Real good quality chests made from solid wood have lost their relevance. Although relatively recently they were still used to store things, valuable items and jewelry.

Today, chests are more often used as a decorative element, an attribute for themed events, and simply as original boxes for storing jewelry and jewelry. In this article we will look at several interesting master classes in which we will learn how to make an original chest out of cardboard in just an hour and a half.

What is the chest for?

How to make a beautiful chest from thick cardboard with your own hands and what can it be useful for?

Besides, he will simply become
An irreplaceable attribute when creating a children's pirate party or wedding. A homemade item can be intended for gifts or a bride price, where guests will put their envelopes with monetary gifts.

If desired, the product can be decorated in a folk or New Year’s style, and using special paints, it can be “aged”, giving it the appearance of an ancient treasure chest, worn out over the years.

Of course, the finish will largely depend on everyone's individual preferences. In the master classes we will get acquainted with the very principle of assembling a decorative chest.

Master Class. Simple chest

If you have always been far from hand-made, but decided to join this difficult but entertaining business, you should start with the simplest version of the chest.

To assemble an original chest from ordinary cardboard with your own hands, you will need the following materials:

cardboard box;
stationery knife;
plastic screws and nuts;
stationery loops;
PVA glue;
cardboard strips.

Manufacturing process:

First, you need to make the appropriate markings on the box: on the end parts of the blank, draw semicircles and lines that will encircle the chest;
According to the marks, cut off the excess parts of the box as shown in the diagram;
Next, you need to make a lid from cardboard, which can be attached to the formed semicircles either with tape from the inside, or with stationery loops;
In proportion to the size of the lid, make strips of cardboard;
Frame the chest on both sides with a cardboard strip, securing them with plastic nuts;
If desired, you can attach a lock and handles made of thick paper to the finished product.

As you can see, making a chest yourself is not difficult. If desired, you can fill it with coins and decorative stones, then you will definitely have a nice pirate treasure chest.

Master Class. Chest-box

How to make a chest box?

To make a convenient box for storing valuables or jewelry, you need to take the following materials:

Manufacturing process:

Take a small cardboard box and putty on the outside;
Cut out three semicircles from cardboard onto which a lid cut from thick paper or cardboard will be attached;
Be sure to apply a large amount of polymer glue to the front of the lid. Then it will fit tightly to the chest;
Using ordinary glue, attach the semicircular lid to the workpiece;
When you have filled all the irregularities on the box, glue tulle to it and cut off the excess parts;
Using yarn or thick threads, lay out patterns in the form of flowers or abstractions on the lid and end parts of the workpiece;
Then coat the entire workpiece with glue again so that during use of the box neither the tulle nor the patterns come off;
After this, the chest can be painted with black acrylic paint;
Using a sponge, apply golden acrylic paint to the patterns;
Glue a piece of leatherette of the appropriate size to the inside of the lid;
Cover the bottom and inner parts of the box with fabric or textured paper.

This master class will require perseverance and attentiveness from the needlewoman, since this scheme for creating a chest from cardboard is not simple. However, the resulting product will delight your eye for a long time.

Master Class. Pirate chest

To make a small pirate chest from thick cardboard with your own hands, you will need the following materials:

Corrugated cardboard box;
Acrylic paints (brown, golden, silver);
Brushes and sponge;
Scissors and pencil;
Glue gun.

Manufacturing process:

How to properly make a chest lid from cardboard?

Although a handmade chest is considered a truly unique thing, it is rarely placed in a home decorated in a modern style. This design is convenient for storing various things that apartment owners do not often use. In addition, the product can act as a separate decorative element that complements the interior of the room.

We’ll look at how to make a chest out of a box and other materials with your own hands in this article.

What can chests be made from?

Creating a chest with your own hands is not difficult. First you need to decide on the area where the future structure will be located. After this, you need to draw a rough sketch of what kind of product you want to create. You should also think about the dimensions in advance.

A similar decorative element can be made using a variety of materials:

Tree. The structure can be placed in the hallway as a cabinet on which you can sit to put on your shoes, or as a chest of drawers where you can store various things.
Plywood or chipboard. It is located in a children's room, in which it is permissible to store toys and other items.
Cardboard. The box will serve as the main blank. It stores various accessories and other light items.
Expanded polystyrene or polystyrene. This type of structure can even be fixed in the wall.

