- 14
- Jan
So I meant to get this up earlier today….but I got a little wrapped up in the football games. Sad day for the Colts….but at least I still have the Packers! I was not sorry to see the Cowboys lose, I may live in Texas - but I am not a fan! And then I fought with my internet connection all evening - so frustrating! At least I didn’t lose what I had done already! Anyway - here’s the tutorial!
And please no comments about how messy that area behind the pics is, lol!
Supplies:
Target Mailbox (any metal mailbox will do, but you’ll have to check the dimensions may be different)
sticky strip (red liner tape, o’so sticky tape, etc) I got my white rolls from Taylor.
scissors (preferably two pairs, one that is Teflon coated for cutting the sticky strip)
paper (I like to use two coordinating designs)
ribbons
mono multi (or some other strong adhesive)
1/2 inch circle punch
1. Choose the paper you want to cover the body of your mailbox. Cut a strip that is 4×12.
2. Hold your strip of paper up against the mailbox so that one of the ends would be about halfway across the bottom. Kind of smoosh the paper against the base of the flag (where the nail/screw is).
3. Flip your paper over and punch out the “mark” the flag base left using your 1/2 inch hole punch. (I apologize for the blurry pictures, the shimmery white side was hard to photograph!)
4. After you punch the hole, cut a slit from the edge of the paper in to the hole.
5. Line the entire strip of paper with sticky tape. (you could use another adhesive, but I think this works the best)
6. Start putting the paper on the mailbox by taking only the backing off the sticky strip around the flag hole. You want to make sure you get that part on correctly.
7. After you get the flag area stuck down well, continue removing the sticky tape backing and adhering the paper.
8. Continue wrapping the paper all the way around the mailbox. It helps to do both sides at once and go slowly to make sure the paper stays straight.
9. Take your second piece of paper and trace the lid of the mailbox onto the back of the paper. Repeat.
10. Cut them out - you will want to ‘undercut’ them a bit so that they don’t overlap the edges. (I hold the paper on the lid and crease any edges that overlap so that it’s easy to tell how much to trim.)
11. Use mono multi to adhere paper to lid (you can use another adhesive - sticky strip, etc - but I prefer the mono multi). Do the same to the back of the mailbox.
12. To go around the edge of the lid you have a few options. You can leave it as is or you can cover it. I chose to cover mine. You can do this using ribbon or paper. For this mailbox I used ribbon. To adhere the ribbon, use glue dots or sticky strip. If you use sticky strip, you may have to cut it in half. Mine was too wide to put on without cutting it. Once it is cut, line the edge of the lid with the sticky strip. If you use glue dots, you can just stick them on as you go. (I did use paper on another mailbox and I put it on with mono multi. I do not recommend this way after trying it as the mono multi was a bit messy for that small of a space. If you want to use paper, cut it in a 1/4 inch strip).
13. You will want your seam to be underneath the mailbox, so start putting the ribbon on there. Go all the way around, taking the backing off as you go. When you get all the way around, just snip the ribbon as close to the starting point as possible. You can put a dab of crystal effects there on the seam to prevent fraying if you would like.
14. At this point, you can just embellish as you like! I always tie ribbons around the flag. Sometimes I cover the end of the flag. If you would like to put paper around it, the measurements are 1 3/8 x 2 1/8. Score at 1 inch and 1 1/8 inches to make it fold nicely around the flag. I left my mailbox as is for now, but last year I used the Mega Scalloped punch by Marvy to put the teacher’s initials on them as Valentine gifts. I then filled the mailboxes with candy.
This mailbox was made using shimmery Smitten papers by Bo Bunny (Shabby Princess line).
And here’s another one I made today where I covered the flag….
This was made using Maybe Baby papers by Daisy D’s. The stamps used on the flag are by Stampendous.
Ok, any questions? Both of these tins are listed on the For Sale page if you are interested.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:32 am
Perfection! What a beautifully illustrated and detailed tutorial. Thanks!
