Talk about a classy upcycle project! We’ll show you how to turn small cardboard boxes into beautiful Celtic style containers with nothing more than a knife, hot glue gun and some paint. This is one of those truly amazing crafts! You’re containers can be used for anything. We used them for our Positive Potions Kit. FYI this is the same technique we used on our Small Dragon Egg.
Upcycled Box Supplies
You can use any colors you want. I’ve found that black and silver give a nice look.
- Small cardboard box
- Hot glue gun
- Black paint
- Silver paint
- X-acto type knife
Instructions
You can use pretty much any size box. Just depends on how much hot glue you have! I used a small box that some items from Amazon were delivered in.
Measure it as high as you want.
Trace on handles if you want them. Then carefully cut out along the lines.
Paint the inside of your box silver.
Paint the outside of your box black.
Using a hot glue gun make designs on the outside of your box. As I’m not all that artistic, drawing wise, I tend to make the same type of simplistic curly design. These do not have to be perfect. I actually touched the tip of the glue gun to the cardboard lightly as I drew them on. (I suggest first practicing on a plain piece of cardboard.)
Carefully run a line of hot glue along the edge of your box.
Using silver paint, brush a thin coat over one side of your box at a time. You don’t want it to dry.
Quickly and lightly rub the side you just painted silver over. This gives it the effect. Move onto the next side until all of them are done.
Don’t forget to paint the edge where you ran the hot glue.
We also use a box for our Positive Potions Kit!
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Love how you used the glue gun for design.
Thanks Diana!
Oh my, this is amazing!!! What a great technique. Love the antique look! Thank you so much for sharing at my craft party on Thursday! Would love to see your newest posts this week, which starts at 7pm EST.
Thank you Denise. Ü
Yes, for the recycled cardboard box that you’d have no idea was a cardboard box!!! This is such a cute craft and I like how you used the hot glue as your decorations. Really cool! Thanks for sharing at Create Link Inspire 🙂
Thanks so much for the kind words and for stopping by!
Great upcycle! You made it look so easy!
I would love it if you would share this on my weekly link party : )
http://www.twentysomethinginthe2010s.com/peace-love-linkup-002/
Thank you Ashleigh. Ü
What a clever idea! I couldn’t figure out how you got a finished edge on your cut cardboard. Hot glue! Genius! Thanks for sharing.
Ü Thanks Christina.