No-Sew Covered Boxes ~ DIY Friday

I finally did it.  I organized and DeCluttered my Playroom.  5 kitchen bags full of toys.  Gone.  Donated.  BAM.  I feel good.  I also got rid of the modge-podge collection of baskets and bins these toys used to reside in.  So what's a SuperMom with a plethora of diaper boxes but no sewing machine to do?  Let me show ya....

Now when I say a plethora of diaper boxes I mean it.  See these three jumbo boxes containing 96 diapers each?  With twins this hopefully lasts me a month.  In other words getting my hands on sturdy cardboard boxes isn't a issue.  So here was my original plan, also known as Plan A. 

    I picked up a product I hadn't used before and is now one of my fav's.  Spray Adhesive.  This one is Elmer's Craft Bond but I've seen several others.  I also had some scrap drop cloth material and a glue gun as a back up in case my high hopes for the 
spray adhesive failed me.

First step is to cut the flaps off your box.  Don't toss them...

Cut them to fit in the opening at the bottom of your box just to add a little more support.  Since I had my trusty glue gun on stand-by I went ahead and glued them in.

So here is where my original plan failed me, or I failed my original plan.  The fabric I had wasn't enough!  Yikes!  And I had to get this done for my 'After' pictures for my Playroom DeClutter Confessions.  Breathe...  Ok, I figured it out (or so I thought).  I grabbed my bag of more scrap material I picked up free at a garage sale.

I found three pieces of sheer material in three different shades of pastel.  This. Would. Work.  Except the bright purple Luvs box would surely show through.  No fear.  I always have a can or two of spray paint somewhere.

So outside I went boxes in tow moving forward with Plan B. 

Now three full coats of paint later I was beginning to hate Plan B.  In the middle of my second coat I wondered why I didn't just tape paper over my boxes like this project that inspired me in the first place.  Plus I started to picture once again having a modge-podge of toy boxes.  Then it dawned on me...I also have a plethora of 
table runners I saved from my wedding!

DING DING DING Plan C...you are the WINNER!  Thank goodness 'cause nap time was nearly over.  I had 2 runners in my linen closet (plus 4 hanging as curtains and 1 I use as an actual table runner).  I also grabbed a black pillow case that came in a sheet set I use for my twin photo shoots.

So outside I went with boxes in tow moving forward with Plan C.

Oh, and this time I had the spray adhesive with me too.  There are directions for a permanent or a temporary bond.  Add your fabric quickly for a permanent bond or wait about 3 minutes for a temporary one.  I liked the idea that I could remove my wedding runners and that the adhesive would be a little more forgiving.

The adhesive is really easy to work with!  The key is to use your hands to smooth the fabric on the outside the best you can.  The next steps help with any troubling wrinkles.

Flip your box upside down and spray more adhesive on the bottom.

 Flip your box over again to adhere fabric to the inside of the box.  

Now you can stop here.  I mean the box is going to be filled with something, right?  In my case toys so only my kiddo's will see it anyway.  Or you can finish it with the cut piece of your runner or another piece of fabric.  Nap time was still in full force so I cut my black pillow case at the seams and then in two pieces to use for the bottom of the boxes.

 The bottom of your box should still be tacky.  If not spray a little more adhesive.  I roughly folded my fabric to the size of the bottom of the box.

For a thrid box I did the same thing but used the other pillow case as the cover and trimmed the box using a piece of the cut-off runner.

All said and done (after I finally settled on Plan C) this project was super simple and quick.  And not needing a sewing machine was all the more awesome.

Here are the three boxes on my new shelf in my newly organized playroom.  

Did you notice the table runner turned curtain hanging next to the shelf?  Anything I can do to not sew is a winner for me.  Geesh, that might of been my longest tutorial yet!  I guess it did take me three tries to finally get here but hey, it was worth it.
So glad I went with Plan C.

  From the tables at my wedding to covering diaper boxes for the kiddo's toys, these table runners have done it all.  Do you have any decor from your wedding you re-purposed?  =)