If wood is used to make crafts, then pine is perfect. However, this type of wood can swell and become covered with small cracks when exposed to moisture.

You can also use alder. Of course, this material is not very durable, but due to its light color and soft texture, it can easily replace expensive species of tropical trees.

How to make a chest

A decorative chest is considered an advantageous and convenient device in which things, books, children's toys, sports equipment, and much more are stored. In addition, the product can be used as a coffee table if the small dimensions of the home do not make it possible to place larger furniture in the living room.

Chest from the box

Making a chest from a box is quite simple. In addition, this invention does not require large financial expenditures, since its manufacture does not require special parts and materials. Everything you need can be found at home.

Step-by-step instructions on how to make a chest from a box with your own hands are presented below.

Step 1. Initially, you should draw a drawing of the future product on the box. To do this, you need to make semicircles on the small sides, as well as a couple of lines that encircle the box. After this, using a stationery knife, you need to cut off all the excess along the top strip, as well as on three sides along the bottom.

Step 2. The lid for the chest is made from a durable sheet of paper of the appropriate width. It should be fixed on the hinges with office fasteners.

Step 3. The front cover must be attached to the line (regular glue will be required).

Step 4. After this, you should decorate the future workpiece. You need to stick two strips of a dark shade on the lid and body. And then attach handles with a lock to the product.

You can put toys, towels and other things in such a chest, but not very heavy ones, because the structure is not very strong.

Wooden chest

It is very easy to make a wooden product with your own hands according to a drawing. Absolutely anyone can handle this type of work, even those who have not yet had experience in this kind of thing.

Algorithm of actions:

Prepare the material. To create a chest you will need boards (sizes depend on personal preference). Using a router you need to make a quarter.
Assemble the box. From the finished boards, make a box that occupies approximately 2/3 of the size of the future structure.
Prepare the base for the bottom. It is necessary to process the quarters on the boards with a router.
Install the bottom. To do this, you will need to connect the workpieces using self-tapping screws.
Make a lid. Cut out a couple of side walls in the shape of a semicircle. Then the entire surface of the lid must be covered with boards.
Treat the structure with stain, which will help preserve the wood.
Secure the fittings. You will need legs, three loops, and handles. A pair of hinges are fixed near the lid, and one will be used as a lock. The legs need to be screwed to the bottom, and the handles should be secured to the sides. And the sides of the finished product should be decorated with steel tapes.

Made from polystyrene foam

Using a sheet of polystyrene foam, you can create an incredibly beautiful decorative product that can decorate any home interior. The main thing is to strictly follow the manufacturing instructions.

Step-by-step master class:

First of all, it is necessary to draw a sketch of the future structure on a piece of paper with the appropriate proportions and sizes of the elements.
The lid should be slightly inclined and consist of five parts: a top, two sides equal in width and a pair of side elements equal in length.
The edges of the top and long sides need to be cut off at an angle so that they can be joined later.
On the surface of the workpiece parts, using a screwdriver, you need to draw lines that will imitate boards, and with curved lines you need to draw an image of wood.
Paint the internal parts dark and the external parts brown.
Once all the elements have dried, they can be connected to each other using silicone or wood glue.
Then the sides of the product must be painted in a golden hue, giving the craft a border.
You can decorate the surface of the structure with any elements, for example, shells, pebbles or pieces of glass.

Pirate chest made of cardboard

A pirate chest made of cardboard looks very impressive and quite unusual. Such a product can be created together with a child. This does not require any complex materials.

Master class on making:

The basis will be an ordinary box, which from the inside at the junction of the bottom and the walls must be covered with very dense material.
For strength, it is necessary to attach dense blanks to the inner walls with glue.
The lid must be made of two sheets, which must first be given the desired shape and then fastened together. On the sides of the workpiece, stick paper or wallpaper with protruding teeth, which will then be fixed to the lid.
In places where the fittings will be mounted, you need to glue plastic. This can only be done from the inside.
Wrap the surface with wallpaper coated with glue. The same should be done with the inside of the workpiece.
To decorate, you need to cut out narrow strips, cover them with crumpled paper and fix them on the structure at the same distance. The same stripes can be applied to the lid. Then attach semicircular rivets to the workpieces.
Cut out some marine figures and apply them to the design.
The inside of the lid must be covered with crumpled paper.
Paint the inside and outside of the chest with black alkyd paint. Give the figures a silver color.

