June Bugs Designs

Lunch Box

Plastic Canvas Pieces (7 mesh):      - one 25 x 30 bar rectangle (front cover)      - one 24 x 29 bar rectangle (back cover)      - two 24 x 10 bar rectangles (short sides)      - two 29 x 10 bar rectangles (long sides)      - one 30 x 4 bar strip (lid rim)      - two 25 x 4 bar strips (lid rim)      - two 4 x 9 bar strips (handle)      - one 4 x 16 bar strip (handle)      - one 4 x 9 bar strip (latch tab)      - one 4 x 12 bar strip (latch arch)

Yarn Colors: Use those colors that are needed for your character design.  Pick complementary colors for the rest of the box.  Just use your imagination!

(*Don't let the number of pieces involved scare you!  It really is a simple project!)

Assembly: 1. Fill in your front and back covers with the character(s) of your choice, or any other desired pattern. 2.  Cover the side pieces of your box with stripes, checker patterns, decorative stitches, etc. 3. Fill in the lid rim strips (the 4 x 30 and 4 x 25 pieces) with the yarn color of your choice. 4.  Stitch the back cover and the four side pieces together to form an open box. 5.  Center the front cover and stitch this to only the BOTTOM edge of the box.  (More specifically, it will be attached to the long side piece that is the bottom of the box.)  The other sides will remain unstitched so that the lunchbox will open properly.  (See the picture to the right for help with attachment of the front cover.) 6.  Attach the lid rim pieces to the front cover.  When the box is closed, the rim pieces should fit snugly over the body of the box.

7.  Fill in the 3 handle pieces with yarn colors of your choice.  Attach the two smaller handle pieces to the ends of the longer handle piece.  Stitch or hot glue the handle ends to the top of your box. 8.  Fill in both latch pieces with yarn.  The smaller piece, or tab (4 x 9), will be mounted under the lid rim with stitching or hot glue.  The other strip is used to create an arch for the tab to fit under.  This arch fits below the handle.  Please reference the picture for a better understanding of the latch assembly. (*Note:  I attached these pieces with hot glue for stability.  Stitching may be used, but I found hot gluing much easier.)

Run your mouse over the picture to see Piglet on the back!

This side profile of the lunchbox shows specifically how the lid is only attached at the bottom.

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Embellishment Idea: Search through the sewing notions section of your local craft store for metal parts that are similar to lunchbox latches.  Use these for latches instead of the tab and arch design for a real looking lunch box!

Gift Idea: Fill the lunchbox with trinkets that are the same as the characters on your lunch box.  Stickers, candies, jewelry, and other small toys can usually be found in character themes to match your lunch box.

Other Projects: Create a matching thermos by making a simple cylindrical-shaped box.  Perhaps the thermos is a pencil holder and the lunchbox holds a tape dispenser and notepad?  What a great desk set!