It was love at first sight when I caught a glimpse of this
oversized botanical print in a gold frame. There’s something so cool about
vintage looks, and I’ve always been a sucker for ferns with their delicate
fronds. Once it was up in my bathroom, I realized how silly the extra toilet
paper rolls looked on the back of the toilet tank.
But as stupid as they looked, I’m a big believer in having a
home that works for me. I think your dwelling should be as stress-free as
possible, and that means having what you need close at hand.
I could have gone online and bought a basket. A simple
solution, right? However, I’ve been in a real DIY mood, and I recalled several
videos I’d seen on YouTube where people transformed cardboard into smart
containers. Since our place is littered in nice packing boxes from Home Depot,
I decided to give the project a whirl.
First I used two rolls of toilet paper to measure out the
space needed. I added a bit extra for convenience as I hated the thought of
having to wrestle jammed rolls out of the container. Next I measured the height
to my framed picture. Using these measurements, I cut out four pieces of card.
Two pieces were sides plus the end piece that when folded became an “L” shape.
One piece was the bottom, and a matching piece was the top.
I taped all the pieces together except for the lid. I
double-checked to see that my measurements had been accurate and that my
finished product would fit on the toilet lid. After making sure I was correc, I
used a hot glue gun and reinforced all the seams.
Duct tape became the hinge for lid. I put a strip on the
inside of the box and on the outside, hoping to reinforce the hinge.
Next I used brown kraft paper to cover the box. For this I
chose a glue stick, running it over each surface of the box. I started with the
two ends, folding the excess paper under. After those were done, I could wrap a
single piece around the front, bottom, back, and lid. I decided that the lid
would get the most wear and tear, so I added a second piece of kraft paper to
it. Once everything was covered, I “painted” the box with matte Mod Podge.
As it dried, I tried to figure out what would make an
appropriate embellishment. I didn’t want to go over the top, because the framed
fern is the major accent. I didn’t want to look too matchy-matchy by covering
the box with more ferns. But I did want to keep the same vibe going.
On Google, I found various prints of vintage ferns. I
printed out a color copy of one that I liked. However, the fern would get lost
by itself. I needed a frame. So, I cut apart a plastic container of cherry
tomatoes, taking care to preserve the oval plastic opening. I used the oval as
a pattern to cut out a section of the fern print. I mounted the fern print
piece on a piece of light cardstock. I covered it with a layer of Mod Podge and
let it dry.
I painted the plastic oval with gesso, a product used by
artists. Gesso creates “tooth” or grip. When it was dry, I painted the oval a
second time, using metallic gold acrylic paint. When that dried, I also added a
layer of gold nail polish. Tip: The sequence of gesso, acrylic paint, and nail
polish is the most economical way to get good coverage. While all that dried, I
glued burlap ribbon around the lid to make a cool embellishment. It looks a
little wonky in the photos, but it’s perfect in real life.
Once the oval was dry, I glue it over the fern on cardstock.
I trimmed off the excess cardstock. A small ring of twine around the fern added
a touch of texture.
What do you think of my project? Have you ever made anything
from cardboard boxes?
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