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You are here: Home / DIY + Crafts / DIY Travel Jewelry Box … with Upcycled Mobile Phone Box

March 17, 2015 by: Jennifer Priest

DIY Travel Jewelry Box … with Upcycled Mobile Phone Box

If you travel a lot, you might know how hard it is to find a great travel jewelry box. I am a big fan of upcycling so when my husband was cleaning out his office and found a couple of old empty cell phone boxes, I knew what I was going to make: a DIY travel jewelry box! This handmade jewelry case can be used as a DIY gift box, to organize jewelry at home, or as a travel jewelry box.

Recycled Phone Box Jewelry Case JPriest

RELATED PROJECT: Gift Bags from Starbuck's bags and Duct Tape

I created this project for the Craft Lightning craft challenge to create recycled crafts, hosted by Creative Green Living. Craft Lightning is a week of crafts that you can make in 15 minutes or less, hosted by Country Chic Cottage and 30 Minute Crafts. This project has two angles on recycling: I'm upcycling a mobile phone box but also using felt made from recycled plastic bottles on the inside of the box. It's like a recycling double-whammy!

Upcycled Box Ideas

We recently got new cell phones and when you get anything new, it almost always comes in a box. How many times have you bought something packaged in a nice box and got sad at having to throw the box away? Save those sturdy, well-made boxes and use them for new projects. Here are some ideas:

  • Make a DIY travel jewelry box like this
  • Cover the box with pretty paper and use it as gift wrap
  • Line the inside of the box with pretty paper, turn the lid upside down, and use both pieces as drawer organizers or dividers
  • Create a shadowbox inside … like this DIY felt succulent shadowbox
  • Add handles to the sides of the lid and create a tray. The bigger the box, the better!

How to make a DIY travel jewelry box

To create this box, you'll need a few basic supplies you might already have around the house. I used specific colors of spray paint and other supplies but you can use any colors of spray paint, felt, and ribbon you like. I recommend spray paint over say, acrylic paint, because spray paint is fast and dries with a nice, smooth finish.

Recycled Jewelry Box Supplies:

  • Krylon ColorMaster Metallic Gold Spray Paint
  • Krylon ColorMaster Spray Paint – Purple
  • Offray Satin Ribbon 1.5″ Wide – Ivory
  • Kunin Eco-Fi Rainbow Classic Felt – Cream
  • Cell Phone Box or other sturdy box

Tools:

  • Hot Glue Gun
  • Rotary Fabric Cutter
  • Cutting Mat
  • Grid Ruler
  • Scissors

Krylon 51510 Gold Interior and Exterior Decorator Paint – 12 oz. Aerosol
Krylon 51913 Purple Interior and Exterior Decorator Paint – 12 oz. Aerosol
Offray Single Face Satin Craft 1-1/2-Inch by 50-Yard Ribbon Spool, Ivory
24-Piece Kunin Eco-fi Classicfelt, 9-Inch by 12-Inch, Cream
Surebonder DT-280F Dual Temperature 60 Watt Full Size Standard Glue Gun
OLFA 9551 RTY-1/G 28mm Straight Handle Rotary Cutter
Westcott LetterCraft Self Healing Mat, 24 x 36 Inches (15352)
Fiskars 6×24 Inch Acrylic Ruler (12-87577097J)
Westcott ExtremEdge Adjustable Tension Titanium Bonded Scissors, 9″ Bent, Gray
InLinkz.com



I also chose to use Kunin Rainbow Classic felt made with Eco-fi,® a high-quality fiber made from 100% post-consumer recycled and BPA-free plastic bottles, upping the “green” factor on this box even more! I know, spray paint is not the MOST eco-friendly paint option but spray paint manufacturers have come a long way in the last 20 years. Krylon offers advice on their website on how to best recycle used aerosol cans and well as shares their sustainability plan.

Recycled Craft Cell Phone Box JPriest

The embossed logo of the cell phone company is still somewhat visible on the box lid. You can choose to cover this with rhinestones with paper. I decided to leave my box as-is because I wanted it to be sleek and easy to pack.

