I must be on a craftyrun, because I made this little tote bag out of a cereal box a few days ago and...oh my goodness! I love it! I think it would be the perfect library book tote (that is if you don't check out a TON of books!) or even used to carry your bible. Can you believe it used to look like this.....?
(those little girls on the box look how I feel!)Here's a few photos to show you how I did it:
Using a craft/utility knife, make a slit down the center of one side of the box, fold the flaps down inside the box and tape them down. Leaving the flaps on proveides extra durabilty.
Cover the entire thing with craft paper, construction paper, or even wrapping paper. I used a piece of 12 x 12 scrapbook paper and wrapped the excess around the sides. I also used spray adhesive to glue the paper to the box, but next time I might try Mod Podge instead.
You're base should look something like this. At this point I slathered a coat of Mod Podge over the top of the whole thing to seal all the paper edges, to make it more durable, and spill resistant. I also papered the inside, but that is an optional step.
Now You are redy to make the straps. I measured 2/12 inches in from the sides and 3/4 inch from the top and punched two holes on each side. (I also used a "crop-a-dile" to attach large eyelets in the hole to give it more stability, but that is also an optional step.) I then strung ribbon thru each hole to make the straps. Essentially, it should look like this!
Presto! You have a Cereal Box Tote, custom and hand made by you!
**This post also part of This Is The Year's Mod Podge Mania
What an adorable idea! I love making stuff out of nothing! My mail sorter is made out of cereal boxes. They sure are handy!
ReplyDeleteI think this would also make an adorable gift bag for presents. Or a "purse" for a little girl. Or you could make smaller ones for favor bags out of cake boxes! Wow, the posibilities are endless. Thanks for the inspiration! This one is being filed away in the crafty section of my brain as we speak (errr, type ;-)
This is why I love reading blogs!
That's beautiful. I love the scrap book paper you used. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOh my! This is sooo stinking cute! I am so game for this one!
ReplyDeleteThat is just too cute! I think I could handle making something like that.
ReplyDeleteYou have such great ideas! How do you have the time and energy to get it all done?
What a great idea! These would make great gift bags as well!
ReplyDeleteI love recycled crafts! Wow! This transformation is superb!
ReplyDeleteThis is super cute. I think I'll try it with my son soon.
ReplyDeletewow. Super creative!! ...and most adorable!!
ReplyDeleteSo cute! Great Idea! I'm gonna have to try that out! :) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHow very crafty of you!!! Of course, I'm duly impressed, as always, especially with the fact that ANYone has craftiness in their genes! :) Love it!
ReplyDeleteThat is a great idea to use for a gift bag! especially if you filled it with more crafty goodness!
ReplyDeleteMichelle, This is such a great idea! I'm really into making things out of recycled stuff these days, so this is one I might just have to do! SO CUTE!!
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle, just love this! I saw this when I visited your blog a bit ago and then again today on One Pretty Thing and had to come by and comment how great it is. I've been saving a cereal box, I think I had planned on making some type of Valentine mailbox out of it but that ain't gonna happen by tomorrow! Love this AND how it reuses what might have ended up in a landfill!
ReplyDeletewow wow wow, so smart! I am always looking for new things to do with cereal boxes!
ReplyDeleteOoooh, I love this idea. I just made a bag out of fabric and duct tape but this is another one the girls could make with friends. We have a lot for cereal boxes because we make journals out of them for gifts for friends. Now, another use!
ReplyDeletegreat idea! I try to reuse boxes and stuff too....this is an idea for all those teachers need to get something for at the end of the year :-)
ReplyDeleteMichelle, I just wanted you to know that I think I am going to do this project with my MOPS group. April's theme is Living Green, so it will be nice to have something that we can "reuse" like the cereal boxes for a craft. Thanks for the great idea...I remembered you doing this, so I had to come back to check it out! ;)
ReplyDeleteI love this! I can't wait 'til the cereal box is empty...I'm making one of these for each of my girls!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the awesome idea, and for linking up!
Man, this is so much better than flattening and giving to my recycle truck!
ReplyDeleteDefinately doing this soon! Great idea.
So cute! You've sooo inspired me!
ReplyDeleteHugs from Eventually Cottage!
Such a great idea. It turned out sooo cute!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing idea! I'm going to start saving boxes now. I think this is going to be my Christmas craft and I will make these to pack cookies in for neighbors.
ReplyDeleteWho would have thought!
Seriously!?
What a great idea. Truly something out of nothing. This is also a great project to do with the kids. I might have to try this and save my cereal boxes!!
ReplyDeleteVery, very cute!!! What a fun idea, I will have to file this one away!
ReplyDeleteWell aren't you a smarty pants. So clever. I love using stuff we would otherwise throw away.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure to link to it! This is a great idea and great tutorial!! I apologize that I didn't let you know I was linking to it when I did! :) Thank you for this great idea and how to!
ReplyDeleteIf you cut the box on an angle, I wonder if it would work to make a magazine holder? This is such a neat idea and I will be trying it for sure! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI stumbled upon your blog after reading This Is The Year's Mod Podge Mania. I love this idea! Had to try it out myself...
ReplyDeletehttp://aclassymama.blogspot.com/2009/05/cereal-box-tote.html
Thank you!!
<3
I love this idea! It would make a cute toy carrier, too!
ReplyDeleteI made a magazine holder out of a cereal box and used mod podge, but I think for the actual gluing, it would have worked better to use spray glue.
Wow..This is a great idea..I love makeing new things..I showed this page to my niece and she wants her friends to make this at her birthday party.This also teaches the kids how to recycle.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to try covering the box in wallpaper or maybe contact paper. I think it might make it even stronger. I'm going to start looking for wallpaper scraps!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea for a gift bag.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea for small kids! My six year old daughter is making this for her 1st grade project "Reusing to Help Planet Earth". Instead of using the scrapbook paper, she cut up recycled wrapping paper into small pieces and pasted them on the box.
ReplyDelete