Wooden pirate chest

A pirate chest made of wood will look great in a children's room decorated in a nautical style. You can store not only toys in it, but also other things.

Step-by-step instructions on how to make a wooden chest with your own hands:

1. To prepare a blank for a future product, it is necessary to make a drawing on a furniture board, according to which the parts are subsequently cut out. Since the elements will be fixed with a lock, you need to immediately cut out the tenons.

2. To assemble the frame, you will need to connect all the elements with each other and coat them with glue so that the product is durable.

3. The chest should be plastered inside and out. When the layer of lime mortar has dried, the product can be painted in a caramel shade.

4. To create the effect of wood on the body of the structure, you need to grease the newly painted surface with a roller with a mixture of flour, milk and brown paint (the consistency of the solution should resemble sour cream), and then run a spatula over the product.

5. For decoration, a stencil with a marine-themed pattern is used. The workpiece is applied to the surface and covered with white paint. After this, the stencil must be carefully removed.

6. At the end of the work, the outer side of the structure is smeared with wax mixed with gold powder, then sanded with a soft cloth and covered with black paint.

7. The inside of the product must be covered with golden leaf.

8. Attach the lid to the base using door hinges, screw furniture casters to the bottom. The handles are made of rope, which is passed through two holes in the lid. The ends need to be tied in a sea knot.

9. On the sides of the image you need to fix leather straps, tying them around the entire structure.

Flat roof

Often the classic version of the chest has a semicircular lid. However, such a design can also be made with a flat closing element. In addition, this manufacturing method is much easier.

Algorithm of actions:

1. The main material will be boards (the size of the product can be varied).

2. Assemble sides from wood, which need to be connected to each other using bars.

3. The bottom is a furniture panel, which will be fixed on the sides with boards. In order for the workpieces to hold, it is necessary to initially cut out grooves for joining the parts.

4. Now you need to make a lid. Make a marking according to which you need to cut the boards, fastening them together and securing them with bars.

5. Make two holes on both sides and in the lid.

6. Insert a rope through the holes and out through the holes in the lid. Tie the ends into a knot. Make handles from rope. Drill holes on the sides and insert ropes there, securing them with a sea knot.

7. Paint the surface of the structure with stain.

When choosing a chest model that you plan to make with your own hands, you need to pay attention to the option that will fit perfectly with the interior of the house.

Expert advice:

For a retro style, a restored element that has no cracks or abrasions is perfect.
Vintage style, on the contrary, requires a worn product with chips and scratches.
To prevent the design from being too conspicuous, the room needs to be supplemented with objects that will match the style of the chest (lamp, paintings).
If the room is designed strictly in white colors, and the structure is of some other shade, then it can be repainted in the color you need.

When creating a wooden craft, its final processing is very important. This includes sanding, tinting and varnishing. If there are still cracks on the surface of the product, they must be hidden using putty intended for wood.

Homemade decorative chests are usually placed in the bedroom, living room and children's room.

In the bedroom, the product can be installed near the bed, placing linen, towels, a blanket with pillows or jewelry there.

In the recreation area, the structure can be used as a coffee table, on which you can place a vase of flowers, a book or a newspaper.

In addition, such a decorative element can be placed in the bathroom, and jars of cream, shampoos, cosmetics and much more can be stored in it.

Video

The video shows how to make a shoe box with your own hands.

How to make a wooden chest with your own hands

This wooden chest has a dual purpose: firstly (the most obvious) it is a wooden container designed to store household items and, secondly, it can, if necessary, be used as a coffee table in a small living room. The shape is very simple and traditional, and also the most functional for storing various things, such as toys, books, games, etc. To improve the appearance and impression of the chest, all its parts are joined together with tenons. If you need to further improve the appearance of the chest, you can experiment with coloring, drapery or overlays, such as metal. There is a lot of room for imagination here.

Assembly: Chest Base

The main part of the chest is a rectangular wooden box with dimensions of 76x41x23 cm. The actual dimensions can be arbitrary, it all depends on your goals, capabilities and purpose. The choice of material also depends on the possibilities and needs. Such material for assembling a chest can be, for example, multi-layer plywood 20 mm thick.