DIY Travel Jewelry Box JPriest

Here's how to upcycle a cell phone box into a DIY travel jewelry box:

I hope you're inspired to see “trash” in a new light as full of possibilities for crafts and as solutions to common problems.

Here are some more recycled craft and upcycled craft ideas:

  • Book Page Wreath
  • DIY Bird Bath from Plastic Cups
  • Upcycled Headboard from Ugly Canvases
  • Starburst Mirror with Thrift Shop Flatware
  • Recycled Crafts Roundup

What do you recycle to make crafts from?

Leave me a comment about what you've created and feel free to include your links.

Stick With It Palette For Paint, Jewelry, Travel, And More
Easy Practical Teacher Gifts

Comments

  1. Angie Countrychiccottage says

    March 17, 2015 at 12:18 pm

    So awesome Jennifer! Thanks for joining!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Priest says

      March 17, 2015 at 3:38 pm

      Thanks! Glad to be a part of it 🙂 Now I need to check out what everyone else made!

      Reply
  2. Angie Countrychiccottage says

    March 17, 2015 at 12:18 pm

    So awesome Jennifer! Thanks for joining!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Priest says

      March 17, 2015 at 3:38 pm

      Thanks! Glad to be a part of it 🙂 Now I need to check out what everyone else made!

      Reply
  3. christina webber says

    March 20, 2015 at 4:09 am

    Hi! I’ve been saving these boxes! They are so cool and just to well made to throw away. I’ve been trying to come up with ways to alter them. Plus, my husband has 2 cochlear implants and the boxes for the implants would make awesome shadow boxes. Thanks for all of the ideas. Would really like to give it a go!

    Reply
  4. christina webber says

    March 20, 2015 at 4:09 am

    Hi! I’ve been saving these boxes! They are so cool and just to well made to throw away. I’ve been trying to come up with ways to alter them. Plus, my husband has 2 cochlear implants and the boxes for the implants would make awesome shadow boxes. Thanks for all of the ideas. Would really like to give it a go!

    Reply
  5. Lorrie says

    March 26, 2015 at 9:41 pm

    This is SUCH a fabulous idea! What great Christmas gifts, too!! Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful way to re-use too-good-to-throw-away small boxes.

    Reply
  6. Lorrie says

    March 26, 2015 at 9:41 pm

    This is SUCH a fabulous idea! What great Christmas gifts, too!! Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful way to re-use too-good-to-throw-away small boxes.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Recycled Tin Can Herb Planter plus Printable Herb Markers - * THE COUNTRY CHIC COTTAGE (DIY, Home Decor, Crafts, Farmhouse) says:
    March 18, 2015 at 3:33 am

    […] Got a box laying around?  Turn it into a travel jewelry organizer with this tutorial from Hydrangea Hippo. […]

    Reply
  2. Recycled Tin Can Herb Planter plus Printable Herb Markers - * THE COUNTRY CHIC COTTAGE (DIY, Home Decor, Crafts, Farmhouse) says:
    March 18, 2015 at 3:33 am

    […] Got a box laying around?  Turn it into a travel jewelry organizer with this tutorial from Hydrangea Hippo. […]

    Reply
  3. 40+ Recycled Crafts - * THE COUNTRY CHIC COTTAGE (DIY, Home Decor, Crafts, Farmhouse) says:
    March 21, 2015 at 4:48 am

    […] Travel jewelry organizer […]

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  4. 40+ Recycled Crafts - * THE COUNTRY CHIC COTTAGE (DIY, Home Decor, Crafts, Farmhouse) says:
    March 21, 2015 at 4:48 am

    […] Travel jewelry organizer […]

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  5. Accessories and Jewelry Organization: Your Complete Guide says:
    June 21, 2019 at 3:00 am

    […] your smart phone box – it can be reused as a ring-organizing jewelry box. In fact, Smart Fun DIY added a ribbon so it could be tied shut during […]

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Welcome to Smart Fun DIY where you'll find amazing craft projects, easy-to-make recipes with a Latin twist, clever DIY projects, and smart ways to get the most out of life. I'm so happy you're here and I can't wait to learn more about you! - Jennifer Priest If you're new here, click HERE to learn more.

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