January 14th, 2008 at 5:38 am
LOOOOOOVE LOOOOOOOVE it!! Thanks for the tutorial.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:52 am
Thank you so much for the tutorial! It is very detailed and should be easy to follow!
January 14th, 2008 at 6:05 am
Too cute! Too cute!
January 14th, 2008 at 6:16 am
Great tutorial! I can’t wait to take a shot at these
January 14th, 2008 at 6:25 am
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I was hoping someone would do this!!
January 14th, 2008 at 8:00 am
What a fun tutorial!! I have about six of these mailboxes that I want to alter. Thanks for sharing
January 14th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Emily, they are fabulous - and you make it look so easy!
January 14th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Just found your blog! Great tutorial!
Too bad about the Cowboys! I’m a Texan too, so I feel your pain! It will be blamed on Jessica Simpson from here to eternity.
January 14th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Your tutorial was very easy to follow. Thanks for taking the time to share with blogland. After reading this it looks easier then I thought. Love both ways you did the mailboxes.
January 14th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
What a wonderful, clear tutorial. I think I could even make one of these mailboxes by following your instructions. Thank you so much for doing this for us. You are a great teacher.
Cheryl Sims
January 14th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Wonderful tutorial!!!
I got one of these mailboxes this year and this will make it sooo much easier!
You’re the best Emily, love ALL your tutorials!!
January 14th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
HUGE THANK YOU for the mailbox tutorial… You are the BEST!!!
January 14th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Excellent tutorial. Great details….
January 14th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Super cute and you make it look very easy! I’m a very visual person and your tutorial was just the ticket! Thank you!
January 14th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Very cute. I love the step by step you did so I know exactly what I should do/
January 14th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Great Tutorial, very easy to follow and great detail!
Wish our darn Target would get those mailboxes in. None last year and I have not spotted any yet this year either!!
January 14th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
thanks for this great tutorial! Your mailboxes are just darling, and with your detailed directions and great photos, they should be easy for us to make one too! TSM for sharing your knowledge with us!
January 14th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Awesome tutorial!!! I bought 4 of these last year that I never got around to…yes I was afraid. But now I think I can tackle them. Thank you!
January 14th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Thanks Emily! This is awesome! I’m so glad you were able to get this accomplished!!!!!
January 14th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Bless you for doing this!!! I picked a couple up the other day and have just been staring at them trying to figure out how to get around the dang flag. Your tutorial is fantastic!!! Thanks!!!
January 14th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
What do you use these for, Emily? I’ve seen them at Target and I thought they’d be cute, but for what?
barb
January 14th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Thanks for this! I just bought mine and looked at it like, How am I going to get around that handle!! This is so helpful!! and yours looks great by the way!!!
January 14th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Thank you for the tutorial! Your mailboxes are so pretty! Love your blog!
January 14th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
I FINALLY found some pink ones at my Target. Thanks for the tutorial Em!
January 14th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
They look so cute! Thanks for the tutorial Emily! I bought 5 of these mailboxes and plan on making one for each of the kids and then one for each of the girls’ teachers so this will be a huge help!!
January 14th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Boy, Emily, you weren’t kidding about the mess. HA! I laugh because that’s what mine looked like yesterday. At least I was mostly focused on the mailbox. Keep putting great projects out there, and it will distract from the mess. Or not….
Check out what my husband and his co=worker did on my blog.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Oh, and thanks for the tutorial, I wouldn’t have known how to alter my 11 mailboxes. They would have just sat for YEARS.
January 14th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Wow! These are great! I can’t wait to try them! Thanks for sharing!
January 14th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Thank you so much for this tutorial and sharing your talent with us.
January 14th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Thanks so much for the tutorial; I appreicate it! Off to try one now! Yours are just darling!
January 14th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
What a great tutorial and gorgeous mailbox! You are so talented. Thx for sharing.
January 14th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
I must ask what manufacture and name is the white sticky tape? and where can you get it? Please and thank you. Never seen it, and bought one brand that ruined my pens.
