Wooo Hoo, Elle,I'm pleased you thought it was fun to make but I'm sorry you had a glitch, but it was something you obviously overcame, because I would never have known that you had any problems. I only asked, because if you had, it might have been something that I had or hadn't said properly. I am so pleased you managed to get it together by following my pics etc. I found doing mine fun too, which is why I did the second one, and I have plans to make a larger, third one, when the fabric arrives.

What a great Job Elle, sounds like you had a blast, and it is great to feel like you were back in playschool.

Yep shows you how grown up I really am LOL Have a go cutebuns you will have a blast.

I plan on it, I have yet to find a suitable cardboard to use, I did find some plastic that may work, I have one or two things to do before attacking it, I am doing more embroidery right now,

BTW, I don't even know what I want to be when I grow up yet!

Bit of advice...... Don´t grow up, just stay the way you are. If you are like me, totally zany is best.

Did you see Elle's suggestion of using the largest soap powder boxes? They might perfume the box for a while, so I suggested you pick a soap powder you like the smell of. Or ask at your local shoe shop for some of the boxes boots come in? You might have to stick two layers together to get them firm, but hey it's only like plywood, except with cardboard.

I am totally zany and wild in the weird way, maybe that is why I get along with all of the kids that are usually around here, they come here to unwind and destress for their normal every days lives,


I only use liquid, I wash 99% in cold water and it works better than the powder, but on the other hand the bottles have some nice flat edges of plastic that may stand up better to the girls ministrations that I am sure that they will put them through.

and thinking about it I am wondering if the plastic on the milk jugs is at least heavy enough for the lining pieces,

Pass on that one. Obviously you have large square bottles. How about Pizza boxes??

I would have to buy them, I am wondering what else I can use to maybe recycle some things,

Ablolutly Beautiful. good :-) :D :thumbup: job

You did a beautiful job on your box!!! I love the blue and white fabrics :D :D :D

Would a shoe shop give you some of the boxes that people don't want when they buy shoes? I have, in the past, asked for the larger ones that have boots in them - they would work well. Didn't you say that you had just got Hammy some new boots? If you didn't keep the box, you could perhaps go back to the shop and ask for some empties.

Elle...just caught up....your box is lovely! You are going to make me have to try one...Lesley you mentioned non corrugated...why would that be bad? I do have a few shoe boxes here, but I'll have to go look at the size of the templates to see if they will work. I have a rather large box that someone used to ship me some batting....so...I can't use that huh?

I wrote non corrugated because here, the boxes made of that wouldn't be strong enough, they tend to bend quite easily. If you have some that are nice and firm, I suppose that would be OK - you might have to adjust sizes a little if it is really thick, but possibly not.
I suppose also, I said that because I have never attempted to make one of these boxes with corrugated, I would hate to advise it and then you found it wasn't very strong or something and thought all sorts of uncharitible thoughts towards me because I had said it was OK.

Lacelady,
I have been meaning to ask PCV (ms) glue is? Could you
give a brand name or type for the strength of glue it is, I
have not heard of the type you mentioned before? Thanks

OK Lesley...I understand about the corrugated...I'll have to play with it a bit just to see...I would never think ugly things about the specifics of your directions though....but of course..when I do mess it up...I'll just blame you for the whole mess! :lol: :lol: :lol:

The Pritt, stick glue is the kind sold for schools to stick paper together, but it works well to stick fabric to card too. The PVA is white, and usually sold for woodworking, It is a thick, viscous liquid, but I'm afraid I can't tell you a name, I have a half a gallon that doesn't have a label on it, sorry ( bought it years ago from a wholesaler). I would look for this in any DIY outlet, or builder's merchant. This is the glue that is used to stick the box linings to the outers, because it is stronger, and since the box linings have all the elastic etc on the backs of them the stronger glue holds them better. I also used it to stick the base lining into the base, though I think the Pritt stick would also work on that. I hope that helps.

LOL, good job I have broad shoulders, isn't it? But if you mess it up, it's will be your mess!

Thanks for the help, I will have to get some.

I got all my cardboard cut out today along with the gusset template. Just to make sure Lesley, the 5" measurement on the gusset is the actual side on an angle and not down the center...correct??

So far...I have only a messy room, so the only blame you get so far is that you made it too darn tempting not to try to make one!

Elle, thanks for letting me know about this post, because somehow I missed it when LaceLady posted the tutorial.
Your box came out just beautiful!! What a lovely gift idea.

LaceLady, thank you for posting this tutorial. I have bookmarked it and will definately make one. My sister would love this as a gift and I have just the material for it. Now as to when I can get to it, that is another matter. LOL

Patti, I just dug out my template and remeasured, it actually measures 4 7/8th inches down the side, but 5 inches will do fine - any excess gets hidden under the box base. Down the centre, it measures 4 5/8th inches. Don't cut them any larger, like you might a patch, i.e. with allowances, they don't need them, and don't forget to place the fold on the top, as that will be on show when the box falls open. The raw side edges get trapped between the box outer sides and box linings.

If you glue two gussets to alternate sides, you can use your clothes pegs to help them stick, and straight pins to help nearer the base of the box. Once those three sides have their gussets attached and dry, then tackle the other three alternate sides. This time you can only use pegs at the top corners, and you need to use straight pins along the sides, pushed into the card to achieve good adhesion.