In accordance with the selected dimensions, it is necessary to make the main parts of the chest - the front and back walls (our dimensions are 76x23 cm), two side walls (size 41x23 cm) and the bottom (76x41 cm).

These parts are marked on a sheet of plywood and cut out. When marking, you must ensure that the details of the chest were strictly rectangular in shape. Therefore, we use a square to mark and carefully measure the diagonals of the parts to ensure they are the same size. You can cut using any available tool: jigsaw, hacksaw. We clean the ends of the cut parts with sandpaper to remove all kinds of burrs and improve the appearance. To make the chest beautiful and durable, we connect the side parts with a box connection - into a straight open tenon. Before you start selecting lugs, sockets and tenons, you need to carefully and carefully mark out the parts. Inaccuracies can still be made when cutting workpieces, since errors can be corrected later. However, when marking wood for tenons and lugs, this is unacceptable. This is necessary because making tenon joints requires great precision. The mating planes, edges and ends must be evenly, tightly and with the entire surface adjacent to each other. The tenon should be of such a size that it is difficult to insert into the socket or eyelet. A tenon that is too thick can break the part, and a tenon that is too thin will not stay in the hole. This should be avoided if possible as it can take a very long time to correct the part.
When marking, it is best to use a sharpened pencil, as this guarantees the accuracy of the line. Never draw lines by hand; it is better to use a ruler. If you need to mark blanks for several identical parts, do this at once, laying them in a row and securing them with clamps. It is advisable to use gaskets to prevent the parts from becoming wrinkled.
When marking wood, you need to try to choose the most optimal size, the golden mean. A tenon that is too thick requires a large eye, and the walls of such an eye will be fragile. A spike that is too small, on the contrary, will be weak itself. The dimensions indicated in the drawing cannot be carried out absolutely accurately. This often turns out to be too complicated, requiring a lot of effort, which is not always justified. Therefore, when performing a large number of works, some inaccuracies are allowed. The boundaries of the tenons are marked on both sides of the board and at the end. This ensures that the work will be completed with sufficient precision.
When the marking is completed, you can begin work.
When starting to saw the tenons, secure the workpiece with the end up and the front part towards you. When making a connection on a solid tenon, it is better to first make the tenon itself, and then use a pencil to outline the end of the tenon on another part. This sequence of work allows you to avoid too large errors, which can be even greater when making a tenon and eyelet or socket blindly. Only after this can you start sawing the eyelet or socket.

The parts prepared in this way are connected using any carpentry or other glue designed for gluing wood and forming a strong connection. When connecting workpieces, check that all angles are right; this can be done using a square. Secure the parts connected and coated with glue with clamps with gaskets to ensure immobility while the glue dries. After the side walls have been assembled in the described manner, we attach the bottom (size 76x41 cm) to them - you can also use glue, or glue and screws. The entire base of our chest is assembled.

Chest lid

The lid is assembled using a technology similar to the base. The only exception will be the height of the lid - for us it is 12 cm, for you - at your request. We cut out the side parts in 2 pieces: the front and back walls are 76x12 cm in size and the side walls are 41x12 cm in size. Using the technology described for the base of the chest, we assemble the box and glue the top plane to it, the dimensions are similar to the bottom: 76x41 cm. If desired, the top plane of the lid (or the entire cover) can be made not from plywood, but from solid wood, by selecting the appropriate material. We also carefully ensure that all the angles formed by the parts are straight - we check with a square.

The final stages of making a chest

Carefully sand the entire surface, removing all defects and glue residues. We pay special attention to all corners. Sand the corners very carefully, giving them a slightly rounded shape. You can treat the surface from the inside and outside in a variety of ways, you can simply soak with drying oil and varnish - the most traditional solution, you will get a wooden chest with a natural wooden texture, the rest depends only on your imagination.

We buy decorative hinges of suitable sizes and the shape and color you like and fasten them with decorative screws to the lid and base. It is better to place the hinges outside rather than inside; they will add color to your chest. At the front we install a decorative lock, latch or hasp, suitable in size. In addition, we attach a piece of strong tape to the lid and base to prevent the lid from tipping over when opening, as shown in the figure. The tape will hold the lid in the open position, preventing it from opening completely and damaging the hinges. All. You made a wooden chest with your own hands.

