The Craft Box

I created the Craft Box so I could bring my miniature painting hobby on holiday.

You will need:

Large Wooden Box – 35cm x 25cm x 17cm - www.hobbycraft.co.uk

MDF - 0.4cm thick - www.amazon.co.uk

Poster board 0.5cm thick - www.amazon.co.uk

Grey board 0.2cm thick - www.amazon.co.uk

Small hinges x 6 - www.AliExpress.com

Screws (length 0.5cm) x 12 - www.AliExpress.com

Push Light - www.poundland.co.uk

Bolt (length 2cm) and wingnut - www.AliExpress.com

Bolt (length 2cm) and nuts x 2 - www.AliExpress.com

Epoxy Glue - www.poundland.co.uk

Large lollipop sticks - www.poundland.co.uk

Split pin drawer handles x 4 - www.AliExpress.com

Handle - www.AliExpress.com

Quick release hook lock clasps x 2 - www.AliExpress.com

Plastic Grid (used in fish tanks) - www.AliExpress.com

IKEA Ploja Desk pad - www.ikea.co.uk

Velcro - www.poundland.co.uk

Glue Sticks - www.poundland.co.uk

Superglue - www.poundland.co.uk

Tools required

Hot Glue Gun

Drill

Star-headed screwdriver

Utility Knife and blades

I first thought of creating a wooden box out of some MDF that I had lying around but then I saw a wooden box for sale at the Hobbycraft store I decided to try and use this instead. The dimensions of the box were L35cm x B25cm x D17cm. I measured the depth of the boxes lid in store and found that it was a perfect size to house my Vallejo paints. The wooden box cost me £15 which I was very happy to pay as it saved me the bother of having to build a box from scratch.

I removed the lid of the box (keeping the hinges and screws) and measured out and drew a line down the centre of it. I then cut the lid in half using my jigsaw. I cut 4mm thick MDF into two strips and used epoxy glue to stick them in place down the cut side of each of the lids. To try and keep the weight of the box to a minimum I decided to use thick card and poster board to create shelves. I measured and cut to size strips of poster board just shy of the depth of the lid which I then glued into place on the lid using a hot glue gun. I cut 2mm thick grey board into four strips and using a glue gun placed them into position covering the edge of the shelf. I checked that my Vallejo paints would still fit then I put the doors aside so I could work on the main box.

I next sat down and wrote out all the items I wanted to store in the Craft Box. Though the Box was to be mainly used for my miniature painting hobby I also wanted it to be able to accommodate my other hobbies such as sewing, papercraft etc. I therefore decided to split the Craft Box into four sections. This I hoped would give me enough storage space.

I needed drawers to house my painted/unpainted models and various bits and bobs so I started to make them first. Using 5cm thick poster board and a hot glue gun I created three drawers. I then cut out pieces of poster board and hot glued them into place inside the box using another piece of poster board to act as a spacer between each.

I cut out a strip of poster board to act as a divider for section one. I then cut out rectangles the same size as the ones I glued into place on the inside of the box. Using another piece of poster board as a spacer I hot glued the parts in place. The new section dividers edges were hot glued and stuck into the box. I then cut out three pieces of poster board to act as shelves that the drawers would rest on. To finish the drawers I pierced a hole in the centre of each drawer and added a split pin handle. 

Section 2 will store paint brushes and tools. I made a drawer and cut out some strips of poster board and hot glued them below the top of the drawer so that a plastic grid could rest on them. I then cut a grid (used mainly in fish tanks) to size and placed it in the drawer. I finished the drawer off with a split pin handle.

For section 3 I wanted room for my larger modelling items like a magnifying glass, model holder, paint palette etc.

I cut two pieces of poster board 12cm x 23cm and another two pieces measuring 10cm x 12cm. I hot glued the 10x12 pieces on top of the 12cm x 23cm pieces. I then hot glued these poster board pieces into the box to create a dividing section.   

I initially thought I would made two storage spaces so I cut out a section of poster board 9cm x 12cm to act as a shelf. I then realized I would need a taller storage space. To stop these larger items from falling out I hot glued a piece of poster board onto the front of the section to act as a barrier.

For this section I just cut a piece of poster board and hot glued it into place to prevent items from falling out.

To protect the many surfaces I could be working on I decided I would need a work board. I used an old bit of 4mm thick MDF I had lying around and cut it to size. To create a wipe clean surface on the work board I utilized an IKEA Ploja Desk pad. I cut it to size and then superglued it onto the MDF work board. This board fits snugly into the craft box.

As the craft box will be used to paint miniatures in various holiday locations I knew I would need a dedicated light source. For this fitting I decided to use an old touch light I had lying around. I first superglued strips of Velcro onto the back of the light. Next I glued two large lollipop sticks together and superglued Velcro onto one end of the stick. I drilled a hole into the opposite end of the lollipop stick and another in the top of the craft box. Using a wing nut and bolt I am able to attach and detach the light as and when needed.

I drilled a couple of holes and secured the handle with bolts rather than screws as the box still has a bit of weight to it. 

I attached the doors to the side of box using 3 hinges on each side. To keep the doors closed when carrying the Craft Box I attached two quick release hook lock clasps at the top of the box.    

To finish the Craft Box I intend to do some Evil Dead pyrography on the outside (I'm a big fan of Bruce Campbell) and then paint a dark wood varnish and stain all over it.

This is my first Instructable so hopefully I have made this easy for you to create a Craft Box of your own. Happy Crafting!