:lol: I am a fixin to stat my needle box, I have printed all the instructions out, and tomorrow or Thursday I am going to get some cardboard and cut outmy templates. The only thing is I can't decide what materialI can use. That is pitiful since I have a room full, decisions, decisions,

By the way is not the 13 yet???? my poor box is loaded down with quilt books, and wantsto be set free. :roll: I might have to give it a peak to make sure nothing insideis broken. :evil:

Thanks Lesley. I haven't made it any further yet. I had to start dragging out all my Christmas decorating and have that spread all over the house. I'm going to get back to the box as soon as I can though. Thanks for the further explanation on the gussett... :D

Thank you Pennyswings, I hope you find the time, there is very little sewing, and a couple of evenings would see it done or almost done, once you have the card all cut out.

No problems, Patti, as for the decorations, things like holidays kind of get in the way, don't they? LOL.

Yeah Lesley...the holidays are messing up all my free time... :wink: :lol:

You know we like it really, well all the goodies anyway, it is all the organising,cleaning, present buying and wrapping, food shopping and cooking, decorating, card writing and a myriad of other things that take up our time beforehand that really gets in the way.

Well, of course you are right Lesley...I'll get back to the box soon though....its to be one of my pressies to give away! And if its successful (which I'm sure it will be)..then I'd like to make more than the 1!

Just post a pic before you give it away please, that's how I get my 'job satisfaction' LOL.

Well...I did get alot done last night...the 3 hexagons covered, all the inner linings covered and the lid brims covered. Today I'll start to sew the brims to the top. Still good instructions so far Lesley...its working out great! :wink:

Great Patti, you are doing good. I am boasting now, on my second one with a bit of luck should finish it tonight. I sat and sewed today at the hospital. Will PM you later tonight.

Elle

Good for you Elle! I got the brims sewed on the top and the top covered today. I might go ahead and cover the outside of the sides tonight...or I might just have to work on my cows for the farm swap... the box is fun though and its calling me right now! :wink:

Hey you two, well done. Number two for you Elle, and good progress on number one for you Patti - we will have a little gallery going on here soon. I am really looking forward to my large print fabric I have ordered to make myself a larger version. It has a big, blue/white medallion in the print that I intend to centre on the lid - I am hoping to make the box about 10 inches across, and the sides a little higher, so that I can tuck my scissors in one of the pockets. Guess what, I have new Gingher scissors in 4 inch and 5 inches on order, how cool is that. Not the fancy ones, but nice all the same. I ordered the ones with larger thumb and finger holes, because I have hands like bunches of bananas - nothing neat and petite about me!

:lol: :lol: Lesley...thats quite the image of your hands that I now have stuck in my head...but I didn't see any bananas in the pictures you took for this tute....just very nicely shaped fingers!

We will have a little box gallery here soon! Oh..and I love those scissors, lucky you to have both of those sizes!

I got the scissors on ebay, the 4 inch ones were only $9, the 5in ones $25, as I said, they weren't the pretty, decorated ones, just the ordinary ones, but I am more interested in them cutting nicely! They haven't arrived yet, so I am looking forward to the postie coming.
No, I truly do have large hands (they go with my big feet). I need a size 11 (British V) on my ring finger, and I have never owned a ring that would go on my middle finger, I think I would need a man's ring to fit that one, and they aren't decorative, like ladies rings. I can stretch out my thumb and little finger on each hand into a straight line. From the tip of my finger to my thumb measures 9 inches, and with two hands, I can measure half a yard!!! It's a very good, useful thing to be able to do when you need a rough idea of the size of something! :-) :-D

I ordered some of the really nice Ginghers in the larger size from ebay a few years ago. I sent them to my grandmother for Christmas though. They are really nice! I broke down and bought the 4" size for me. I just love them. Someday I'll get some of the other sizes.

That is quite a hand spread you have there Lesley...but I'm sure perfectly proportioned with your body :-D I'm kinda short..so most parts are a little smaller...though...some parts are kinda bigger :roll:

Got the top finished last night and the outsides covered. Now I don't have enough elastic to do the insides and have to go hunt some down today. Some things in a small town aren't all that great..can you believe I went to every single store yesterday and can't find any elastic! So...today...drive a little further..it cuts into my sewing time though. :-(

Hi, Patti, sorry you are stalled on the lack of some elastic - there isn't anywhere to buy it here locally either, so I did what I often do, and that was to resort to good old ebay, and got 10 yards, which will sort me for a good while yet. Never mind, it sounds as if you are almost there other than the elastic - are you pleased with it so far? I hope so. And thanks for the recommendation re Gingher scissors. For years I have used the Fiskars orange handled scissors, I probably have 5 or 6 pairs around the place, all in various states of sharpness. What would be really nice is if Ginghers had a sharpening service, because Fiskars don't and I just kept having to buy new ones as the older ones got duller.

I'm not sure Lesley, but seems like they do have that service. Seems I read that somewhere when I was buying the pair for my Grandmother.

I got more elastic today..9 yrds...should do me huh??? :wink: Got the insides all done and I'm ready to sew the outers to the bottom, then gussets...I'm almost there..I can feel it!

DH is very impressed....said it "looks better than store bought!"