A chest is an undeservedly forgotten, but very convenient place to store things. And also a colorful home decoration and a great gift for the hero of the day or newlyweds! Make a decorative chest with your own hands, it’s not difficult at all:

DIY decorative chest. Step-by-step instructions with photos

Collect frame from boards measuring 40x50 cm. To make the sides, you need to step back 10 cm from the edges of the two boards and cut the material in a semicircle. The sides are glued to the bottom or fastened with self-tapping screws.

DIY decorative chest. Photos step by step

Cover the walls with boards. The first blanks are attached in the upper part under the semicircular cuts. After them, on the sidewalls, 20 cm from the top, marks are made with a pencil - they are needed to indicate the future cutting of the lid. Then the boards are fastened on both sides to the very bottom.

Cover the lid. Narrower blanks are attached to semicircular sections to form a lid.

Saw the sides with a jigsaw along the marked lines. After completion of the work, it is recommended to cover the wood with stain or varnish.

Attach loops. With their help, the sawn-off lid is attached to the base. On the other side, screw a loop on which you can hang a lock.

old chest with your own hands. Photo

Attach to the sides pens, for example, bronze. They need to match the style of the hinges and lock.

Decorate DIY chest. For example, fill the bottom with iron corners. Leather strips nailed with nails with large heads look interesting on a decorative chest. Finally, the legs are attached to the bottom.

DIY wooden chest. Photo instructions

Complete inner part. To do this, cover the entire space with velvet, choosing the color to your taste.

DIY decorative wooden chest. Option 2

There is another way to make a wooden chest with your own hands. It involves the following steps:

Preparation of material. As in the previous case, it is necessary boards. Select the size depending on the size of the chest you want to receive. A quarter is made using a router.

how to make a chest. Step by step photos

Assembly boxes. From the resulting blanks, a box is assembled, which occupies approximately two-thirds of the size of the future chest.

Preparation of material for bottom. To do this, the quarters on the boards are processed using a router.

Bottom installation. It is assembled from blanks using self-tapping screws.

Manufacturing covers. Two side semicircular walls are cut out, then the lid is sheathed with boards over the entire surface.

Product coating stain or varnish. This is necessary for decoration and also to preserve the wood.

Fastening accessories. The chest needs three hinges, legs and handles. They can be purchased at any store, but to make the loops look more interesting, it is recommended to file them with a jigsaw. Two loops are attached to one side of the lid, and one, for the lock, is attached to the other. The legs are screwed to the bottom, and the handles are screwed to the sides.

old chest with your own hands. Photo master class

Finishing. Copper or steel tapes that are attached to the edges of the product look stylish. However, you can use any decor.

DIY pirate chest for a children's room

If the child's room is designed in a nautical theme, a pirate chest will be suitable for it. It looks great in such a room and is very convenient for storing toys or children's things.

To make such a chest, you must first prepare materials and tools:

furniture board;
glue;
putty for working with wood;
acrylic paint in caramel, brown, white and black colors;
gold powder;
a little flour and milk;
decorative beeswax;
potal for imitation gold leaf and glue for it;
leather belts;
jigsaw;
spatula to create a cut texture;
stencils with images corresponding to the theme;
rope;
drill with a pen attachment;
furniture casters;
door hinges.

When everything you need to make a pirate chest is ready, you can get to work. The stages are:

Creation blanks. They are cut from furniture board according to a pattern. Since they will have to be connected with a lock, the tenons should be cut out immediately.

Assembly designs. The parts are connected and coated with glue for strength.

DIY pirate chest for a children's room. Photo instructions

Painting. Before applying the coloring composition, the chest should be covered with a layer of plaster inside and out. Only after it has dried can you apply caramel-colored paint.

Creation textures. To make the chest look stylish and interesting, we recommend decorating the freshly painted surface with a mixture of milk, flour and brown paint. All ingredients are thoroughly mixed to obtain a composition resembling the consistency of sour cream. It is applied in large strokes to the outer surface of the product. While the paint has not dried, a spatula is passed over it - the result is a clear wood pattern.

Decoration. The pirate chest is actually ready, all that remains is to decorate it. To do this, a stencil is applied to the lid. The picture can be anything: a ship, an anchor, etc. White paint is applied on top, the stencil is removed - and the design appears on the surface. The entire outer surface is waxed with gold powder and sanded with a soft cloth, after which a thin translucent layer of black paint is applied. The inside of the chest is covered with gold leaf using gold leaf glue.

