If you tend to over-collect memorabilia from your travels and can’t figure out a useful way to store them, then this project is for you. These stylish boxes are the perfect way to store and display tangible items and pictures from your vacations.
One of my favorite things about traveling to a new destination is being able to look back and remember the unique experiences I had there. I really wanted to find a way to store these memories in an organized and appealing manner without cluttering my small apartment. Thanks to a little inspirational help from Pinterest, I found these memorabilia travel boxes that can be displayed neatly on a shelf or bookcase at home. I did a little tweaking to make this project my own and wanted to showcase the final product. You can find a step-by-step guide on how to make these for yourself below.
Side Note: This project is great if you are crafting on a budget. In total I spent less than $15 for the first box and initial supplies. There are tons of fun ways to decorate the box itself so feel free to make it your own and get creative!
Step One: The Supplies
The best place to find the items for this project are at a local craft store such as Michaels or Hobby Lobby. I found the hollow wooden book boxes at Michaels for around five dollars a piece. The rest of the items you will need are:
- Black craft paint
- Paint brushes (the cheap kind with a sponge brush are perfect)
- Stencils (about 1.5″ height) for the lettering on the binder
- Modge Podge
- Scissors
- Any extra decorative items you would like to use (glue on gems, scrapbooking stickers, sharpie, etc.,)
- A large road map of the location you visited, printed photos and/or any other memorabilia items from the trip
Step Two: The Base
The boxes I found my inspiration from were painted in different solid colors. I loved the look but I wanted to tweak some of this project to give it my own flair. I used a map of the destination I visited as the outer book cover and painted the country name on the outside binder. If you collected a large amount of memorabilia from your trip, you can also collage some together onto the outside of the box for a cover. You can also decorate the inside of the box or paint it to give it a unique flair.
I used Modge Podge to secure the map to the outside of the book box. Modge Podge is a perfect all-in-one glue, sealer, and finish that leaves the cover with a nice glossy finished look. It can be used for decoupaging anything and will work with any memorabilia items you have. You can use a thick sponge paintbrush to evenly coat the outside of the box where you are gluing the item. Make sure to try and avoid wrinkles if you are pasting a larger item. I used an expired card to smooth out any bubbles that formed as I laid the map down.
Step Three: The Fixings
Once the base layer of your box is secured, use stencils and paint to create the lettering of the city or country you visited on the binder. If you used a map, you can put hearts or circles around the areas you visited. Glue on any other decorative items or paint any fun designs. After your items are glued down and the lettering is dry, paint over everything (except for sparkly gems) with a protective layer of Modge Podge. This will help protect the surfaces from peeling up and will provide you with that nice glossy laminate finish.
Step Four: The Fillings
Once your box is completely dry and decorated to your liking, place all of the memorabilia and pictures from your trip inside. I bought blank travel tags (pictured above) to write the name and dates of where I stayed to keep in the box itself. The wooden books I purchased have little magnets that keep them shut, but you can also wrap them closed with ribbon or twine. When your box is complete, display it on your favorite shelf or bookcase in your home.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about how to construct these for yourself!
Have a completed memorabilia box that you absolutely love and want to share? Share it in the comments section below!
Happy Crafting!
