Miniature Storage Tote Tutorial ~ Donated by Elaine Usimaki

Please Visit~ Elaine's Website, Etsy Shop, Ebay & Blog


For Personal Use Only Please
Supplies:
  • 1 large container from Fast Food Dipping sauce. (approx 2-1/4" x 1-1/4" x 1" high)
  • 3" x 2" scrap of white Fun Foam
  • 10" x 3/16" strip of white card stock (or any paper that is the weight of an index card) Using paper is not recommended because the paint will make it ripple.
  • Acrylic Paint - your choice of color
  • Glue -**Don't use super glue, some of the foam melts and smokes when super glue touches it.
  • Matte Sealer (not pictured) can be spray, brush on or Mod Podge. Don't use "glossy", that's too much of a shine in miniatures. Using 'matte" will make the tote look "plastic".
  • scissors
  • pencil
Wash and dry container. Trim around lip to make lip smooth. Turn container face down on Fun Foam and trace around lip of container. This will make the lid.
Glue fun foam to container's top. Trim edge as needed so it is even and smooth.
Start at short side of container and glue the card stock strip around the edge of the container to create the top's "lip". Continue all the way around the container, slightly overlapping beginning and end edges and then trim away excess.
Using several coats of paint(s) in your desired color(s), paint tote and lid. Use 3 coats, letting each coat dry in between. Apply one coat of sealer to entire tote to make it look like plastic. Sealer has not been applied yet in this photo.
You can also use jelly containers to make smaller sized totes. You can add labels to tote. Tote can be made to be open in a scene by not gluing foam to top and making sure to paint the inside of the tote as well. Finished totes are shown here in Elaine's "Garage Sale" room box.