Lately, I’ve become obsessed with the patterns in marbled paper. I recall making it as a kid in art class years ago and now it has reentered my life as I’m currently fixated on its random medley of swirls, stripes, and colors.
I made these marbled paper boxes for office supply storage in my oldest daughter’s room last week, but now I’m so crazy about them, I want to make more just for me! Good news though, they’re incredibly easy to make.
This is an simple DIY project that adds a lot of panache to a plain box or magazine file. You’ll need a few boxes and some sheets of marbled paper (sources below) plus cutting tools and glue. I worked mostly with spray adhesive and a little craft glue too (not shown).
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If you’re working with a jewelry box like this one from a craft store, first remove the clasp and hinges. For the second flatter box, I also used a old photo album box from Papyrus.
You could use decoupage medium, but I like the thinness of spray adhesive. Spray adhesive works great on the larger flat surfaces but it can be messy so I sprayed it on the bottom of the box while outdoors then brought it inside to lay the bottom flat on top of the marbled paper.
Next, I simply used the edges of the box to establish a crease then trimmed it where the paper was folded.
I wrapped the corners the same way, using the edge to form the fold then trimming with scissors. For the wider surfaces I used spray adhesive, but a dab of craft glue works better to secure the corners.
Reattach the hinges for the jewelry box for a folding lid – the clasp is optional.
Each one takes about fifteen minutes and when you’re done you have beautiful boxes for storage or for gift giving. They’d look fantastic on a bookcase too, right?
I can’t resist the appeal of these colorful papers, here are a few more amazing ideas for its use!
Follow Martha’s instructions for making marbleized paper.
Line the back of bookcases or the interior of a hutch!
Frame it up for an inexpensive work of art with big impact.
Or be really daring (this is my favorite!) and paper a room with it. How amazing is this bathroom??
More great sources for marbled paper:
Hand Marbled Paper on Etsy
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Those are so pretty. I love your blog!
Gorgeous boxes Kate! Love the boxes you made, just wondering, how do you seal the paper more, can you mod podge something like this? The inspirations are gorgeous esp. the bookcases
That bathroom is intense…and not for everyday life…but love the colors and skull!
soo cool! love the colours in the DIY!
Kate, can you tell us about the silver vases next to the boxes? Did you make those too and if so, how?
Hi Sarah, I didn’t make them but there are a lot of tutorials online for DIY mercury glass.
Mine are from Pottery Barn.
Kate
Sarah, great easy DIY! Love the color choice. xo Kristin
Those boxes are stunning, great idea! The colors in the paper you found are AMAZING! I will have to look at those sources. I actually tried Martha’s tutorial this summer. It’s a fun project and could be great to do with kids but there are definitely a few tips I learned. Here’s a link if anyone is interested in trying it out. http://www.lacquerandlinen.com/diy-marbleized-coasters/
Fantastic DIY Sarah, thanks for sharing, you make it look so easy!
Kate
When I saw this pin on Pinterest, I knew it was your work. No questions asked!
Always quality. Always amazing. Always Centsational Girl!
Mr. Goodwill Hunting
Too kind Rashon, thanks so much!
Kate
Thanks for opening my eyes to the world of marbled paper! The boxes you made are gorgeous. I am now seriously considering putting some on the back panels of my china hutch, but am wondering how to affix it on a temporary basis. Any ideas?
Hi Arli, I’d use double sided tape for the back of a hutch or bookcase !
Kate
LOVE it!
Sharing this one on FB!
–Katie
@ Creatively Living
Love it…ohhh I wanna try
I have marble paper hanging as artwork too! Love the look and all the gorgeous colors! Might have to try some boxes…great idea!
Gorgeous! The colors in the paper you used are perfect for my daughter’s nursery. Where did you get the paper you used in the tutorial? Or did you make it yourself?
-Suzette
Hi Suzette, my papers were from Hanovers, the link is at the bottom!
Kate
c’est magnifique! i love this marbled paper and have had amnesia about it for a few months. thanks for the reminder!
smiles.
michele
Very simple and elegant idea. I love those quick projects. My absolute favourite place to look at marbled paper is marblingpaper.com Iris Nevins is a genius!
BTW LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog. It’s what I drink my coffee to every morning.
Too kind Louise, thanks!
Kate
Really beautiful! I love how the look of the marbled lines somewhat mirror that of natural wood grain.
Cute! And do-able. Like the idea of framing it, and I love the bathroom picture, bold and waaay too much for my home, but love it anyway!!!
Yikes. This stuff isn’t for me. I find it way too busy. That bathroom is enough to induce a seizure.
Love the hutch!!!!!
It is a nice, surprising, detail.
Emily
This paper totally dresses up these boxes. I think I would like to try with all different kinds of patterned paper.
This is beyond weird Kate! The other day when I read your post about rugs, I had JUST finished ordering one (after procrastinating for months) from Overstock. It just arrived and I’m happy :). This afternoon, I headed off to A.I. Friedman (an awesome art store) to get some paper to cover some boxes my husband bought me a few years ago. They’re from Pier One and very sturdy with rope on top (I don’t think I will be able to cover that part, but maybe paint), but they’re a boring dark brown color. So I get some pretty lime green patterned paper, come home and read your post! Thanks for the visual!
Kate, I think the boxes look wonderful. I loved the marbled paper bathroom…very brave. I have a bookshelf that’s been needing a little something, now I know what. Thanks for sharing your project.
Love this idea. If I can get motivated, I’m thinking maybe I could maybe do this on the right sized box to hide homework essentials that always seem to be out on the kitchen counter.
These are incredible…and who knew they were so easy?! Thanks for sharing the how-to and links! Your paper choice is perfect in this space!
I love marble paper and your project looks great!
I swear sometimes I think of a project and you make it! It’s must be a design-loving blogger thing :-)
I actually just got some of this last week at a local art store to use on some projects. It’s the color of that bathroom wallpaper, which is gorgeous.
I’m thinking of using it for some origami too, could be fun!
kate-i am actually thinking of ordering those papers you used (it’s the marble with the raspberry and apricot, right?) how did they look as a sheet? good for framing? the ones you used for your fall mantel have a lot of white space and movement, i was hoping you’d say these would totally rock framed in a gray dining room that has pops of red. thanks!
Just a quick update about the “Hand Marbled Paper” Etsy shop – the last link of this great article – it’s currently on sale for Black Friday and till end of November!
Just use coupon code BF2012 for FREE worldwide shipping of select sets of hand marbled paper.
I love all of these ideas! Thank you for sharing. I loved your ideas for using different vocabulary with each activity. Thanks!
I just found this post via Cape 27 blog. I think that is a silver mirror above the boxes. Where did you get it?? The little bit that i can see of it is pretty.
It’s the Kichler mirror from Wayfair Leslie.
http://www.wayfair.com/Kichler-Mirror-in-Antique-Silver-78125-L41-K~KI13453.html?refid=GX10021778100-KI13453&gclid=CNnRusKSwbUCFcdxQgodpWAAwg