January 14th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Thanks so much for sharing this tutorial!!!! The instructions are very detailed and helpful! I just bought a few of these and can’t wait to decorate them!
January 14th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Thank you so much for posting this! If only I had been more patient….I searched your blog what seems like forever last night looking for this tutorial, and then finally just winged it on my own. It didn’t turn out perfect, but now I have your tutorial. Thanks again!
January 14th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
EXCELLENT tutorial! thank you! Does the lid come off and on easily? I never thought to take it off!
January 14th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Thank you sooooo much for this tutorial! I was wondering how to get the paper around the little arm! Such cute projects too!
January 15th, 2008 at 12:17 am
Thank you so much for taking all of the guess work out of it for me! I have yet to decorate my mail boxes because I’ve been intimidated. Now I feel like I have a fighting chance lol!
January 15th, 2008 at 12:36 am
thanks Emily, you rock. Maybe now I will actually do something with the 10 I bought…
January 15th, 2008 at 12:40 am
Thank you so much for this great tutorial!! I purchased quite a bunch of these mailboxes (I actually lost count!) and attempted my altering a little bit different than your tutorial but…yours makes it so much easier!!! Thanks! I’m a frequent admirer of your blog and I just love it!!!
(your mess is nothing compared to my table AND desk!!!)
January 15th, 2008 at 1:37 am
Yay Emily! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this tutorial with us!!!
January 15th, 2008 at 1:51 am
thanks for posting this! I was able to show it to my husband who was in shock as I insisted we go upstairs in our Target yesterday (we already had EVERYTHING) just so I could go to the dollar spot and buy these! Thanks to you, he now understands the importance of it all. I think. “very cool” and I quote him! but boys shouldn’t be allowed to shop with us! LOL
January 15th, 2008 at 3:05 am
You rock Emily! Thanks for taking the time to post that. I’m awful at trying to figure out that stuff on my own. I’m all stocked up on mailboxes and ready to go
Love your blog! It’s my daily dose of sanity in life!!
January 15th, 2008 at 5:03 am
What a wonderful tutorial! thanks for sharing! You are very generous!
January 15th, 2008 at 5:28 am
Yep, you had a better way of doing these boxes, I am going to do two more your way for our DD’s, thank you so much.
January 15th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
You are the best! Thanks so much!!
January 15th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Emily, Scor-Pal has sticky tape in 1/4″ that’s the perfect size…inexpensive and on a large size roll. I use it all the time and like it better than red line. Once it’s on…baby, it’s on.
January 15th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Girl you ROCK! I just picked up 2 of these yesterday for DD and her little friend for V-day. Saw that another digi girl had been playing with them and figured I’d give it a try. Then I log on this morning to see your AWESOME tut and now I don’t have to do all the measuring b/c you have so sweetly shared. I LOVE your tuts, Emily!! Thanks so much!
BTW, you are also rekindling my interest in stamping….uh, good thing I did get rid of ALL of the stamps when I cleaned house….
January 15th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Great Job!! CUTE mail boxes!!
January 15th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Another great tutorial! Thanks so much for sharing. Now if I can just get my sick kiddo well I will be off to get some cute papers.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
super tutorial…I bought about 8 of these last year and just didn’t know where to start. Soooo, I will search through the remaining boxes from my move from PA to TX and hope they made and get to work…TFS!!
hugs,
Holly
January 15th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Thanks for the tutorial. These are darling. Just have to wait for my passport to arrive so I can go the the U S of A and see if the Target there has any — probably not after your wonderful examples
I was sorry to see the Colts lose as well. Was hoping for Seattle too, but they lost as well. Have to go to option C now.
January 15th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I wish I’d had the tutorial a day sooner. I made 5 yesterday without instructions and made another 4 today with your instructions. Todays look much better. Guess I was reinventing the wheel. Thanks so much.
January 15th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Great mailboxes! I was in luck last week. Target had some so I bought a couple. Thanks to you and your tutorial; I don’t have to figure out how to cover it, lol, I can just read what to do! Thanks so much!!!
