Recycled magazine box

By Spotlight

Transform your desk, work table, bookshelves or wardrobe with fabric off-cuts & a little imagination.

Final Result

Materials

• cardboard or wooden magazine box
• 1m of fabric - depending on nap & pattern on fabric
• spray adhesive or PVA glue
• sharp scissors
• A2 lightweight cardboard
• pencil
• iron & ironing board

Step 1

Iron fabric to remove all creases. Lay the fabric right side down and place the magazine box on its side. Using a pencil mark the fabric 3cm from the top and bottom edges and 3cm from the short side. Roll the box onto the long narrow end and again mark 3cm from the top and bottom edges. Roll box onto the other side and mark 3cm from the top and the width of the base at the bottom edge. Roll the box onto the short narrow end and again mark 3cm from the top and bottom edges and 3cm from the side where the fabric will overlap the start. Cut out this outlined shape from fabric.

Step 2

Spray the wrong side of fabric and magazine box with spray adhesive*. Gently smooth fabric around box, folding back overlapping raw edge. Trim fabric at corners where necessary and fold excess fabric into the inside of box. Use PVA where necessary on the extra layers of fabric. Fold the excess fabric neatly at the bottom of box like wrapping a present, folding under any raw edges. Use PVA glue where necessary for better adhesion.

Step 3

Mark the outline of all 4 sides of magazine box onto the cardboard, making the edges 5mm smaller than box’s outer edges. Cut fabric to fit shaped card allowing 3cms excess on all sides. Spray the wrong side of this cut fabric and cardboard with adhesive. Smooth fabric onto cardboard, trim and fold excess fabric over to the back of card. Paint back of cardboard with PVA glue and place inside magazine box, completely lining the inner sides of magazine box. Allow to dry thoroughly before using.

Note

* You will need to spray surfaces with at least two coats of adhesive as when spraying cardboard and fabric, the first coat soaks in quickly on the surface and the next coat will be the adhering coat.