I don’t have a schoolroom. Most of the time I don’t really want one. I like for our school to be just another part of our home. Right now my children do their seatwork in the dining room and the adjoining kitchen. The only reason that I am somewhat envious of those who have schoolrooms is their ability to keep school in one room and not have the rest of the house looking like a school.
This is the baker’s rack in the corner of my dining room. I keep it relatively neat and organized, but when we have guests over I would like it to look less schoolish. I saw on someone else’s blog (that I can’t find now) how she had covered cereal boxes with fabric and was using them to store workbooks.
That gave me an idea. If I put pretty fabric around boxes, then my shelves wouldn’t look quite so schoolish. So, I decided to give it a try.
On the short side, measure 3 inches from the bottom of the box.
Draw a line across the front to mark 3".
Next, draw a diagonal one the longer side of the box from the previous line to the top of the box. Repeat on the other side and then cut along the lines.
Here’s the box after cutting off the top flaps, and along both the diagonal lines as well as the front line.
Cut the fabric wide enough to cover the back and sides with about an inch of fabric to overlap onto the front.
Cut the fabric long enough to cover the back and front of the box with enough extra to overlap about an inch.
I used every crafter’s favorite, Tacky Glue, on the back of the box. Set the box down on the fabric and use a ruler to smooth the fabric.
Put glue on one side of the box and pull the fabric over it. Next smooth with the ruler as with the back. Repeat with other side.
Put glue inside the box and fold over the cloth to the inside.
Cut 2 slits in the fabric to separate the front from the sides.
Fold the remaining triangle of fabric across the side, into the middle of the box, like wrapping a gift.
A close-up of the way the fabric overlaps on the side.
Glue the lower side fabric onto the front.
Repeat for other side. Then glue the front fabric on, overlapping into the box.
Here’s the back of the finished box.
Here’s the side of my finished box.
Will somebody please comb my hair?
By Kristen H.
Great idea Kristen! Love these boxes and your shelf looks so nice. I wish we had room in our DR for one of these. We have a school room, but it pours out into the DR and LR, keeping the DR counters cluttered. So, your theory of keeping it all in one place is false…the school stuff still wanders around the house.
Oh well. I guess I'll stop envying you people with school rooms then 🙂
pretty pretty pretty!
go to office supply store and see if they have empty binder display boxes they would be willing to give you – they would already be perfectly cut to size!
msbeeee 😉
I have some like that but much sturdier that a friend who is a custodian at the local public school gave me (know anyone?1) They originally contained K, 1 and 2 grade Langauge arts curriculum (which I didn't want) but the boxes were great! I used pretty paper to make labels on the front but fabric is a better idea since my paper is starting to look ragged. Very cute shelves!
Gina
I'm thinking I may need to make some of those. Hmmm, seems like they could store lots of thin but similar books–like all ancient Greece Lower Grammar readers, early readers like Henry and Mudge, all those science field guides . . . hmmm, I may have to make some of these this summer! Seriously, looks great!
I love this idea! How creative you are.
Amy
http://www.learningatouthouse.wordpress.com