January 15th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
This is exactly how I do. Glad to know I’m doing it right. Ü I was wondering if there was a different way. Thank you for taking the time to share. I will be posting the boxes I made on my blog soon. Do you mind if I refer them to here for the tutorial? LMK
January 15th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Thanks for the tutorial!!
Someone on SCS had given directions on how to get around the flag part and they said use a hole punch, but i was thinking how is that going to help? the flag wont fit thru the hole? DUH on my part, now I see you need the slit coming out from the hole!! Now I get it thanks to your great tutorial!!
January 16th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Thank you for the tutorial. You are very nice to put this together! definitely will use some of your tips.
January 16th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
January 16th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Emily, thank you for taking the time to post this tutorial. We all appreciate how much work it is and are truly grateful to you for sharing your time and talents!
January 17th, 2008 at 1:09 am
thank you for doing this…i am waiting for my mailboxes to come…we don’t have target where i live but a dear friend is sending me some just in time for valentine’s…..how simple and easy to make….awesome….
January 17th, 2008 at 5:59 am
Thanks for the tutorial Emily! I bought my first mailboxes at Target and haven’t tried covering them yet but I surely would have been stumped about what to do with the flag if you hadn’t shared your tip. Great tutorial all around!
January 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Thanks for the tip, Emily. I love your boxes. I actually did this same thing with the punch recently while trying to figure out a way to make it work. Great minds! Miss seeing you on the thread!
January 18th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
What a great idea! I haven’t tried any of these yet, but I have been thinking about it. I think your tutorial gave me the courage to go for it!!
January 19th, 2008 at 5:41 am
THANK YOU! I bookmarked this so when I got home I could make up mine for my girls and your directions were AMAZING! Thanks so much. Now, do I go get MORE mailboxes???
January 19th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Wow! These are great directions! Thanks for sharing!
January 21st, 2008 at 1:43 am
Can I just say…you totally ROCK! Awesome tutorial!
January 21st, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Thanks so much for this tutorial. I’ve been too lazy to figure it out and now I don’t have to. LOL Thanks again for your willingness to share.
Blessings!
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:04 am
Thank you so much for the wonderful tutorial. It has been a great help.
January 22nd, 2008 at 5:09 am
Thanks for the great tutorial. I went to Target and bought 7 we are all making them for a family night activity and then mailing one to grandma in Denver… Ever one in the family will have their own. We will be able to write love notes for each other and slip then in the mail box until Valentines day..
You saved me tons of time trying to figure out all the ground work.. Thanks!!
Happy Valentines Day!
Brooke S
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Thanks Oh Redheaded One for the wonderful inspiration!! : ) Brooke’s mailbox is now finished & will be on it’s way to Michigan tomorrow!
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Great project! I bought the mailboxes a few weeks ago but wasn’t sure what to do with them next. Thanks for the great tutorial!
January 24th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
WOW! This is an AWESOME tutorial!! Thank you!
January 25th, 2008 at 2:30 am
Loved your mailboxes. I bought a few and haven’t done anything with them. One is for a 4 year old boy. Now I feel confident and inspired by your work and tutorial. Thanks so much for sharing.
January 25th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Thanks for taking the time out to do this. It is MOST helpful information that I will soon put to good use!
January 29th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Thank you so much for this great tutorial. I was just able to complete one easily — not a usual occurrence with two little ones! I can’t wait to give them to the Grandmas for V-Day!
January 29th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
You rock, girl! Thanks for the awesome step by step…just what I needed.
February 1st, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Emily - thank you so much for this tutorial. I just decorated my first mailbox and, using your instructions, it was so easy!
Sue
February 2nd, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Awesome, Emily! I have a ton of these to make, and having this tutorial will make it sooo much easier! Hugs!
February 4th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
They’re beautiful! Great Job! Many thanks from a visual learner!
February 4th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Thank you so much! I am “craft-challenged” and would not have figured this out without your help! I’ve posted a link to this from my blog.
