Feb 22., 2020   /   3D Project, Boxes and Bags, Cricut, Cutting Machines, DIY Organizer, Pazzles, Scan N Cut

Make A Subscription Box Tower

Make a Subscription Box Tower from the boxes that you receive each month.  Are you running out of room to store your subscription boxes on your shelves? Have you run out of room to add more book cases to your crafting area? Are you re-organizing your supplies so that they take up less space, and wondering what to do with the empty boxes? If you answer to these questions is “Yes!”, then making a subscription box tower may be just the project for you!

Subscription Box Tower

You are not alone, if you have struggles with wondering what to do with your one-to-two year pile of monthly subscription boxes. Some have unpacked the boxes, and reorganized their contents into file folders or zipper envelopes. But then, what do you do with the empty boxes? I hate to throw away the lovely boxes that could be re-purposed to store reorganized supplies, or other crafting supplies.

Make A Subscription Box Tower

Supplies Needed to Make the Subscription Box Tower

Please note: Some affiliate links may be used in this post. I am affiliated only with products that I use. When you purchase products using my affiliate links, it does not cost you any more, but I will share some commission. Thanks!

Refolding Subscription Boxes to Make a Subscription Box Tower

I have a stack of 19 subscription boxes so far, from Crafter’s Companion. Instead of throwing my boxes away, I decided to refold my subscription boxes and make a subscription box tower. You can do the same by following these simple step-by-step instructions.  There is no need to destroy the boxes if you simply refold them. Change them from top opening boxes to front opening boxes. This allows you to stack all of the boxes without having to unstack them to access their contents.

Get Started Refolding the Boxes

First, remove the box contents.

Remove Box Contents

Next, unfold the side flaps of the box. To do this you will need to lift up  and out on the side flap to slip the tabs out of their slots.

Lift the Side Flap

Repeat with the other side flap.

Lift the other side flap.

Pull the front flap down.

Open the Front Flap

Now, fold the side flaps back down, inserting their tabs into their original slots.

Replace Side Flaps in their Slots

Prepare the front flap to fold to the Inside

Prepare the front flap to fold to the inside of the box. Use some strong double-sided tape to hold the side flaps down. Then fold the front flap to the inside of the box.

Fold the front flap to the Inside

Fold the front flap to the Inside of the box. Press down firmly on the front flap so that the tape adheres well to the bottom of the box.

Tuck in the Front Flap

The front flap can now tuck back inside of the box to close it. When you make a subscription box tower, you will now be able to open the front flap to remove its contents. You will not have to move the other boxes stacked on top of it to access its contents.

Make Drawers for the Boxes to Make a Subscription Box Tower

 Cut the Drawers

You can make a drawer to hold the contents of your box. The drawer will make it easier for you to access the supplies you keep inside of it. Make a drawer for each of your subscription boxes using the free template included in the Free Resource Library. Once you make a subscription box tower with front closing panels, your supplies will be easier to access.

8.25″ Drawer Template Pieces

Pieces included in the Template to Make a Subscription Box Tower Drawer

The Template for the Drawer includes files in several formats. If you will be cutting your drawer pieces using an electronic cutter such as Cricut, Scan N Cut, Silhouette, Pazzles, or Klic N Kut, you will be able to use the included SVG file. On the other hand, if you will be hand cutting the pieces, you may use the PDF template. The drawer measures 8.25″ square by 2.75″ tall.

Each drawer has three side panels, one front panel, two bottom pieces, and two panels for reinforcing the front panel. The red lines in the template represent lines that are to be scored. Cut each side panel from a single sheet of heavy cardstock measuring 8.5″x11″.  If you are using the PDF file, you will use that part of the template four times.  Notice that the front panel has a slit in the center to allow you to thread a ribbon through it.

Also, there are two pieces for the drawer bottom. One is for the inside of the box, and the other is for the outside of the box. There are two panels with slits in them included to reinforce the front edge of the box. One piece goes on the inside, and one goes on the outside.

Using an Electronic Cutter to cut Drawer Pieces to Make a Subscription Box Tower

The cutting files for this project are zipped together. Download the zipped file to your computer. Double click on the file you downloaded and select Extract All to unzip it. Open your cutter software.

Instructions for use in Cricut Design Space

Cricut Design Space users will upload the SVG file and click on Save. Then select the uploaded file, and click on Insert. Next, right click, and select Ungroup. Now you need to assign the fold lines to score. There are two score lines for each of the four side pieces.  Select one from the panel on the right side of the screen.  At the top of the screen, change the line type from Cut to Score. The lines will now appear to be dashed on the screen to indicate that these are score lines. Finally, select the shape and score lines, right click, and select Attach. Do this for each of the four side pieces. Select a front panel and its center horizontal cut line. Then right click and Attach. Now do this for each of the front panels.

