Burlap Bin Craft Success

So we bought a new glass cabinet for our dining/living area and I really wanted to put a cute bin or basket on the middle shelf. I decided to get some cheap burlap and cover a box with it. Of course, I had to add some fabric flowers too. It turned out exactly as I envisioned! Here's the finished product:


And here's my shot at a tutorial...


Materials Needed:

Box - any size, any color, but in decent shape

Paint - any dark color if you have a colored or printed on box

Burlap - I had a 2 yard piece and I used about 1.5 yards in length foor my box, but only about 1/3rd of the width, so I have plenty leftover for another one!

Hot Glue Gun & plenty of glue

Ribbon & scrap fabric for embellishment


1. Perfect size box: recently purchaseed at Costco, filled with lovely pullups. I cut the top flaps off, make sure to cut them straight, but a little jagged edge won't matter much. I laid the burlap on the box & you could see the pink & purple right through it, so I painted it quickly with some grey acrylic paint. You could use any dark color, just anything that would mask the printing on the box. I had a large bottle of white & black, so I used what I had the most of & I was afraid black would be too dark. One coat was plenty and dried super quick:

2. Once the box was dry, I began wrapping my burlap around the box, starting at the back. I left about 3-4" on top & bottom to wrap around. I simiply put a bunch of hot-clue on the box, then pressed on the burlap, pulling it tight so there weren't bubbles. Be careful, the hotglue comes through the holes of the burlap, but you do need to push it down or the burlap won't stick to the hotglue. I kept going around, making sure to tack the corners and top & bottom well. I was able to keep it pretty even as I went, but a little crooked doesn't matter much, as long as there's enough to wrap around the top/bottom: 3. I left about 1.5-2" overage once I had reached my starting place. I then folded about 1" under, hotglued that and then glued it to the box/burlap underneath so I had a nice edge that wasn't rough. This picture is where I folded the edge over, but hadn't glued it yet:4. I then started on the bottom. I folded in the 2 long sides and glued them to the bottom of the box. I then trimmed the excess off the corners and wrapped them very tightly so there wouldn't be a big bump on the corner. Think wrapping a present or recovering a chair seat. Then I glued down the entire flap so it was neat, tight and as flat as can be so it would sit even:5. Then I moved onoto the top. I wanted a decent amount of hangover so you couldn't see the cardboard inside from the outside. I just started pulling it tight and moving arouond the box, glue-ing it at the top of the box and the bottom of the burlap. I was picky about making sure there weren't any folds or bubbles in the fabric:

Box = done!

Now time to make it pretty

6. I had some ivory satin ribbon, perfect for simply wrapping around to add a little embelishment. I wanted neutral/browns, but any color or a fun fabric would work depending on it's use. I started the ribbon in the back where my burlap seam was. I only glued it at the corners because sometimes the hotglue makes a mark and you may be able to see it through the ribbon. The glue is completely hidden on the corners. When I reached the end, I did the same thing, folded about 1/2" over and glued it down. The one thing to make sure of is that the ribbon is even the entire way around so it lines up perfectly in the back, don't want it crooked. 7. Then time to add a little pretty. I made 2 fabric flowers. 1 from another ivory ribbon and another from a linen fabric scrap I had. For the flowers I took about a 1" wide piece and twisted it, then glued it together, like in a swirl. Sorry I don't have a tutorial for the flowers, but there's tons of flower tutorials (check pinterest if you need some). I added some burlap scraps and additional ribbon/fabric scraps behind and glued it all on...pretty:

Hope that tutorial was clear and easy enuf to follow. If anyone makes one, show me please :)