Installation accessories. All parts are assembled: the lid is attached to the base with door hinges, and furniture casters are installed on the bottom. It is better to make a handle from a rope, passing it through two holes in the lid. The ends of the rope are tied with sea knots. Finally, leather straps are attached to the sides of the design on the lid, which wrap around the entire product.

It turns out to be a stylish do-it-yourself pirate chest for a children's room.

DIY chest with a flat lid

The instructions above show how to make a chest with a semicircular lid. But it can also be flat. This product is even easier to make. The instructions are:

First of all, you need to prepare tools and materials by deciding on the size of the chest and cutting the boards.

Collect sidewalls: connect several boards, attaching thin bars along the edges.

Glue parts of the chest, using a furniture board as the bottom. The sides of the product are covered with boards. Don't forget to cut out the grooves so that the pieces fit end-to-end.

Collect cover: take measurements, cut boards of suitable length, connect them by gluing thin bars on the sides. Then drill two holes in the top on both sides. Do the same on the lid. A rope is inserted into each hole on the chest, pulled through the hole in the lid and tied at both ends with a sailor's knot.

Do pens: drill two holes in the sidewall at a short distance from each other, insert a rope, tie knots. Repeat on the other side.

Cover by stain or varnish.

DIY chest-bench. Photo

Your DIY chest with a flat lid is ready!

DIY decorative chest from a box

If you don’t want to work with wood, you can make a chest out of cardboard with your own hands. For example, packaging from household appliances is suitable. Manufacturing stages:

From the top make cover. To do this, you need to forcefully draw lines across the entire surface so that the cardboard bends. Then cut out two semicircles and cover them with wallpaper, leaving teeth around the circumference. The blanks are attached to the lid on both sides.

DIY cardboard chest. photo

Insert the inner box into the outer one, having previously attached pens. Both parts are firmly glued to each other (for convenience during work, they can be fastened with clothespins) and covered with wallpaper.

Create decor. It can be made from leatherette, cutting out shaped belts, or baked clay. Cuts of napkins and thick twisted threads will also come in handy. The elements are glued to the chest, and patterns are formed from threads and cuts.

cardboard money chest. Photo

Attach legs. They are cut out of wood or plastic and glued to the bottom of the chest.

Paint DIY cardboard chest. The surface is covered with black acrylic paint, then a thin layer of gold is applied with a sponge.

DIY paper chest

Another economical option for a chest made of paper and cardboard, which is useful for storing a variety of small items and will serve as interior decoration. It's very easy to do:

Prepare materials and tools. Cardboard will come in handy box, consumer paper two shades, from which tubes of the same size are rolled, glue, tailor's pins, side cutters, decorative elements.

Take a cardboard box of the size you need, make marking future chest and cut it out. There should be semicircular sides on both sides.

Cover the outer part paper, bending inward about 6 cm.

Tubes flatten and pin along the long side.

DIY paper chest. Photo

Secure strips of a different shade on one side of the chest with pins and weave with existing tubes so as to create an imitation of a basket. Weave all the way to the top, then fold the remaining ends and glue from the inside of the layout. Also braid the sides, not forgetting to glue the strips to the bottom.

To make a lid you will need a regular bottle, the width of which is equal to the width of the chest. Take a piece of cardboard of the appropriate size, wet it, attach it to the bottle with tape, and after drying, spread it with PVA and cover it with newspaper. Cover the finished lid with the same paper as the entire product.

Attach strips along the edge.

Try on the lid issue by weaving it or in another way, for example, by simply gluing strips of paper evenly.

Decorate the chest as you like.

DIY chests

It is not necessary to stop at the design options described - a do-it-yourself chest can be anything! Here are some examples:

Do-it-yourself wooden chest, made in the style of log house made of rounded bars, decorated with metal handles, hinges and lock. The surface is covered with stain.

Carved chest with massive metal handles and ring for the castle. There is an ornament carved on the sides, weaving from thin boards on the lid, the bottom protrudes slightly beyond the walls of the product.

Stylish black chest, covered with leatherette and decorated with leatherette belts. Bronze hinges, locks and handles are perfect for it, as well as decorative nails with large heads.

