Make custom storage boxes for CD shelf

I have a CD storage shelf that has been used for storing various small knick-knacks (since CDs aren't used in this house anymore), but storing lots of small stuff like this makes it easy for stuff to fall out, and it also looks messy. To fix this, I made some storage boxes.

I made the boxes from 3 mm cardboard, and covered all sides with printed paper to make them look good. I decided to make them different to make it easier to remember which one contains what. The boxes shown here are covered with an old tourist map and pages from a disintegrating Tintin album.

Step 1: Bring out the right tools

You need to make sure that you have the right tools. This is what I used:
- cutting mat
- metal ruler
- sharp knife (I used both an X-acto knift and a carpet knife)
- glue
- brush to spread glue
- interfacing or similar to avoid glue sticking to stuff it shouldn't stick to
- a press is good, but if you don't have one a few heavy books or something like that also works

Comments

[dhawktx]

I'm terribly curious! What do you use instead of CDs?

[pinkunicorn]

A Squeezebox and gigs and gigs of mp3s. Highly recommended!

[platdujour]

78's

[shooby]

I'm going to do this. The map one looks awesome.

[pinkunicorn]

Glad you liked it. Post a picture when you're done!

[shooby]

3mm cardboard is pretty thick yeah. I'd probably use 2mm (called 2 ply chip board in the US).

[pinkunicorn]

3 mm is pretty thick, especially for a box as small as this one. 2 mm would be sturdy enough for a box this size, but on the other hand it's easier to make the box using thicker cardboard, since the sides have a wider base to stand on.

[shooby]

I see. Mine will probably end up fitting into a milk crate, three stacked on to of each other per crate.