DIY Book Box Baby Shower Gift Idea

Paint the cutest DIY book box and fill it with baby books for an adorable baby shower gift that can grow with the child.

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.

I made this adorable book box for a friend last fall as a baby shower gift. It turned out super cute, so I’m excited to share it. It’s easy to make for kids of all ages. And you could easily use the technique to make a few for yourself too!

How to make a book box

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

1. Stain or paint the wood crate.

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 if you can because wood stains usually smell 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.

2. Make a name stencil.

To make the name stencil I typed what I wanted in a Word document. I picked a cute font and made it as large as I could to still 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 you can put them back when you paint.

3. Attach the stencil to the crate.

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 ensure 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.

4. Paint the lettering on the crate.

Use the sponge brush to paint a single coat over the stencil. Before it dries completely, remove the stencil. Use the X-acto knife to carefully lift the tiny bits from inside the letters.

Do any touchups where the paint might have bled under the paper. I wiped mine very carefully with a damp paper towel.

Let the paint dry for an hour or more – 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 above, 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 her mom could use while she was little, but that would grow with her and be useful for years. (We actually have a similar large toy box from my husband’s childhood!)

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 | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble
• Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
  • Order from Bookshop.org | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble
• Guess How Much I Love You? by Sam McBratney
  • Order from Bookshop.org | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble
• Pajama Time by Sandra Boynton
  • Order from Bookshop.org | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble

The whole thing took about half an hour to make and cost less than $50 (including the books, though prices will vary there).

What’s next? Try these other fun and creative ideas on One Mama’s Daily Drama:

• Printable Bookplates for Book Lovers to Organize or Gift
• Cute Star Wars Teacher Appreciation Printable Gift Card Holder
• 36 Pretty Life Organization Printables for Your DIY Household Planner