Easy Faux Leather Keepsake Box

In the old days, shoe boxes were a box with a lid but nowadays, the lid is attached to the box itself and cannot be removed. These hinged-lid shoe boxes are perfect for making a nice keepsake box which is unique and easy. The box is perfect for holding photos, letters, documents and more. It’s beautiful enough for a woman or girl but masculine enough so as not to embarrass a guy. The box will take few supplies to make it but, upon completion, will not look handmade.

There are a couple of different ways to make the keepsake box. Start by tearing off pieces of masking tape and sticking them to the box. This will be somewhat time-consuming. The tape should be torn randomly and no effort should be made to ensure each piece look the same. As a matter of fact, the finished box will look so much better if each piece is different. Tear long pieces, short pieces, and different shaped pieces, then stick them all over the box and lid.

Tape is the easiest method but you can also use pieces of paper. Each technique will give you a different look. Paper in shades of brown or black work best for creating a leather look. Cut the paper into squares or rectangles then attach them to the box with decoupage adhesive. The glue can be found at any craft store and is used to attach paper or cloth to most any other surface. It isn’t expensive but will go a long way towards creating the perfect box. Paint the glue onto the box, position a piece of paper, then paint the glue over the top of it. Continue doing this until you’ve completely covered the box and lid with the paper.

Whether you’ve used tape or paper to cover the box you’ll now use shoe polish for the next step. Use shoe polish that matches the color of paper you’ve selected. If you’ve used tape any black or brown shoe polish will work fine. Use the polish to completely cover all the paper or tape. You may have to coat the paper or tape more than once to get the color you want. This is particularly true with the tape technique. After you’ve used the shoe polish you can then spray the entire box with clear varnish to create a shine. This step is optional.

Look in a department store or craft store for fancy tacks. You can also check with a local upholsterer to get the tacks. Push the tacks into the box to create the effects you want. Use the tacks to create a perimeter on the front, sides and lid. Or, just use the tacks down the two front ends. The design you create with the tacks is up to you. Even ordinary thumb tacks, in colors of black or brown, can become the embellishments for the box.

Create a handle for the front of the lid. You can use a piece of hardware, meant as a drawer pull or drawer handle, or you can fashion a handle from a button. After gluing the handle in place the box is complete. You can now upholster the inside of the box, if you want, or you can leave it as-is.

Velvet or felt work great as a liner for the box. Both are very forgiving to work with and look fabulous. Use ordinary white glue, or even spray adhesive, to attach the lining to the inside. Be sure to cut away excess fabric from the corners before gluing them in place.

The box can sit on a shelf as it is or you can make legs for it. Cut and stain pieces of a wooden dowel or use empty thread spools. Other options for making legs include buttons, beads or even foam blocks. Glue the legs in place to finish the keepsake box.

If you don’t want the box to have a faux leather look you can still create a different look from the shoe box. Just use the tape, cover it with the paint color of your choice, then spray on the clear coat. Add the hardware and you’ll have something similar to the leather box but with a softer look. It’s fun and easy to make the leather-look box and you won’t believe how much attention it will get! It’s useful, inexpensive and very easy to make.

Reference:

• Purchase hardware here: www.lowes.com