Make Your Own Cute Photo Storage Box!

I made this adorable box to house my current photos in until I'm ready to scrapbook them...sure beats tossing them in a shoe box, eh? This storage box allows me to enjoy the photos before they're scrapbooked...and the box looks super cute sitting on my desk!

Here are the materials I used:

CTMH Materials:

• Photo/Recipe Box
• Cherry-O Bulk and Creative Basics Paper
• Sweet Leaf Ink
• Chocolate Ink
• Tulip Ink
• Large Daisy White Brads
• Blush Cardstock
• Chocolate Cardstock
• Buttercup Cardstock
• Crystal Blue Cardstock
• Sweet Leaf Cardstock
• Daisy White Cardstock
• Handled Foam Tool (for sponging)
• Paper Piercing Tool
• Jeanette Lynton's Paper Cutting Template - click HERE to access the free template! (In the second paragraph under the Episode 6 video box of this link you'll see the phrase "download the templates"; click there and you'll be able to download Jeanette's template for covering the box - easy peasy!!)
• Photo Box Phrases Template, given below

Non-CTMH Materials:

• Green Ribbon
• 1 7/8" Scalloped Circle Punch
• Tag Punch
• Tape Runner Adhesive or Xyron Adhesive
• Glue Dots
• Crop-a-Dile

Start by printing Jeanette's template, (link given in the CTMH materials list above), onto the back side of the paper you want to use to cover your box. Cut the paper out and set aside. Using a foam tool, (or sponge), apply Sweet Leaf ink around all of the edges of the box. (Note: I found that using a circular motion when applying the ink to the box works best!) Once you've applied the ink, adhere the pre-cut paper pieces to the outside parts of the box. Don't adhere the paper you've cut for the inside of the lid and lid flap yet...those will go on last to hide the ugly prong parts of the brads!

Now to make the cute, crumpled flower detail for the box flap! You'll need to punch out 3 scalloped circles from Blush cardstock. (My punch is the 1 7/8" scalloped circle punch, but you could use a different size if you don't own that particular size).

Line them up and punch a small hole through the center of all 3 circles using a paper piercing tool. Crumple up the scallops...don't be scared...really crumple them up!

Now smooth them out and make 1/2" cuts toward the center of the flower between every other scallop on each circle to form flower petals. Cut all 3 scalloped circles like this.

 Using a sponge, dab Tulip ink on both the fronts and backs of the crumpled scallops.

Finally layer the circles on top of each other, off-setting the cuts to add extra dimension to the petals, and place a brad through the center where you've punched the hole. Shape with your fingers until your flower looks the way you want it to. Set aside until you're ready to add to the front flap of the box.

To apply the handle to the lid, measure 7/8" from the outer edge of the lid and 2" from the front of the lid, marking spot with a pencil. Repeat on the other side of the lid. Using a Crop-a-dile, punch holes where you've make the marks. Cut 8" of grosgrain ribbon, folding each end under 3/8" twice. Punch hole in each folded over side of the ribbon and place brad in the hole. Insert the brads into the pre-punched holes of the lid and open prongs on the inside flap of the lid to secure brads. (Note: I used the handle part of my scissors to press down on the prongs to fully open them.) Here's a photo of what the top of your box should look like:

Next, find the center of the box flap and measure about 1 1/4" in from the flap edge and mark. Using the Crop-a-Dile, punch a hole. Place the brad that is the center of your flower through the hole and, using the same technique as applying the ribbon handle, open the prongs to secure the flower to the flap. To make flower leaves, cut two 1 1/2" pieces of green ribbon and form a loop, securing with a glue dot. Place another glue dot on the back of each of the ribbon leaves and slide under the flower as shown in the photo. Now you can adhere the inside lid and flap paper pieces, which will cover up the prongs of your brads. The inside of your box lid should look like this:

If desired, print the photo box phrases, (click on template below to upload in their actual size), cut out, sponge with Sweet Leaf ink and rub Chocolate ink around the outer edges to give them an aged look.

Adhere phrases to box as shown in photos. Here's a photo of the back of the box, where I added one of the phrases as well as a ribbon accent:

To make the seasonal photo divider cards, cut 4 pieces of Chocolate cardstock into 4" x 6" rectangles. Punch 4 cardstock tabs; 1 of each in 4 coordinating colors. (I used Sweet Leaf, Blush, Buttercup and Crystal Blue cardstock). Cut out the season phrases, (Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall), and distress edges with Chocolate ink. Adhere to the front of each of the tabs, and then adhere tabs to the cards as shown in photo:

Your photo box is now complete! Just fill with your favorite photos and set on a desk or coffee table until your're ready to commit them to a scrapbook!

Happy Scrappin'!