Wednesday, December 9, 2009

A Box for Cards

For awhile, I couldn't decide what to do for our cardbox. I had saved this picture as inspiration when we first got engaged:


 ($125 for a cardbox?!)

But shortly after, I found a much more practical idea that I liked more:


I can't remember where I found this, sorry!

I researched how much it would be to buy one, and the price was definitely not in our budget. The "original" is $75.00. It seemed like a relatively easy DIY project, though, so I decided to try it.

I looked around for inexpensive 8x10 frames, and found some at Wal-Mart for $3 each. I had originally planned to drill L-brackets into the backs of the frames to connect them, but the frames I purchased weren't wood, so I improvised. If you want to go the drill route, I found a tutorial here.

Since I couldn't attach the brackets with the screws provided, I decided I'd just use super glue on the brackets. However, when I flipped the frames over, the back wouldn't allow me to attach the bracket and still have the frames connect at a 90 degree angle. I ended up scrapping the idea of using brackets to connect the frames completely, and instead just used the glue to attach the frames to each other. Yes, you read that correctly - I super glued our cardbox together, and it worked perfectly!

Materials needed:
  • 4 frames (I used 8x10, but you could use bigger if you want to)
  • L-brackets (Also called corner brackets) - 12 if you use the brackets to connect the frames, 8 if you use my method (Can be found at Wal-Mart or any hardware store)
  • Foam board
  • Exacto knife for cutting foam board
  • Super glue
  • Paper/fabric/something to cover board for top of box
  • Tape to secure paper (or something stronger to secure fabric)
  • Lazy susan (optional)

I'll post a tutorial, but it's pretty self-explanatory. I started with my 4 frames and used black and white engagement pictures:



And then I literally just glued the sides of the frames together to make a box. It doesn't take much glue at all, and I only had to hold it in place for about 20 seconds:


*Make sure you already have the pictures in the frames before attaching them to each other!*

Then I glued 4 L-brackets just below the tops of the frames and 4 more at the bottoms of the frames.
This was before I'd done the brackets on the bottom:



I measured the opening and cut 2 pieces of foam board for the top and bottom of the box. For the top, I cut the slit for the cards and I covered it with damask wrapping paper. You can use wrapping paper, scrapbooking paper, fabric, whatever you want.



There are brackets at the bottom and another piece of foam board sitting on top of them, but I didn't take any pictures after that point. I'll also be putting it on a lazy susan so that guests can turn it and see all of the pictures. You can find them at Wal-Mart or any hardware store.



 

I'm really pleased with how well it turned out, and I love that I was able to do it for $20. I know we'll have it out on display in our home after the wedding (I'll be changing out the top piece for one without an opening).

Have you been able to save money by DIYing projects? What are you using for a cardbox?

9 comments:

  1. Ok that is WAY cute and WAY creative. Might just have to steal this idea. I've been researching card boxes lately and just haven't found anything I'm in *love* with yet. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  2. I had planned to use that same blog tutorial for my cardbox as well. Yours looks great! I'm glad it worked well with glue, it'll make it so much easier to construct that way...love it!

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  3. Oh I LOVE this!!! I just might have to do something similar....VERY CUTE!!!!!

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  4. You and I are scary similar! Every time I see something you made, it is something I found and am planning on doing :) I found a box like the one you posted with picture frames that I want to use for our card box as well. I didn't like the birdcage type card boxes and those other ones that look like 'cakes' layered on each other were ridiculously expensive and I know there's no way I could make something like that. I can't believe you made that yourself! It looks amazing! The one I found is about $80 for an 8x10 square card box that will double as a frame in our home after wedding day. I actually registered for it for the bridal shower and am hoping that I get it as a gift so I don't have to buy it :)

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  5. I LOOOVE it!! That's exactly what I was planning on doing. I even bought all 4 frames. But then I hung them up in my house in MN, and one day I came across the boxes on sale at Hobby Lobby, and you saw what happened next.
    But anyways, yours is amazing!!

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  6. It's beautiful! More beautiful than the ones for $125 and $75. I don't have an exact plan yet for my card box, but I'm thinking of designing it like a small wishing well, since I'm having a fairytale-ish theme.

    What I'm DIYing right now is my wedding gown. My savings on it is tremendous! I spent only around $80 for the fabric and thread, but I'm getting exactly the design I want for super small cost.

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  7. This is WAAYYY to cute! Great idea.

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