Make a Flimsy FedEx Box Into Affordable Home Decor

It probably seems like I’m obsessed with discarded boxes, but the truth is, we should all be thinking about how we can make this “free” item into something valuable and useful. In this post, I’m going to show you how to turn a paper box into a decorative tray.

 I occasionally send bulk print items to FedEx Print. They always packed my print material in these boxes that are similar, yet not as thick, as a gift box for shirts. I saved them. Not sure why, but I do.

I was cleaning out my home office recently, and I found them and decided I could do something besides toss them in the recycle bin. I stacked the lid inside the bottom and using masking tape, taped them together to stabilize the box sides.

 I lined the bottom of the box with some scrapbook paper I had.

Next, I wrapped the inside, outside and bottom of the box (now a tray) with jute twine using a hot glue gun.

The jute twine stiffened the tray, and now I have a paper tray for mail, home office documents, magazines or to display my favorite seaside décor!