DIY Network

Easy Box Tote Turn an old box into a new bag. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-505

Stow your stuff in style!

Michele Beschen is always looking for fun new ways to use materials – like upholstery webbing. You may never have seen upholstery webbing: It's used to support the seats in chairs and sofas. But Michele Beschen brings webbing out in the open for this project, using it to transform simple wooden boxes into charming box purses and totes.

Any wooden box works for this project: deep cigar boxes, small crates or even old drawers. Make small ones to carry as purses, and large ones to use as storage around the house.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

Easy Box Tote

Materials:

cigar box, small crate or drawer
upholstery webbing
scissors
sewing machine
hot glue gun
upholstery tacks
drill with 1/16th" bit
hammer

• Select an item to transform into a purse: It can be a deep cigar box, and old drawer or even a small crate.

• Measure the 4 sides of the box and cut pieces of upholstery webbing to fit (figure A). Cut the webbing strips a little long: It's easy to come back and trim any excess.

• Determine the length for the purse's handles, allowing enough length for the handles to extend down the sides of the box (figure B). Cut two pieces of webbing to the desired length.

• Fold the handle pieces in half lengthwise. Use a sewing machine to stitch a seam down the center and along the edge of each folded piece (figure C). This will help them lay flat.
  
  
• Secure the handles to the box with hot glue.

• Use hot glue to attach the other pieces of webbing to all four sides of the box, making sure to glue the edges down well (figure D). Trim any excess webbing.

• Use short upholstery tacks to help hold the webbing in place and add a decorative element (figure E). Start pilot holes for the tacks with a 1/26" drill bit, but don't drill the hole all the way through the box. Instead, insert the tack in the hole and hammer it the rest of the way in.

• If the tip of a tack comes through to the inside of the box, cut it off with a pair of wire cutters or nippers.