Spicing up my boxes...

I have an obsession with Ikea... I love the place... everything about it!! (Well... almost). On my last trip, I picked up a couple more of these boxes in hopes I would come up with a fun way to spice them up. They're fantastic boxes made out of plywood with aluminum details holding the corners together, plus they fit perfectly in the shelf in my living room! I just finished... what do you think??

The original boxes were very simple... unfinished plywood on all four sides. I love them... but was looking for something a little more exciting for my living room.

Prant from Ikea

 I was inspired by a picture I had snapped with my phone awhile back while driving into Philadelphia of some graffiti... and then I found these boxes in the Free People offices that make an appearance once in awhile in their Instagram feed... I loved the way the colors and patterns mixed! It was then that I knew I wanted my boxes to like that!

After much deliberation trying to decide on my fabrics, the decision was finally made. Three of them I had brought home from a trip to Ghana years ago and the last (the green floral) is a new design from, oh you'll never guess... Ikea!

I used liquid starch, Sta Flo, to adhere the fabric to the boxes so that in the future, I can change them without buying new boxes. Liquid starch adheres fabric to flat surfaces beautifully!!! I was incredibly surprised actually... It was so simple and easy! You could use it to adhere fabric to anything probably... drawer fronts, boxes, cabinets, table surfaces... Oh I could go on forever!

I thought I would share my process with you. Here's what I did... and it only took me about an hour to adhere the fabric to ALL the boxes! It was a piece of cake... I was shocked!

Supplies
Fabric
Boxes
Sta Flo (or other liquid starch... I got this at Walmart in the laundry aisle)
Bowl (for the liquid starch)
Scissors or Rotary Cutter (which I would kill for!)
Ruler

Begin by measuring the box (or any other object you're applying the fabric to). My box, from the plywood edge to plywood edge, is 12-5/8" x 11-5/8".

Cut your fabric to the right size. I would HIGHLY recommend cutting it larger than you need though. I added about half an inch to an inch to the width and the height so that I was sure to get the surface covered. The starch seems to make the fabric shrink up a little. It is super easy to trim it after it dries with an Exacto Knife. I cut my fabric to about 13" x 12".

Once the fabric is cut. It is time to SOAK it in the starch... straight starch... don't mix it with anything or water it down. You want this fabric to be super hard when dry!

I poured a small amount into a bowl and soaked the fabric in it until it was completely drenched. Don't be afraid to get it all over your hands... it won't hurt you! Promise!!

It is now time to apply it to the surface of the box or whatever surface you're working with. I would wring it out a little bit so that the fabric isn't dripping all over the place too much. Stretch it out slowly. Take your time getting the fabric just right and make sure that you get all the wrinkles and air bubbles out so that the fabric dries flat and beautiful!

I used both upholstery weight fabric and a light cotton. Both were pretty easy to apply, you just have to take your time!

Once the fabric is all flat and perfect, let it dry! 

As it dries, it will get harder and harder. Once it is completely dry, I let mine dry overnight... I trimmed it all up with an Exacto. It was super easy to cut the fabric once it was dry because it was so stiff!

And that is it! I am so so excited about the way my boxes turned out... I am trying to figure out what else I can use liquid starch for... it is brilliant stuff!!

I think they turned out fabulous all together... and they look wonderful on my shelf... What do you think??