DIY Button Trinket Box

Crafts make a lot of clutter. The way you organise your tools can mean the difference between an enjoyable crafternoon, or a panicked hour of looking for your last remaining embroidery needle because you KNOW you saw it somewhere yesterday but now its gone and you have to leave ten minutes ago because your craft club meets in 15 minutes.

Cue pretty trinket boxes. It’s easy to stay organised when the storage itself calls out to your inner craft goddess. ..OK, maybe that was a bit much. Still, button trinket boxes are pretty AND practical.

Here’s how to make your own, whatever size you prefer:

Materials

• Mug or similar to use as a sizing template
• Paper and scissors
• Air dry clay
• Paint (I’m using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White)
• Paint brush
• Clean water at hand
• Sanding block
• Optional: Clay moulding tools (I use a ruler!)

Putting it all together

Cut a piece of paper as wide as you want the box to be tall. Wrap it around the mug to measure the circumference, and cut to length. Set the paper aside for later.

Use the mug to cut out two circles of clay.

Roll out a length of clay and cut to size using the paper template. Set aside to firm.

To create the lid, roll out a length of clay until it reaches around one of the clay circles. Trim the excess edging and join the ends.

Using a blunt tool, push the edging into the circle on both sides. The bottom of the lid should be a flat surface, with a raised edge on the top.

I used a pen cap to mark the button “holes” into the lid.

Create the base by wetting and scoring the edge of the circle. Repeat on one edge of the side. Join together and cut away any excess. Press excess clay on the inner seam to stabilise and attach firmly. Leave the lid and base to dry for a few hours, ideally overnight.

Once the trinket box is dry, sand the surface and edges for a smooth finish. It does make a difference!

Paint one thick coat of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, and leave to dry. Your trinket box is ready to use!

How do you keep your craft stash organised?

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Lots of crafty love,