Here is the final product, a barbie wardrobe, made from a black photo storage box. Without the mirror, painting beads I had laying around and using cardboard I already had, the total cost was $3.99 for the box (but I had a 40% off coupon) and $.59 per piece of decorative paper, (I used 4 pieces), totaling $4.75 plus tax.
First, your supplies. I choose a photo box because it has a nice finish, smooth and fairly strong, but a shoe box would work fine too. You will also need decorative paper, Elmer's glue, hot glue, x-acto knife, metal ruler/strait edge, small wooden dowel, pen, paint (I used spray paint, but any paint will work), rope, cord or ribbon, beads or plastic bottle caps (for feet) and extra cardboard. I put in a mirror that I bought at an auto shop for replacement mirrors. You can cut it and it is fairly inexpensive.
Choose your box and collect your tools
Next, choose your decorative paper
Start my cutting down the lid so it fits directly on top of the box (like a door), instead of over the top (like a cover). Cut 2 corners, upper right and lower right and cut down the fold using a x-acto knife. Then shorten the side to match bottom box. Use the metal ruler as a strait edge for cutting and glue the edge back on using hot glue.
Then cut strips of which ever paper you want to decorate the lid with. These strips go on the outside edge, to cover up the rough edge from gluing the side to the lid back on.
Cut the end of each strip at a diagonal to fit together at the corners.
Next add your divider using scrap cardboard. Measure it the length and width of your box.
Again, use the x-acto knife and strait edge ruler to make a clean, strait cut. I put wood under my cardboard to prevent any unwanted cutting on the surface I was using.
Make your bottom shelf (to put your drawer under) by measuring from the side of your box to the divider.
Wrap your choice of paper around the divider and shelf to cover both sides and the outside edge and glue with Elmers glue.
Next, cut and assemble the drawer. Cut the bottom of the drawer the same size as your shelf. The sides are as long as your base and as tall as you want to make the drawer. The front and back of the drawer and both sides should be cut exactly the same. (You can use one longer strip for sides and bottom and fold up the sides, but I didn't have enough card board and this method was easier for measuring).
Using hot glue, (ignore this step if using one piece of cardboard and folding up edges) glue the side pieces on. Choose your paper (I chose pink). Measure and cut your paper to the width of the box. Start on the inside of one of the sides of the box and fold over to the outside, then across the bottom of the box. Most standard decorative paper are not long enough to cover the other side as well, that will have to be cut separately.
Cut another piece of paper the same width and cover the other side piece, inside and outside.
Glue the paper to the cardboard with Elmers glue.
Next, using hot glue, glue the front the back pieces on. Cut your paper the width of the box and start at the outside of the front piece, fold over, covering the side of front and the bottom of the inside of the box. Glue and cover the back piece inside and outside. Don't worry about ugly corners, showing the cardboard, we will address that next.
Choose a complimentary piece of paper for the edges of the box. (I chose white with black flowers). The width is up to you, however wide you think looks best. Fold in half and for the pieces used on the upper edges of the box, cut a notch out of each side to allow space for the corners.
For the sides and bottom pieces, you don't have to worry about that. Glue with Elmers glue.
Your box (drawer) is done!
Now using hot glue, glue the divider in and the shelf in between the side of the box and the divider, just above the box.
Next you want to prepare your clothes rod, drawer handle, box feet and hinges.
I cut hinges from cardboard, but if you want to invest a little more money for a nicer look, you can buy small metal hinges and handles, but I'm all about saving money (without being tacky of course).
Paint these pieces your choice of color, with your choice of paint, (I chose pink and spray paint). I forgot in show the wooden dowel in this pic, but you paint it the same.
While this is drying, you can decorate the box.
I glued the paper on top of the mirror, but on second thought, it would have looked just as nice with the mirror on top of the paper.
For the handle on the top and the latch, I used some cord that I already had. Ribbon or yarn would be fine too. Of course you can always splurge on hardware. Poke holes through the top and sides of the box with your x-acto knife and run the cord though. I tied a knot at the end (on the inside) and hot glued it to the inside of the box.
For the clothes rod, measure from the outside of one side of the box to the outside of the other side for the length of the dowel. Measure how far down from the top you want the rod and the middle of the box and mark it with a pen. Do the same measurements on the inside divider and other side of the box. Use your x-acto knife to poke holes. For the second lower rod, same steps, only from the outside of the box to the divider.
Once your feet, hinges and dowel are dry, glue them in place with got glue. I put hearts over the holes from the dowels.
And It's BEAUTIFUL!
Some tips: I cover all my edges of paper with Elmers glue to keep the edges from pealing up. I also added several clear coats of paint to prevent the paint from chipping. I also added a coat of clear coat to the entire box (I covered up the mirror) to seal it.
I was very proud of how this turned out, especially since it was my first attempt and I couldn't find any good sites to help my make or design one. Therefore the birth of this blog!
Thanks for reading and I hope I've helped. Please contact me or comment if you have any questions, if something isn't very clear or if you have any ideas to add for others.
UPDATE
I made a coffin wardrobe box using the same method. Only, you can't use hinges due to the shape, so I used latches.
