A chipboard Stationery Box.

Joe left to wander the highways a week ago today.  During his absence I have been working on a project that I had done a long time ago.  Check out Splitcoast Stampers to view the tutorial by Jackie Topa who has a fabulous project for a “Stationery Box” constructed entirely of heavy weight card stock.

After I made the original one way back in about 2009 or 2010 I sent it off to one of my daughters as a gift.  I have a photo of it somewhere but can’t remember where it is.

Since I have been playing with chipboard lately I thought I would give this stationery box a try.  I’m really trying to improve my skills in construction.  This box measures 6 inches wide by 5 inches tall and 2 inches deep.  The lid is roughly 6-1/4 x 1-1/2 x 2.

Stationery box

I noticed on Pinterest there is a color trend happening in 2014.  One of the colors is Green.  Note to self….watch more YouTube videos on floral placement   I’ve also decided to break into my stash of stuff I don’t use often.  The paper flowers I’ve had for a long time, with the exception of the little bitty yellow paper roses.  They are the newest addition to my stash.

I broke into my stash of chipboard pieces I’ve had for years and years and covered them with paper.  I chose the pieces because of their shapes and not what was originally on the pieces.  The lid of the box holds the altered chipboard embellishments that have been hanging around all this long time.  I covered one of the chipboard pieces with a bit of an old map book/atlas we used in our truck driving job before we started using the GPS.  I figured the map part would be appropriate since the cards I would be putting in this box would be mailed all over this country…..eventually.

Altered chipboard pieces

The lid comes off the top of the box.  It holds the box closed.  I was tempted to make a flap style lid but decided against that since I have had enough trouble with flaps and the closures of them

Removable lid

Once the lid is removed the front of the box falls down for easy access to the contents.  Yes….I had to fuss around with a flap   However, I had more success with this flap than I have most of the others.

Front of box is a flap

There are three compartments in this Stationery box, as you can see.  The large section in the back will hold A2 greeting cards.  The 4-1/4 by 5-1/2 cards that are frequently made by nearly every card maker.  The accompanying envelopes will also fit in this slot.  The two front areas are to hold tags (on the left) and 3″ x 3″ note cards (on the right).

This Stationery box is meant to have matching greeting cards, tags, and note cards.  I have not got that far in the process.  The next photo is to show you what it would look like when the compartments are used as intended.

Slots for cards and tags

If anyone would be interested in learning how to make this Stationery Box out of chipboard I would be happy to make a video of the process.  It might take a few videos to accomplish it.  I have vowed that I will NEVER make another video that is an  hour long.  I, for one, can’t sit still and watch a video that is an hour long.  I have the attention span of a gnat.

You might want to fiddle with Jackie Topa’s fabulous creation (click on the link at the top of this post) before you consent to making this out of chipboard.  Trust me….it will make understanding the process easier if you follow her instructions first.

What have you done lately to “Show someone how special they are”?

Leslie

The definition of Insanity is…..

DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS!

After having been successful in making the file folder box I figured it would be a snap to reduce the size to make a box to hold greeting cards and a smaller box to hold index cards for the way too many Internet sites and passwords I have and can’t seem to remember.

Two attempts were made to create a box that measures 6-3/8 inches wide by 4-3/4 inches tall and 1-1/2 inches deep, with a flap.

Two attempts to make the same box

I gave up on the greeting card boxes because they were just way too wonky and I didn’t like the way they were coming together.

The next box I began was for an even smaller version of these two boxes.  Yep.  If you can’t figure out how to make something one size it is always worth while to go SMALLER

What the heck was I thinking?!

Smaller box

These boxes made from cardboard are quite thick.  They are very sturdy and can be used for heavy objects.  The only problem is they are too thick, clumsy, and labor intensive.  Mass producing these boxes would take quite a lot of time.

To decrease the bulk of the boxes I decided to give chipboard a try.  One 8-1/2 x 11 inch piece of chipboard will ALMOST make the greeting card box.  I had to get into my scrap pile for the extra chipboard for the lid and the flap.

You can see the measurements I have made on the chipboard….just in case you wish to make one of the greeting card boxes.

 

Measurements on sheet of chipboard

Measurements on scrap of chipboard

This is the order you would lay the pieces on the paper you choose to cover with.

Layout of pieces

This layout is too long for  a 12 x 12 sheet of scrapbook paper.  I had to use a bit of a matching paper for the lid and the flap.  That was a bug a boo to figure out  how to attach.

 

Attaching the lid and flap

NOTE TO SELF:  Next time choose a paper with one design element featuring smaller images.

 

Attaching the lid and flap extension

This is how the pieces will be laid out on the paper you choose.

Laid out on paper

When this box is finished it will hold 10 greeting cards with envelopes.

Holds 10 cards with envelopes

Magnets – they will be the death of me

The extension

After battling the greeting card box, and having a little more success….I’m still not totally thrilled with how it has come out.  Especially the flippin’ MAGNETS!  I decided to turn my focus to the smaller box for the Internet passwords.

This box will use a half sheet of 8-1/2 x 11 chipboard.  The measurements are shown below.  Please note the change to three of the measurements.  Don’t ask me where my head was during this process.  I don’t have a clue what I was thinking.

Measurements on chipboard

Lay the pieces out on the decorative paper of your choice in this layout.  When attaching the chipboard to the paper I moved it over to the right edge and in 3/4 of an inch.

 

Laid out on paper

When completed, this box has thinner edges than the cardboard, which I was happier with.  The box itself was more square and less wonky.

 

Cardboard and chipboard comparison

The index cards for the Internet site and password file are 2-1/2 inches by 3 inches.  I found these at my local office supply store.

Index cards

I will not be doing a full fledged tutorial on the construction of these boxes UNTIL I get the blasted things figured out.  I don’t like the side flaps showing on the front of the box.  Might as well have a “Mickey Mouse” image on this box.

Box with index cards

Yes, and you can totally forget about the addition of any MAGNETS to close the box with.  I think I will be going back to my old friend – Velcro.  Velcro loves me and I love it back.

Here is a sample of how to use the index cards for the passwords.

 

Index card ready for info

I think I’m going to find something mindless to do for the next few hours.  My brain hurts

Go, “Show someone how special they are”.

Leslie