Thanks again,
Sarah K
February 6th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Thank you for sharing this beautiful project. Your tutorial is really easy to follow and if we could buy them over here, I’d be making mailboxes for fun! However, I’m sure I’ll be able to adapt if for some other tin project!
February 12th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
I know I’ve waited too long, but I am doing mine today.
Thanks for this great idea!
February 13th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
[...] This one uses papers from her Franche Comte kit and they look so gorgeous when printed! I used a tutorial on Emily Giovanni’s Blog, only I didn’t have any 1/4″ ribbon that matched to go [...]
February 14th, 2008 at 2:03 am
I am so glad that someone gave me the link to your blog, I have been trying to figure out how to get around that flag! I went out to my LSS and bought the only punch they had 5/8 inch, not to bad for only a $1.00 Stop over sometime and see my finished product, give me a few days though
God bless,
Sarah
February 29th, 2008 at 5:23 am
thank you soooooo much!!!
July 19th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Wow! Emily, these are great. Amazing job! My question is where do you buy a cheap, smaller than a normal mailbox, mailbox? I know I just emailed you, but I wanted to comment this as well. =]
December 30th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Thank you so much for sharing the directions. You make it look so easy!!! I wasn’t sure if I wanted to make these, but I have to now. Thanks again
December 31st, 2008 at 5:58 pm
[...] You can find my Mail Box tutorial {HERE}! [...]
January 16th, 2009 at 12:04 am
love your tutorial and your mailboxes., now i want some
January 17th, 2009 at 2:27 am
Awesome tutorial. Thanks so much for sharing!
January 24th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Thanks for sharing! I love it!
January 29th, 2009 at 12:26 am
You are amazing! This is a fantastic tutorial! I just made them with my daughter and you made it so easy! Thank you!
January 30th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Thanks for the tutorial. I Googled “altered Target mailboxes” right before I started working on mine. Having your tips and measurements made the first one go so much faster that I had expected. You gave me a head start.
I’ll post pics of mine on my blog on the 13th (I don’t want to spoil any surprises) and will link to you unless you object. Thanks!
February 7th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
[...] are two more cards we did at the Birthday stamp-a-stack. I’ve got a class today making the Target Valentine Mailboxes - so I’ll show you what I’ve done with those this year later this evening! But first [...]
February 15th, 2009 at 7:09 am
[...] for the lid, etc. But I think they still turned out totally cute. You can find that tutorial {here}. Here are two of [...]
January 16th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
I love this tutorial!!! I had been looking for one to cover these mailboxes and was getting VERY frustrated trying to do it myself!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much! I’m making these for my daughter’s classroom teachers, Brownie troop leaders and her grandmothers!
January 31st, 2010 at 2:14 am
[...] The mailboxes can be found at Target’s $1 section. They usually have them this time of year and if they don’t check back again in a few days. Mom’s will buy the whole lot sometimes so check back frequently. I also have seen them at Roberts year round, but they cost about $4. I decided rather than posting a tutorial I would just find one instead, so here it is by Stamping and Stuff: Target Mailbox Tutorial [...]
February 6th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
It’s amazing how easy it is to find this every year!
You were on the first page of my Google search! Thanks for still being here!!!!!
February 10th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
Thanks for this great tutorial. I successfully covered my first Target mailbox with it and can’t wait to finish the other 3 I have. Thanks!
February 11th, 2010 at 6:31 am
Thanks so much for the tutorial! I just did 6 of these in about 4 hours! It is the first thing I have ever altered and I am so thankful for your instructions. I did, however, find a different way to do the ends and it is easier and takes less time. I found it here http://crafts.peteandkerry.com/?p=395 I just put ATG adhesive on the end and stuck it to the paper. Then, I took my craft knife and trimmed around it. I then sanded it just a bit (which really it didn’t even need it). It was amazingly simple!
Totally love your blog and can’t wait to do some more of the projects you have posted! Thanks again! Happy Valentine’s Day!!!