Collectors have long admired the look of antique boxes covered with the skin of snakes, alligators, ostriches, or stingrays, but an inexpensive alternative can be found by covering a box with faux-animal-skin paper.
Tools and Materials
Wooden box
Latex-infused faux-animal-skin paper
Mat knife
Chip brush
Bone folder
Glue, such as Yes paste
Measuring tape or ruler
Scissors
Paint (optional)
Faux-Leather Box How-To
1. If desired, paint the interior of the box. Allow to dry.
2. Measure the sides of the box, all the way around, as well as the height. Using a mat knife, cut a long strip of paper to wrap around the sides and the bottom of the box. With a chip brush that's been trimmed down to make the bristles stiff, glue the paper onto the box. Take your time and make sure it's smooth and even; employ the bone folder, if necessary. Trim away any excess paper.
3. Measure the top and lip of the box's lid and cut a piece of animal paper to those measurements, adding a little extra to be safe. Apply glue to the top of the lid, center the lid on the paper, and glue down. Snip a square of the paper at each of the four corners; fold up and glue the sides, trimming away any extra paper.
Resources
Faux-animal-skin paper and Yes paste can be purchased at Kate's Paperie.
You use one long, skinny piece that wraps around all four sides, then a deparate square piece for the top/bottom.
For the bottom, it is separate piece of faux leather. I don't think you need to worry about the very bottom, because no one will see it. Here, I think you can wrap it around the sides. My question is about the edges. When the corners come together, won't they have that slit in space difference instead of a nice "fondant" folded look?
For the bottom, it is separate piece of faux leather. I don't think you need to worry about the very bottom, because no one will see it. Here, I think you can wrap it around the sides. My question is about the edges. When the corners come together, won't they have that slit in space difference instead of a nice "fondant" folded look?
Can someone help instruct how to cover the bottom of the box, is it a separate piece from the sides?
Hi, For paper- saw a BIG assortment @ Joann's 3-21-09. Tandy Leather (online or local) has cheap pigskin
LOVE this idea but where do I find the paper?
The YES glue is on Kate's Paperie site. Click on Arts and Crafts
http://tinyurl.com/c7cyxc
Continued from my prior comment: Hollander's lizard- and crocodile-embossed papers start here: http://tinyurl.com/c7cyxc
Click "view all" to the right to see the entire category of reptile-embossed papers.
Hollander's is a great store with exotic and handmade papersl, in Ann Arbor, MI. The main site is www.hollanders.com
I just decorated boxes with old greeting cards with notes from my husband, children and mother (who passed away). Also used some old air mail envelopes from my family in Europe to cover the boxes. After I taped everything on the box, I covered it with clear contact paper. Sometimes I forget to look inside the box because I'm reading all the things I have on the outside of it!
Paper Mache boxes can be found at any craft store. They are lighter, cheaper and come in all sorts of sizes and shapes, moreso than wooden boxes. .And I think the comment section is for 'us', not Martha and staff. I have learned a lot more from the comments.
this works also with lightweight fabrics and oilcloth. you can make a really fun recipe box using some of the kitchy nostalgic oilcloth that's out there.
just make sure that the lid on the uncovered box is loose enough that the box can close once the paper or fabric is wrapped and glued.
I have done this with hinged boxes that they sell at Michael's and other hobby stores - you must take an exacto knife to the edges of the hinges so that the fabric is cut away there.
2 issues. The comments go to the readers, not to Martha. She may read them but not normally but readers do and they will respond so check back. If you are frustrated then it is because you don't do much shopping. Google or IXQUICK are good search engines that will get you where you want to go. So is JoAnn's, Michaels, HobbyLobby, and other craft stores. You WILL find what you want there, not here.
Try the Oriental Trading Company for wooden boxes. They are not the same kind Martha used but they'll do. And there is paper available at Kate's Paperie called crocodile or lizard paper. It would be nice to actually be able to get the same stuff Martha uses but I guess that would be just too perfect.
Soooo, does anyone know where I can get the boxes and the papers? This is very frustrating. I do find it helpful when this type of information is posted, too bad it's incorrect. I do expect more from a Martha Stewart site.
First, the Paerie link was bad and the Boxes were not on the other site. I know this is repetitive, but the lag in repairing the problem is sad coming from a martha site. Why post something and never follow up on comments. Turn comments off if that's the case.
Would be nice if someone involved with the show would correct this blunder and let us know where she really got the boxes.
I couldn't find boxes at rnllee.com either, but I found both lizard and crocodile papers at Kate's Paperie. I would like to know where we can find good wooden boxes.
And I can not find any paper either at the site given nor any other site. And as the previous comment said,, there is not a box at that sire either.
I went to rnlee.com and they do not sell those boxes. Only notions and purse supplies.