Instructions for use with other Cutter Software

Scan N Cut users should use the FCM files. Notice that there are three files. The file names indicate how many times each file should be cut for a single box drawer.  Load one file at a time into Brother Canvas Workspace.  Select the pair of fold lines in each piece, and assign it to be scored. Score them, then cut.

Silhouette Studio users can use the SVG files. Import them into the Designer or Business edition of Silhouette Design Studio.

The SVG files can be used by all other cutter software. Score the red lines, and cut the black lines.

Get the FREE SVG Cutting File for the Drawers for the Subscription Box Tower

To get the free SVG Cutting file for the Drawers for the Subscription Box Tower, go to the resource library and enter the password. I have included the password at the bottom of most of my newsletter emails. If you have subscribed, check your most recent email to find the password. If you have not yet subscribed, I hope you will, so that you can be informed as  I add more new projects to the Free resource library! Once you are in the Free Resource library, right click on the file name of the project. Next, select Save Link As or Save Target As.

Now, save the file to your computer. Next you will need to unzip the file. To do that, double click on the file you saved to your computer to open it. Then, click on Extract All. Now, open your cutter software, and import the SVG file. Select the pieces you wish to cut. Load your paper onto the cutting mat. Do a test cut to find the best settings for you machine, and cut the pieces you need. Repeat with the pieces you want to cut from a different color paper.

Assemble the Drawers

Assembly Step 1

Make valley folds on the score lines.  With the wide tab on the bottom right, place red line tape on the three edges of the upper flap. Turn this piece over, and apply red line tape to three  edges of the wide tab.

Drawer Assembly Step 2

Also add a strip of red line tape along the long bottom edge of the side piece as shown above.

Drawer Assembly Step 3

Fold the wide flap along the score line towards the lower part of the box side to form a corner. Remove the tape liner. Now check to make sure the corner is perfectly square, and press down to secure the flap the side as shown above.

Drawer Assembly Step  4

Prepare all four sides of the box in the same manner as the first.  Now you are ready to put the pieces together.  Remove the  liner from the tape on the end of the box. With the narrow flaps on top, overlap the straight edge of the next side over the corner piece and press together.

Drawer Assembly Step 5

Drawer Assembly Step 6

Remove the tape liner from the flaps before adding another side. Now you are ready to add another side in the same way.

Drawer Assembly Step 7

Adhere the final side of the drawer to complete the shape of a square box, pressing the corners firmly. Be sure to line the corner up squarely. Now remove all tape liner from bottom edge of the box. Square the corners, then press the bottom of the box over the flaps on the outside.  Then turn the box over, and press from the inside.

Drawer Assembly Step 8

Now you can add the other bottom piece on the inside of the box.

Drawer Assembly Step 9

Remove the tape liners from the other side pieces. Fold these pieces to the inside and press firmly.

Finish the Front Panel

There are two additional panels for the front of the box. Glue one piece to the inside of the front, and glue the other to the outside of the box front. All front pieces have a slit.  Cut a piece of ribbon about 7″ long, and fold it in half. Use a needle or pokie tool to push the folded edge of the ribbon from the inside of the box front to the outside. Then pull the ribbon through the slot about half way.  Separate the inside flaps of the ribbon so that one piece goes up, and the other goes down. Tape or glue into place.

Ribbon for Subscription Box Tower Drawer

Drawer Assembly Step 9

Slide the drawer into the front opening of one of the refolded subscription boxes. The ribbon will help you pull the drawer back out.  Now you will be able to slide the flaps of the box into their original slots to close it up.

Drawer for Subscription Box Tower

Add contents of your choice into the box, and close the side front panel.

Add Contents and Create Labels

Now, fill your drawers with whatever you want to store in them, then label the boxes. Then make an index for the box contents so you can find what you need. Also, if the boxes have important information on the sides or bottom that will be hidden once the boxes are stacked, take photos or scan the boxes. Print these on regular printer paper, and place inside the boxes or in a binder so that you can refer to them as needed.

Stack Your Boxes into a Tower

Your tower may be a single box wide, or double box wide, as you prefer. Use jumbo paper clips in the tab slots on the underside of the adjacent boxes to keep them together. To do this, unfold the paper clips. Then refold them with a wider curve at the top. One side of the clip will fit into a tab slot on one box. And the other side will fit into the tab slot on the box next to it. If the paper clips do not slide all the way in, you can use a small craft hammer to tap them into position. Also, you can  use paper clips on the top side of the boxes if you like.

PaperClips for Subscription Box Tower

These boxes have paper clips on top and bottom to join the two boxes together.

Clipped Boxes for Subscription Box Tower

Bottom of Clipped Boxes of Subscription Box Tower

You may apply adhesive to the box bottoms to keep them together. I have found that with the contents in the boxes, and having two clipped together side by side, the tower is stable.

Subscription Box Tower – Julie Flanagan

Enjoy!
Julie, cuttercrafter.com

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