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How To Make Shaker Boxes

© Merrideth Chenoweth

I'm sure I'm not the only one who's sat with a layout in front of me with a blank spot. It screams for some embellishment, something cool, something to add charm and as my friend Cheryl would say "add that extra POP!"

This month we're going to look at a great and inexpensive way to fill that empty spot on your layout that will add not only add charm, but movement and "that extra pop." I'll be showing you how to make shaker boxes. Shaker boxes are not only a fun addition to the page, and fun to make, but they can be customized to your theme the way that no store bought item could. So let's get started!

Tools:
Pencil
Paper trimmer
Scissors
Double sided adhesive or oxyron machine
Hand Punch, Sizzix or other die cutting machine (optional)

Supplies:
2 Coordinating papers
1 Sheet of transparency or extra page protector
Double sided foam insulation tape (I found mine in the hardware section of Wal-Mart)
Filler (see list below for some ideas)

Instructions:
1. Gather supplies and tools. When choosing papers, try to coordinate with your layout. I try to use a more muted paper for the top of the shaker with a more "exciting" paper as the back panel. This way it gives you something cool to try to see when you move the filler around.

2. Cut both top and bottom papers to size (In the purple and green boxes I cut them all down to a 3" square.)

3. Cut shape into top paper to be the "window." Usually I just use my Fiskar's Shape Cutter to make square windows, but you could also use a hand punch or dies for your Sizzix or Quickkuts machines. (See American shaker box at the right for this idea.)

4. Using your double sided adhesive to attach the transparency sheet or page protector to the back to the top paper and cut away extra plastic.

5. Attach foam tape to the plastic around the perimeter of the "window" making sure that none of the foam shows through the window.

6. Put filler into the empty space inside the foam tape. There are so many options to use for filler. Since I didn't list any above here's the list I came up with:

Beads
Buttons
Confetti
Flatbacks
Glitter
Jump rings
Sand
Sequins
Shaped clips
Small charms
Washers

Or you can use anything else that's relatively flat and light. As always, use your imagination to come up with other ideas to make your creation special and fitting with your theme!

7. Peel the backing off the foam tape and attach the back panel of the box.