In addition to storing wood-stick matches, drawer-style cardboard matchboxes can become the base for adorable craft projects such as party favors or baby birth announcements. Use simple crafting techniques to adorn the boxes with patterned paper and embellishments that suit the theme, holiday or colors of the project. Fill each paper drawer with objects ranging from tiny photos to three-dimensional accents to candy treats so the small boxes make a big impact on the recipient.
Instructions
1. Use a ruler to measure the length, width and height of the matchbox. If the box is 2 1/2 inches long, 1 1/2 inches wide and a half-inch high, for example, use a paper trimmer to cut a piece of cardstock that's 2 1/2 inches long by 4 inches wide. Wrap and adhere the cardstock around the outside of the box with double-stick tape.
2. Measure the height and width of the front and back of the matchbox "drawer" with a ruler. Use a paper trimmer to cut strips of cardstock to affix to each side with double-stick tape.
3. Embellish the top of the matchbox with accents that suit the theme of the occasion. If you're making the boxes as baby shower favors, for example, tie a 4-inch-by-1-inch strip of pink or blue flannel around a safety pin with a plastic "head" shaped like a duckling or baby block. Affix the accent to the matchbox with adhesive dots.
4. Remove the "drawer" from the matchbox and use a ruler to measure the length and width. Use a paper trimmer to cut a piece of patterned paper that coordinates with the cardstock color and affix it inside the drawer with double-stick tape.
5. Place a surprise inside the decorated matchbox such as colorful jelly beans, after-dinner mints or a love note. You can also turn the drawer into a mini shadow box by affixing a small photo inside and using adhesive dots to adhere three-dimensional accents such as buttons, paper flowers or rhinestones around the picture.
6. Present the embellished matchbox projects in a decorative basket if you're handing them out as party favors or use ribbon to tie a decorated box with "to" and "from" information written inside to add to a birthday gift. You can also add a piece of magnetic adhesive tape to the back of the match box and hang the craft on a magnetic bulletin board or refrigerator door.
