DIY upcycling cardboard box with washi tape and fabric

Do you get too many cardboard boxes you have to throw away? Do you love washi tape DIYs? Check out this tutorial to combine that AND feel good for upcycling trash AND make yourself a new useful & decorative storage item you will love!

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How to upcycle cardboard boxes into useful & decorative items

I have to admit we order online quite a lot. Therefore we get so many cardboard boxes and although our cats love them, even they can't use them all. It's just sooo much trash!
Also I am in need of some storage items. So I thought, why not combine that, use the trash, do some upcycling, save money and get something that looks exactly how I want it to look? Also, if your heart beats for DIY as much as mine does, a DIY project always is better than no DIY project.




This is the first of those projects and I am planning on doing some more, using different methods and materials. Stay tuned for more ideas using yarn, fabric, paint, paper,... maybe stuff from nature, such as bark, twigs, leaves. There are endless ways and all you need is some inspiration!

Materials needed for this easy & fast DIY project: 

• Cardboard box (size and shape as you want/have)
• Fabric (enough for an inlay) 
• Sewing supplies (for hand or machine sewing, as you prefer)
• Washi tape 
• Scissors
• Ruler

Materials needed (plus sewing equipment)

Instructions: 

First, cut off the top parts of your cardboard box. You won't need those. Please don't use your fabric scissors for this. 

Then make the fabric inlay. Measure the length, width and height of your box. Keep in mind that you'll need a rectangle shaped fabric bag with the same dimensions as your box has. So you'll need one bottom part and four sides, with additional height at all sides, so you can fold it outside.

There's two options for this. Either you make one rectangle for the bottom and one for each side, so 5 in total, then sew them together to one piece. Or you cut one piece out of your fabric, where those 5 parts are already combined (as I did). Less sewing needed here!

Don't forget, you 'll need more height for your side parts, as those need to be folded to show on the outside. 

Also remember to add enough seam allowance.

Flat inlay before sewing (including seam allowance)

The sewing part itself is very simple. Just put together two sides - always the ones next to each other - right sides together and sew a straight line. Can't be any easier! Secure your seams by making knots or backstitching, so they can't rip open by mistake later.

Just 4 straight lines of sewing needed

Sew together the sides next to each other to form a bag

Now put this bag into your box and pull the top over the edge. Doesn't matter if you have raw edges here, you won't see them once you've taped everything.

If you use very delicate fabric and/or your bag sits very loose, consider gluing it on to stabilize it. 

The bag is inserted and folded over the edge - now tape it! 

Last step - tape it! Try to get a nice finish at the bottom. You can just go around the edges. If you use a pattern like I did, be sure to line it up as good as possible to get a neat finish. 

Finished! 

This will now look good and be useful in our bathroom. 

Any upcycling cardboard projects you want to share?