Making Decorative Fabric Covered Boxes

Rating:
Summary: For the truly dedicated crafter, a complete course book.
Review: The first thing you should know before buying this book is that this is not one of those ready-made, quick 'n' easy project books: you will be making your boxes entirely from scratch, section by section. Obviously a lot of work for something that you may only intend as the holder for a "real" present, but that is the point. These lavish, artistically crafted containers ARE worthy gifts in themselves, and showpieces of your skills from more than one area of crafting.
The author starts with lists of basic necessities for cardboard box crafting, detailing types of cardboard needed for various parts of boxes and glues, tools, etc. Next, there is a Techniques section, with step-by-step illustrations of the various steps in boxmaking, such as batting, wrapping, assembling, and lining strips. A similar section on ribbon embroidery techniques and other embellishments follows. These instructions are basic enough to serve as valuable references, and someone who has never attempted ribbon embroidery before can conceivably do a decent job if he/she pays careful attention.

The "real" fun comes in the largest section, the projects lavishly photographed and laid out in two-page spreads. These boxes are arranged from beginners skill level at the beginning, to the advanced crafter level at the end. Each project uses new box building skills that build upon the skills practiced in the last project.

I know this all sounds extremely complicated and exhausting; but I have found it to be worth it due to the fabulous results. There are scalloped, diamond shaped, and heart-shaped boxes of various sizes at the introductory level alone. If you decided to stop there, you would already have some beautiful victorian-inspired treasures that are totally unique from any prefabricated craft store box, many with hinged and fitted lids, lined in velvet or silky materials and padded sumptuously for a feminine feel -- and you would not have to spend more than an hour or so of total work. But mere boxes are just a starting point. Further along are a pincusion shelf with two drawers, a teapot, a crescent moon, a 12 inch doll's travel wardrobe case, and more.

If I had to nitpick some cons I could mention that it was a little inconvenient to have to spend time at the copiers enlarging the box patterns. The only other drawback is the time you will spend shopping for just the right fabrics and notions to decorate your finished products -- which, after all, is one of those drawbacks that plagues many other crafts as well, including quilting and making clothes. So, if you are already involved in some other area of crafting, you may have some of what you need already lying about.

Because of the involved and time consuming nature of this discipline, I have sadly had time to devote to learning only a few of the beginner's boxes and one more advanced project, a romantic keepsakes box with a drawstring pouch for a top instead of a lid. This particular box has been variously enlarged and reduced to fit the size of intended birthday, shower and Christmas gifts, changing color schemes and notions to reflect the occasion. It has become a favorite of mine and the recipients often treasure these containers long after they have eaten the chocolates or dried fruit that was inside. So I believe that if you only find one favorite as I have, it will become like a special signature gift that you will learn to make quickly as you practice it.

In a nutshell, this is a great book for those who wish to put time and care into something original and beautiful that will be used as gifts and keepsakes.

Rating:
Summary: For the truly dedicated crafter, a complete course book.
Review: The first thing you should know before buying this book is that this is not one of those ready-made, quick 'n' easy project books: you will be making your boxes entirely from scratch, section by section. Obviously a lot of work for something that you may only intend as the holder for a "real" present, but that is the point. These lavish, artistically crafted containers ARE worthy gifts in themselves, and showpieces of your skills from more than one area of crafting.
The author starts with lists of basic necessities for cardboard box crafting, detailing types of cardboard needed for various parts of boxes and glues, tools, etc. Next, there is a Techniques section, with step-by-step illustrations of the various steps in boxmaking, such as batting, wrapping, assembling, and lining strips. A similar section on ribbon embroidery techniques and other embellishments follows. These instructions are basic enough to serve as valuable references, and someone who has never attempted ribbon embroidery before can conceivably do a decent job if he/she pays careful attention.

The "real" fun comes in the largest section, the projects lavishly photographed and laid out in two-page spreads. These boxes are arranged from beginners skill level at the beginning, to the advanced crafter level at the end. Each project uses new box building skills that build upon the skills practiced in the last project.

I know this all sounds extremely complicated and exhausting; but I have found it to be worth it due to the fabulous results. There are scalloped, diamond shaped, and heart-shaped boxes of various sizes at the introductory level alone. If you decided to stop there, you would already have some beautiful victorian-inspired treasures that are totally unique from any prefabricated craft store box, many with hinged and fitted lids, lined in velvet or silky materials and padded sumptuously for a feminine feel -- and you would not have to spend more than an hour or so of total work. But mere boxes are just a starting point. Further along are a pincusion shelf with two drawers, a teapot, a crescent moon, a 12 inch doll's travel wardrobe case, and more.

If I had to nitpick some cons I could mention that it was a little inconvenient to have to spend time at the copiers enlarging the box patterns. The only other drawback is the time you will spend shopping for just the right fabrics and notions to decorate your finished products -- which, after all, is one of those drawbacks that plagues many other crafts as well, including quilting and making clothes. So, if you are already involved in some other area of crafting, you may have some of what you need already lying about.

Because of the involved and time consuming nature of this discipline, I have sadly had time to devote to learning only a few of the beginner's boxes and one more advanced project, a romantic keepsakes box with a drawstring pouch for a top instead of a lid. This particular box has been variously enlarged and reduced to fit the size of intended birthday, shower and Christmas gifts, changing color schemes and notions to reflect the occasion. It has become a favorite of mine and the recipients often treasure these containers long after they have eaten the chocolates or dried fruit that was inside. So I believe that if you only find one favorite as I have, it will become like a special signature gift that you will learn to make quickly as you practice it.

In a nutshell, this is a great book for those who wish to put time and care into something original and beautiful that will be used as gifts and keepsakes.