4 hours including drying time
Supplies:
1 1/2 yds. fabric (depends on box size)
box with lid
my box is 18 inches long X 12 inches wide X 9 inches high
cardboard to make drawers
26 ft. of 1/2 inch X 3/4 inch wood
folder tabs to label each drawer
saw
razor knife to cut cardboard drawers
hot glue gun
hot glue sticks
Elmer's wood glue
stapler
tape measure
pencil
Instructions:
Take the lid off the box. See that the one end of the box can flap open, as in picture. (I was lucky, my box was made that way, all I had to do was gently pry it apart). You might have to adjust the way your box opens. Or modify the plan.
This next step you don't have to do, it just adds a pretty touch. You can wrap it in paper, paint it, decoupage with your pressed flowers, or if you want to cover it with fabric, cut fabric the size of the lid and the edges PLUS 2 inches to fold over and hot glue in place on under side of lid. Just like you're wrapping the lid of a gift box. You can decorate with other items, if you sew, you're sure to have a scrap pile. I had a cross stitched pillow cover I bought at a garage sale for 25 cents and some left over bric-a-brac.
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For the main part of the box I wrapped the fabric around the four sides of the box with an extra inch to wrap around to the bottom to hot glue. I kept the top edge of the fabric along the top edge of the box. I didn't overlap on the top edge.
Hot glue when you know the fabric is in place and wherever needed. The 2 ends of the fabric should come to the open end of the box where the flaps are.
I wrapped the fabric around the flaps by about an inch and hot glued, then taped, to keep from fraying. (Sometimes I over do it! You might just eliminate the last part and cut the fabric to the edge of the flaps and hot glue)
When wrapping around to the flaps, make sure the flaps are closed, otherwise the flaps won't close when you're done covering them. (Unless, you're using stretch fabric).
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For the very bottom of the box cut a piece of fabric the size of the box bottom and the one end flap and hot glue in place.
The wood strips will act as the runners for the cardboard drawers. (See picture)
The height of your box will determine how many runners you'll need. Measure the length of your box and cut your wood a half inch less. I have 8 drawers so I cut 16 pieces of wood.
Turn the box on its side so you can press down after gluing. Hot glue (you've got to be quick with the hot glue) or use carpenters glue, starting at the bottom, see picture to guide you.
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Each runner is a quarter inch apart, measure and mark with pencil or use a quarter inch spacer. Continue up one side of your box.
If you used carpenters glue, let it dry about an hour.
Flip box to opposite side and glue the other runners in place the same way.
You'll want to give the upper part of the box some extra support. Measure across the box and cut 2 strips of wood and glue into place, as in the picture showing top view.
To make the drawers, measure your box's inside, cut your cardboard to those dimensions minus a quarter inch on the long edge, and a half inch less on the short end (This allows space for your folder tabs, which will serve as your drawer pulls).
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Staple the pulls (folder tabs) on the top of each drawer.
If you want a drawer on the very bottom, cut a piece of cardboard to fit in between the runners. You can glue a small loop of ribbon for a drawer pull on that drawer.
You're done! Just fill 'er up with blooms, and store in a dry place.
By Deb H. from East Brunswick, NJ
Comments
Allison Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 231 Feedbacks
I found this to be a great place to store and organize all my pressed flowers. When I was doing a project I would just pull the whole drawer out, place it on the table and it's all right at my fingertips. On smaller projects I'd just pull the drawers out partially.