Laconic wooden product, suitable as a place to store things. A regular hinge and metal handles are used, the lid is flat with rounded edges, and the chest is painted in a discreet color.

A rectangular product resembling flirty box. A do-it-yourself decorative chest is covered with plain leatherette or paper, decorated with vintage locks and a patterned metal flower.

Bright chest with a flat lid for a children's room, decorated with images of cartoon characters. The handles are cut out on the sides, and a recess is also made under the lid on one side for ease of opening.

There are many master classes on creating cardboard chests on the Internet. But I always had questions: what kind of glue is best to glue the cardboard so that it doesn’t move, what and how to strengthen the walls, the bottom of the chest, etc. And when I was given the opportunity and opportunity to make a chest, I decided to photograph all my actions, the stages of creation and leave , as a cheat sheet to make it easier and faster to do next time.

To make the chest I used:

a ready-made corrugated cardboard box and additional sheets of corrugated cardboard, napkin strips, vinyl wallpaper;
PVA joiner glue, PVA construction glue, PVA contact glue, Crystal moment glue;
pencil, ruler, carbon paper;
scissors, stationery knife, stationery scalpel;
alkyd and acrylic paints;
yacht varnish;
metal fittings (lock, canopies), bolts, nuts.

In those places where I planned to screw handles, locks and hinges, pieces of plastic cut from a plastic bottle were glued.

I taped the junction of the bottom and the walls with thick fabric (I was afraid that without this the bottom would fall off the walls if I put something heavy in the chest).

Then, on the inside of the box, I glued additional cardboard walls. In the photo there are 3 types of glue that I used (for experimental purposes). All three did an excellent job of gluing them tightly and preventing the cardboard from changing its shape.

Now the lid. Cardboard for the lid (2 pieces, i.e. 2 sheets). To begin with, I pressed each of them along the grooves of the corrugated cardboard (to make it easier to bend it later and give the lid the required shape without creases on the outside), then glued them together. On the sides of the lid I pasted wallpaper with protruding teeth for further connection with the base of the lid.

The base of the chest is ready.

Since the chest is large (height - 42 cm, length - 54 cm, width - 32 cm), I was haunted by the question of its density and reliability, and therefore I glued another layer of cardboard and additional pieces of plastic for attaching metal fittings.

I glued the finished lid, consisting of two layers of cardboard, with a third layer, but not all of it, but in three places (the middle of the lid and its edges - along the length of the lid).

"Press" from improvised means.

She began to cover the outside of the chest with thick wallpaper. I decided to use PVA construction glue. I smeared glue on the wallpaper sheets, waited a little and glued them onto the chest. It was stuck on poorly and not securely.

Then I did it differently: I smeared the wallpaper with glue, folded it in half and left it for a few minutes. After this, the wallpaper stuck much better to the walls of the chest. The cardboard did not get wet or warp.

View from the outside, after wallpapering.

Inside view. For each wall of the chest, I cut off separate pieces of wallpaper, taking into account that each of the 4 strips of wallpaper covered the outside and inside of the chest. I haven't wallpapered the bottom yet.

I'm starting to decorate the outside of the chest. For the “forged” finish, I cut out narrow strips from corrugated cardboard and covered them with crumpled paper. To make them stick more securely, I pinned them with pins.

I did the same with the lid.

I first drew the decorative elements on paper, then transferred them using carbon paper onto corrugated cardboard and cut them out with a stationery scalpel. And she also covered it with crumpled paper, tucking the paper from the front side of the decorative element to the inside (back side), thereby covering the “holey” - corrugated sides (cuts).

The inside of the lid was sealed with crumpled sheets of paper.

For the bottom from the inside, I cut out cardboard of the required size, covered it with crumpled paper and glued the bottom.

And outside, on the bottom I pasted wallpaper.

To give a little volume to the decor, I glued flagella from napkins (I don’t think you can call it paper art). The pea rivets were glued with PVA glue by a carpenter, quickly and reliably.

After painting the inside looks like this. I almost forgot, for such a large chest I bought black alkyd paint (art acrylic paint would have been a lot and expensive), you can see it in the upper left corner of the photo. Of course, you can’t compare it with acrylic - the smell is strong, and it takes a long time to dry - 24 hours.