Christmas Book Nook

SANTA'S WORKSHOP

So I wanted to make a box that creates a beautiful old memory when you look at it. I wish I had the time to cut out several to give as gifts this Christmas, that's how much I like it. The graphics are beautiful and you can stuff it with all your favorite things. You don't have to follow mine but you can if you want. 

I started with the box inside floors and walls first. 

Then I decided it was going to be Santa's workshop so I made a faux shelf filled with toys. There's not much floor space in these but I wanted a lighted tree and a lighted fireplace. 

After covering the inside walls and floor, I taped everything together for a good fit and removed the masking tape as I worked. I glued the bookcase wall to the floor first. 

To make the bookcase I cut half inch strips of poster board, scored them at 1/4" down the middle, folded and glued them into strips. Then I glued the strips onto a 4" x 7" piece of heavy card for the shelves.

There's a little switch on one side to turn the lights on. It matters in which order you glue the tabs and what side. All the tabs on that wall are going to be glued to the outside panel because you want to hide them with the outside book covers.

I would not glue the whole thing together but one step at a time as you finish the inside walls. The second part is to do the back wall. 

I make a box around the battery pack and cut a hole in the outside wall so I can get to the switch. Then I cover the box by gluing the fireplace over the box on the inside. 

I run the lights behind the fireplace before gluing in place and leave the other lights to the right of the fireplace to wrap around the tree. Decorate it any way you want with beads, etc. I wanted to give the illusion of a full tree in such a small space so I put a plastic 'mirror' on the wall behind the tree. If I had cut my tree a little closer to the center wire, it would have worked better but it does let you see 'inside' the room from the mirror and the tree looks fuller than it would have otherwise.

I knew I wanted to see Santa in his sleigh going up in the sky so I found one in a vintage postcard. I made sure I left room on the mantle for decorations. You can then decorate with any number of charms, presents, etc. and make it your own.

RESOURCES

Christmas Papers to decorate the box inside and out from LenArteStudio on Etsy. Toy papers, fireplace, flooring and rug from ArtfullyMusing on Etsy. Charms and candies were made from polymer clay. Christmas Book Nook box template in the templates section. FREE to download and use in your projects.