Using the cutting method of your choice, measure and cut the following rectangles:
* Two pieces that are 4.5" x 8.5"
* Two pieces that are 4.5" x 7"
* Two pieces that are 3.5" x 8.5"
* Two pieces that are 3.5" x 7"
These are the sides of your box. Each side will be double thickness with a longer piece on the inside. The lid of your box will slide on over the longer pieces and stop when it reaches the edge of the shorter one. Don't worry. You'll see.
Lay out the four pieces that are 8.5" long. Put the corresponding 7" pieces on top of them (4.5" wide goes with 4.5", and 3.5" with 3.5"). Now you're going to staple the sets together. When you staple, hold the pieces so the staple passes through the longer side first.
This way, the rough edge of the staple won't be inside the box, catching on stuff that you slide inside. For the same reason, make your staple run parallel to the long dimension of the side.
Mash the ends of the staples flat against the cardboard with pliers or the handle of a butter knife. Just get 'em flat.
Step 2: Taping the Sides
Tape the sides together along the long dimension, using pieces of tape about an inch long. Don't use a ton of tape because glued paper doesn't like to stick to it.
Whether you have your first short side butted between the long sides or vice versa, make sure you tape the other one the same way. But if you put it together and something's wrong, it's just tape. Pull it apart and start over. I did.
Once you're all taped, check to see that the tall edges line up along their length so the box has a clearly defined ledge for the lid to rest on. You may have to do a little trimming.
Step 3: The Lid
Take your ruler and measure the sides of the box.
In the photo, you'll see that I measured to the outside edges. Then I rounded up slightly because I am paranoid. I also didn't take into account the width of the cardboard I was cutting (spatial...concepts...ungh...hard). So when I first put the lid together, it was very loose. Frankly, you might want to do the same. It was easy enough to take it apart and trim a little bit here and there. Make the height 3", and tape your lid sides together just like you did with the box. There's no stapling here - it's just one layer. Check the fit as you go along. A little loose is okay. You can glue a layer of paper over it to tighten things up (see last bit of Step 4).
Once it's done, slide it all the way on, flip the whole thing over, and trace the outside lid dimensions onto a piece of cardboard.
Cut that piece out and tape it to the top. Oooh... we're getting close, huh? Now trace the bottom of the box, cut that out and tape it on.
(Cue obelisk music from 2001: A Space Odyssey)
Congratulations! The box is done, and now the fun starts!
Step 4: Covering the Box
I took four sheets of copy paper, painted them with watered-down acrylic paint, let 'em dry and stamped some antique text on them. Then I cut the paper into lengthwise strips, painted the backs with watered-down glue as I went (not all at once) and glommed them on.
This is your base design layer, and here are some more ideas:
* Leave the copy paper white then decorate it with red Valentine-themed stuff.
* Leave the paper white and glue on a second coat of torn tissue paper in various colors for a stained-glass effect.
* Print out sheets with the word "love" on it in different typefaces. Paint or not.
* Use newspaper, wrapping paper or paper truck-stop menus.
You can do whatever you want. This is America.
If you do what I did, however, I recommend that you streak your paint in the same direction you're going to cut the strips, and glue them down in the same direction as much as possible. It looks less choppy that way. Whatever base paper you use, make sure it goes with the decorating elements you're going to use in Step 5.
I was also bold and covered the tall parts of the sides in plain white paper. Don't do this if your lid fits really tightly.
Step 5: Decorating the Box
If you have a beautiful calendar from last year that you haven't thrown away, that's a good candidate for decorating your box. I had a stunning calendar by Daniel Merriam left over from 2001. That tells you how often I throw things away.
Drag out your scissors with the novelty edges, your gold leaf, your stickers, your sealing wax, and whatever else catches your fancy. I used the same watered-down glue to glom on clippings. Cutting across some of your pieces and splitting them between the bottom of the box and the lid looks cool. It also makes it easy to tell which way the lid fits because, let's face it, it usually fits better one way than another.
Decorate the sides, the top and the bottom. I even put something inside the top of my lid (it hid the Florsheim's logo). And you're done!
You can use decoupage medium to gloss up your box if you like. Just don't put it on that inside ledge or the lid won't slide easily. I didn't decoupage because I did a good job of getting my papers glued down and I liked the difference between the shiny clippings and the matte surface of the copy paper. If you have a design with a lot of white, you might decoupage to keep the surface from getting grimy.
Whatever you decide, you'll have a gorgeous keepsake. And when people admire it, you can say, "I made it myself. All of it." I have to admit, I'm starting to cast speculative looks at the cardboard wrapping-paper tubes in the kindling basket. Could make a cool container for paintbrushes.
