Aloha!
Add a couple inches to each measurement just in case… Always better to have too much and then cut it down than to not cut enough. You can always use the excess for flowers or other fun small things.
Cut out a rectangular piece of burlap using those two dimensions you just took.
Step 2) Decide how long you want your pleats and then cut out a strip that would wrap around your box 3x (so using your measurements, take the second number and multiply it by 3 to figure out how long to cut the pleat strip). It’s okay if you can’t find a piece that long, it’s easy to patch in a new piece right along with your pleats. If you’d like more details on measuring, cutting, and sewing the pleats, visit my tutorial I did on pleated basket liners. 🙂
Step 4) Flip your pleats over the top of the rectangle piece, so now the wrong side of your pleat should be touching the right side of the rectangle piece, and it will give you a nice little edge along the top without the extra step of adding another piece of fabric!
And measure it up to your box to decide how far down you want to take it and how wide you’d like the top section. You can always just trim right along the bottom since we’re leaving the bottom edge rough anyway. Since I was just discovering and figuring it out as I went along, mine ended up being shorter than my box, so I just cut a bit off of my box! Don’t worry, Ugly Boxling was grateful for the trim. 😉
Step 5) Once you know how wide you want the top to be, go ahead and glue the pleats down. I just put a strip of hot glue right along the seam allowance and then pinched them together with my fingers. Since I was just using a low-heat craft glue gun, this wasn’t a problem. Please remember to use something other than your fingers if your glue comes out very hot! Burlap has lots of little holes, so the glue goes through and WILL burn you!
Step 6) Now go ahead and glue the entire piece to your box! My extra couple inches came in handy when I wrapped mine around since I wanted a really clean finish, so I went ahead and took it right to the edge and then cut off the excess and glued it down. I also gave myself about an extra 1/4″ at the top of the box, and when I was finished wrapping around the edges, I folded the top in to cover the raw, corrugated edges that were showing up top. 🙂
Step 7) EMBELLISH!
Once Charlie Godmother had worked her magic, the Ugly Boxling was transformed into a beautiful Boxerella…Errrr…something like that. And then she was stuffed full of baby diapers and wipes, and they lived…
Aloha!
such a cute and inexpensive project! thanks for sharing!
Great idea, love using inexpensive things. thanks for the comment on my bathroom over at Remodelaholic.
Ronda
Hi Charlie~
I love this! You took an ordinary store box and created something so beautiful out of it. 🙂 I love those pleats, too. 🙂 What a fantastic idea!
I hope you have a wonderful day!
Blessings,
Jenni
goodness, aren't you talented?!?! It is so darn cute!
What a great idea!
Im going to have to try this this weekend
Amanda
http://amandamaysstudio.blogspot.com/
thanks for sharing this at my party, what a great idea! love it.
That's really cute. I never think to prettify boring things like cardboard boxes. I'll have to give it a whirl. Cute blog! I'm your newest follower.
Super cute idea! I have a burlap, rosette and pleat fetish. Oh, and ruffles too. This fits the bill! I'd love to try it. Have tons of leftover burlap. Thanks for the tutorial! I'll bookmark it so I have it handy!
Take care!
~Michelle 🙂
I like it a lot! I might have to go buy some burlap for the few boxes I've been saving up to do this to. 🙂
SOOOOOO CUTE!! Great job…I have been wanting to do this and couldn't vision it…THANK you!
http://www.lifewithoutwhiteout.blogspot.com
I love it, posting on my page!! 🙂
http://lifewithoutwhiteout.blogspot.com/2011/04/tickle-my-fancy-tuesday_19.html
Saw this on Tip Junkie and I have to say this is amazing very creative!
so cute and girly! i love how you made burlap so feminine!
I would have never thought of this…great idea and super cute!! following via the tip junkie!!
A really cute idea for diapers:)
I found you through 'That's My Letter'. I have an ugly ziploc box in my kitchen–it holds trash bags and dog treats, etc. I am forever noticing it when company comes over (because I think it's an embarrassing catch all) but I never remember to measure what size basket I would actually need for the space. So, TA-DA! I can either do this, or the wire basket. I am leaning towards the wire basket just because I really want to try it. AWESOME. Thanks!!
What a great and adorable idea!! I love these!!
I would love for you to come by and link up to Inspire Me Monday. It's up all week!
http://singingthreelittlebirds.blogspot.com/2011/04/inspire-me-monday_17.html
Hi, friend! I'm admiring all your creative projects here so can you please share them with us at the Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop? I hope to see you there at the party 🙂