Books are one of my favorite things to give as a gift, especially to young children. You can really never have too many books. Sometimes you also need a place to store them, though, so I made this simple DIY book box. It’s the perfect baby shower gift idea and can easily be adapted for older kids or adults.
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I made this adorable book box as a baby shower gift for a friend last fall. It turned out super cute, so I’m excited to share it. It’s really easy to make for kids of all ages. And you could easily use the technique to make a few for yourself too!
Book box tutorial
Supplies
- a wooden crate – I got mine at JoAnn and used a coupon
- wood stain – I used Minwax red mahogany
- printed name/text
- X-acto knife
- spray adhesive
- craft paint – I used Folk Art pink balloon
- paint sponge brush
Instructions
If the crate has any rough edges, smooth them down with sandpaper. Mine didn’t need it.
Before you stain, be sure to protect your workspace. I recommend working outdoors too if you can because stains usually smell really strong. Follow the instructions on whatever stain you’re using. I prefer the kind that you just spray on and wipe off with an old rag. Let the stain dry at least overnight or longer if it still feels tacky.
To make the name stencil, I just typed what I wanted it to say in a Word document. I picked a cute font and made it as large as would fit on a single page. Using the X-acto knife, cut out the letters.
You’ll notice that some letters have a hole in the middle – like the lowercase e. Be sure to save the little bits so that you can put them back when you paint.
Use the spray adhesive to attach the stencil outline to one end of the crate. Place each of the little inside bits in their letters. The stencil should easily peel back off after it’s painted.
If you’re using a new spray glue, I recommend testing it to make sure it will peel right back off. Spray the glue onto the back of the paper, leave it dry for about 15 seconds, and then place it on the wood.
Use the sponge brush to spread the paint in a single coat over the stencil. Before it dries, remove the stencil. Use the Xacto knife to carefully lift the tiny bits inside the letters.
Do any touchups where the paint might have bled under the paper. I just wiped mine very carefully with a damp paper towel.
Let the paint dry for an hour or so – according to the instructions on the paint you’re using. Then let the whole thing sit for another 24 hours to be sure it’s completely dry and set.
Book box as a gift
As I mentioned before, I made this one for a baby shower gift. I designed it to match baby Georgia’s nursery. I wanted it to be something that Mom could use while she was little, but that would grow with her and be useful for years.
To make it the perfect baby gift, I filled it with bedtime stories. I picked out several that my own kids loved when they were younger.
- “Goodnight, Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown – Order from Bookshop.org or Amazon.com
- “Llama, Llama Red Pajama” by Anna Dewdney – Order from Bookshop.org or Amazon.com
- “Guess How Much I Love You?” by Sam McBratney – Order from Bookshop.org or Amazon.com
- “Pajama Time” by Sandra Boynton – Order from Bookshop.org or Amazon.com
- and I added a baby book for Mom to write in
The whole thing took about half an hour to make and cost less than $50 (including the books, though prices will vary there).
Check out some other fun and creative ideas on One Mama’s Daily Drama:
Nana says
Cute idea!
Keri says
Thanks! It was fun to make.
Barbara says
What a great idea! As a great-aunt and nanny, we always ended up with a jumble of books next to the rocking chair. This will be perfect for my niece’s second baby who is on her way!
Keri says
Thanks, Barbara! That’s exactly what I had in mind. Congratulations to your niece!
Emily says
Precious!!! ❤️
Keri says
Thanks! I love kids’ gifts that can grow with them. I actually have a wooden box that someone made for my husband when he was a baby – both our kids have used it (although neither are named after him, lol).