Homemade Cardboard Magazine Box

I'm basically tired of spending $2-5 for a magazine box. So its time to make my own. This was one of those projects a long time coming. So I finally said "Hell, I can make one of these. It's only a folded piece of cardboard". So lets rock n' roll.

Step 1: Materials and tools

You'll need the following materials:

• Scrap Cardboard that is about 15" x 29" (I had scrap cardboard from a bath tub that I installed a while back, but you can also use wine boxes or large boxes that you can get for free at sam's club/costco)
• Glue (Either yellow wood glue or white glue)
• The blueprint below.

Tools:

• Measuring tape
• Straight edge
• Razor/utility knife
• Pencil

Comments

[screaminscott]

Very nice instructable. However, I wonder if it's really worth it to copy the design of the commercially available boxes. They were created so a person could buy it and assemble it with no glue. As long as you are gluing it anyway, why not make a design that requires gluing but is quicker to cut and assemble. Remember, Office Depot has a pack of 6 of these for $9.99. Is it really worth is to spend the time on all those complicated cuts?

[ausable]

Well then take the design and mod it so you don't have to use glue. And yes it is worth spending the time to make it. I've already done all the legwork on this project. Plus it is made out of 100% recycled cardboard, which is cardboard that normally would have been sent to a landfill. Can you say that same about your Office Depot boxes? I think not.

[screaminscott]

What I meant was: It might be a good idea to mod the design to use MORE glue, since you have to glue it somewhere anyway. For example, you could make flaps bottom of the box much simpler (just simple rectangles), and just glue or tape them together. You really don't need the cool 'self closing' design, because you arent trying to ship them flat. I guess its just part of my mindset. I like things simpler, faster, cheaper. Others prefer cool design. It's whatever turns you on.

[marton891]

I couldn't agree more with screamingscott. Since there's no need to ship them flat, it would be easier/faster to keep them simpler by using rectangles and just tape it together.. but hey, awesome work!

[vbmakes]

I have to admit, the cuts were a little complicated, and it took me a while to make this, but that's probably because I'm not used to making crafts. Either way, I'm glad I stuck to my goal and made this happen! I wish I would have copied the outline of the template before I pasted it together.

[SparkleRox]

Thank you for this part especially! I found some cardboard magazine holders but they didn't have instructions on how to fold the bottoms and I just could not figure it out. These pictures were very helpful.

[radracer]

I really love this instructable. I'd rather put the $2 down for a 5 pack FLYT at IKEA, but the nearest one is a 2 hour drive, so this saves me gas.

[ashleybmeyer]

Just made one! Easy enough for my lazy self, and definitely beats spending $11 at Officemax or schlepping all the way to ikea or whatever. I used gorilla glue, works great. Thanks for the great instructable! I might decorate it with fabric or something if I feel ambitious.

[Cardboardexpert]

I think this is a great forum. I happen to make cardboard ( corrugated ) boxes and everything in this material professionally. This is excellent!

[tbcross]

I do a lot of mailing ( hatching eggs) so I have a lot of priority mail boxes some of which um..I wrote the address wrong lol. Anyway they are free, heavy duty, and perfectly sized if you get a medium flat rate box.

[joeybombstyle]

Thanks for posting this I had been rolling around in my head doing just this. Now I have everything worked out for me. This is great.

[ausable]

You're welcome!

[shabagana]

This is a good idea but couldn't you just cut a cereal box?

[ausable]

You could, but it won't be as strong as using corrugated cardboard.

[wolfganges]

Hi! Can you please tell me are these cm (centimeters) or ft? cheers wolfgang

[ausable]

The measurements are in inches on the PDF.

[wolfganges]

thanks! now I can start creating my cardboard magazine box!

[ausable]

you're welcome

[desert bloom]

I successfully completed 4 cardboard magazine boxes. Great idea...thanks.

[wongsta]

lol they sell these at ikea, flatpacked! While i was buying them it separated (two boxers per LARGe sheet of cardboard)

[cyenobite]

nice instructable! Here's a tip for getting accurate folds with corrugated board... You can use a "burnisher" from any art store (like this one: http://www.dickblick.com/zz569/01/ ), or a ball point pen (basically something that comes to a point, but will not actually cut the board like a knife.)
On the INSIDE of the fold, press down hard enough to score the fold line (you may rip the first layer of paper, that's ok, when it folds, you won't see the rip). But one quick score like that and the board will fold very easily and accurate.
I can also recommend using a hot glue gun too for gluing cardboard - fast and strong.

[ausable]

I'll have to give that burnisher tip a try on the next set of boxes.

[LinuxH4x0r]

Cool! I just get wesson canola oil boxes from Sam's club.

[rodelu]

Good instructable - but I hope you put something under the cardboard before you cut - it'd be a shame to cut through that hardwood floor!

[ausable]

The floor is laminate, and it's totally messed up. But I just cut it in my lap, with the self healing mat on my lap

[GorillazMiko]

I have these at school, and really want one. Now I can do it! Now my desk won't be incredibly messy anymore. Great Instructable.