Trick or Treat Match Box Cover

I love this Halloween Trick or Treat image from The Graphics Fairy! So, I came up with a project to recover a box of matches so that I could use it. I was originally planning to decoupage the image onto the matchbox but when I remembered that my printer is an inkjet and that I would have to make my copies a on a “real” copy machine and have to get in my car to visit my local Kinkos, I came up with a different way to make it. (If you want to decoupage, you need to make your copies from a “real” copy machine otherwise the ink will run when you apply the decoupage medium. ) Anyway, since I didn’t want to have to make a car trip and I wanted to get started right away, I came up with the idea of using Scotch clear Shipping Tape and a Black Sharpie Pen. It worked!

Here is what you will need to get started:

A box of matches, Scotch clear Shipping Tape, Scotch tape, a Black Sharpie Pen, scissors, and printed copies of the image you want to use.

Here is how I did it:

1. Using my Black Sharpie Pen, I filled in the white space on each end of the box. Then I took the Pen and outlined the edges of the front and back of the match box (almost like coloring in a black frame ) to cover the bright red and yellow color on the edge of the box in case any of the edges were exposed after I attached the image.

2. I copied my image into my Word program and then played with the sizing by holding the box over the image on the screen to get it as close to the exact size of the top and bottom of the box that I needed. The match box is covered with the same image on both sides so print out two once you get it sized. Cut the image out with your scissors. I then Scotch taped the image onto the box by rolling a piece of tape onto itself, tacked to the back of the image and then centered it and fastened it to the front of the box. Repeat for the opposite side. This will help keep the image in place while stretch the clear shipping tape over it.

3. Next I covered the image with a stretch of the Scotch Shipping Tape. Slide the inside box of matches out of the cover so that you are only working with the outside cover. This way you do not “accidentally” tape your match box shut. Carefully apply the tape over the image and smoothed it down over the edge of the box so that it is “tucked smoothly” inside of the match box cover. I then applied a second stretch of the tape and butted it up right next to the edge of the first piece of tape and smoothed it down. Trim any excess tape if you need to with your scissors.

That’s it! The clear shipping tape helps protect your image and your newly covered matchbox.

I still might try making some more of these match box cover by decoupaging them to see if I like the finished product any better. I just have to make sure I have the right kind of copies made when I do.

This was quick and easy. Cheap to do too which is always a plus!

I am linking this post up to Brag Monday over at The Graphics Fairy. More projects to be seen there! Stop by.