Tutorial for Eileen Hull's Cantilevered Sewing Box by Sizzix

I was really excited when the cantilevered sewing box die came out as it brought back fond memories of my Mother's sewing box.  It is just like hers in a miniature version!  It has 6 little drawers that are great for storing small items like buttons, bobbins, charms, etc.

It opens up so effortlessly making it such a useful box!

This may look intimidating but it really isn't.  Follow my tutorial and you'll have a finished box in no time.

 You can easily make this box, here's what you'll need:

Sizzix's ScoreBoard XL Die - Cantilever Sewing Box by Eileen Hull

Sizzix Adhesive Sheets or any adhesive sheet

Sizzix Matboard or any medium weight chipboard

Glue

36 small brads

Ink

Paper 

Tutorial

The key to making a box covered with paper inside and out, is to adhere your paper to the matboard BEFORE die-cuting.  This simplifies it all so much!

Step 1: To begin, cut 2 sheets of paper for the outside and 2 sheets of paper for the inside of the box, and 2 sheets of mat/chip board, all  to 6" x 12".  You will need additional mat board and design paper but  you can use smaller pieces and scraps for this part.

Step 2: Adhere paper for the outside of the box on one side of the matboard and adhere  paper for the inside of the box on the other side.  Be sure to burnish the adhesive down.  Using adhesive sheets ensures a strong bond and I find it much easier than using glue, but its a personal preference thing!  Also I like putting the adhesive on the paper rather than the matboard, again works better for me, personal preference. 

Place the outside design paper down over the die and run through your machine.  (In this tutorial, it is the blue side that goes down over the die) Die-cut both sheets of covered 6" x 12" matboard.

Step 3: Then use smaller pieces of matboard and paper to die-cut 4 more drawers and 2 more sets of hinges (the long narrow pieces on the die.)

Step 4:  You should have 6 drawers, 2 lids, 2 leg sets, 4 long hinges and 8 short hinges as shown in the photo.

Step 5: Ink around all the pieces if so desired. I like to use a Faber-Castell Big Brush pen to get in the scored grooves, a Sharpie also works. DO be careful not to let the pen slip! (I inked the blue chest but not the green one.)

Step 6:  Next, form the boxes by gluing the sides together using a fast drying glue.   You can use a rubber band to hold the sides together until the glue sets up.   Assemble all 6 drawers.

Step 7:  Cut a piece of chip or mat board and a piece of design paper  2 1/8" x 6" to use as a base for the drawers.  Adhere the design paper to the matboard.

Step 8:  Apply Scor-tape or other adhesive to the narrow side of a box (side without the holes) and apply Scor-tape to the underside of the base from Step 7.

Step 9:  Adhere two of the boxes together as shown below.  Make sure the boxes sit flat, if they don't,  don't force the bond between them, just adhere the two boxes to the base.

Step 10:  Fold the leg assembly on the score lines.  Adhere to the bottom of the base as shown. I used Scor-tape because it instantly bonds.

Step 11:  Use small brads to attach the 4 long hinges on the outer corners as  shown.  Attach 4 short hinges to the middle as shown.

Step 12:  Stack two boxes on top and attach the hinges as shown.

Step 13:  Stack the remaining two boxes and attach the remaining 4 hinges as shown as well as attaching the other hinges.  Attach a brad through the 4 empty holes on each side.

Step 14:  The two remaining pieces are the lids. (Sorry I forgot to photo this step.)    Apply Scor-tape to the small tab and insert into the top box so that it forms a cover as shown below.  You could also attach to the outside of the box. Then embellish as you desire.

And that's all there is to it!  If you have questions, post in the comments and I'll respond.  Thanks for joining me.

xoxo

Maggi