I have been collecting Chinese take out boxes ( white rice boxes because they are easy to clean) and I have some original ideas that I have been wanting to share here on instructables. When the Paper Craft contest was posted; it motivated me to give one idea a try. This kit is perfect in case you chip a fingernail, smudge your nail polish, or if your in a rush and don't have time to paint your nails. You can put it in a tote, large hand bag, car, or in your desk at the office. This kit contains nail polish, clear coat, polish remover, cotton pads, fingernail clippers, emery board, a covered metal plate to prevent spills, and paper to protect the surface you will be using. It will open out and lay flat if you like. It is fairly quick and easy to make. Follow through and I will show you how to make one. Lets get started . . . .

Step 1: Tools and Supplies

This is what you will need:

Chinese white rice take out box
Clear packaging tape
Wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, or magazine paper, junk mail ( not too stiff )
Cording of some sort 14 inches should be long enough, mine were a tad bit short at 13. You could braid some yarn. I used the string from ice bagsThis will be used to tie the ends.
Velcro
Magnet sheet ( you need this to be pretty strong).
Metal the size of the bottom of the box. I used a piece of roof flashing we had left over from our shop. This will be covered with tape and paper and the nail polish bottle will stick to it to prevent spills and it will secure all the bottles so they don't tip over when moved.
Bert Bees facial swabs plastic box as shown.
Clean small glass bottle for the polish remover. Don't use plastic unless the bottle was made for nail polish remover.
Eye dropper to use to fill the nail polish remover (bottle) or just purchase a small sample bottle of remover.
Scissors
Marker or pencil
Ruler (optional)
Hole punch
Glue and glue-gun
Tin snips

You can pack the box with nail polish, clear cote, small bottle of polish remover, cotton pads, emery board, nail file, finger nail clippers, and folded scrap paper. I reinforced the holes using duct tape but I really don't think you need it so I did not add it to the list. You could use duct tape to cover the box. I used printed paper because I have not found duct tape in prints that I like.

Step 2: Take Out Box Preparations

Remove the wire handle and smooth out the box.

Fold the ends together and line up the tiny holes. Use the hole cutter to punch larger holes through both layers of the box, on both sides of the box as shown.

Fold under the small box tab as shown.

It helps to fold the box both directions over and over to limber up the folds before and after gluing and taping the box.

Step 3: Paper Pattern

Lay the ( paper you will be covering the box ) down on the table with the white or wrong side up.

Place the open box over the paper with the white side up.

Using a pencil outline the box and mark the holes and the slit as shown.

Cut out the pattern.

Place the pattern over the printed side of the take out box and glue it in place at the tips as shown.

Find a smooth counter top and place the printed side of the box up.

Tape across the width and length of the box allowing extra tape at the ends as shown. (about 2 inches)

Carefully lift up the edges of the box until it is free from the counter top.

Even up the edges of the tape around the box allowing enough room to overlap to the inside of the box..

Cut slits at corners and rounded edges so you can turn down the tape to fold over to the inside of the box.

Punch holes in the covered box where the clear tape is covering the existing holes.

Fold and re-fold the box both directions to limber up the folds.

It was too difficult to take a picture of the box after I taped it so here is a look at the folded box with the strings to hold it together.

Step 4: Pockets

Make the pocket from the paper for the nail clippers, file, and emery board as shown in the pictures.

I used a paint sample chip from the store.

I folded the paper at the top and bottom. I taped the top of the pocket to give it more strength and then taped the pocket to the box ( opposite sides where the holes are punched on the box ) leaving the top open.

Cut out a small piece of non waxy paper to make a background for the Bert-bees box. On my first kit I tried to glue the Bert-bees plastic box to the inside of the take out box and it did not stick. The second box I glued and taped paper to the take out box ( opposite sides of the nail clipper pocket). Then I glued the Bert Bees box to the piece of paper that I just glued to the take out box as shown in the picture. It worked fine.

Trim the cotton swabs small enough to fit into the Bert-Bees box and place the cut out rounds into the box as shown.

Trim if necessary; the scratch paper that will be used to paint your fingernails and fold the pages small enough to fit into the box. I folded it in such a way that it captured a good image of the picture.

The first box I made I did this step before covering the box. It was not a good idea.

Step 5: Cutting the Metal and Magnets

Trace the bottom of the take out box over the metal plate.

Using the tin snips cut out the metal shape.

Cut out a paper sleeve to put the metal into and cover the entire sleeve (with the metal inside) with clear tape. Use light weight paper or the magnet won't work; unless the magnet is strong.

Place the bottles over a magnet sheet and trace out the bottom of the bottle.

Cut out the magnet patterns and glue them to the bottom of the bottles as shown.

Try them out using the covered metal sheet. Mine worked like a champ.

Step 6: Nail Polish Remover

I made a label for the polish remover from a paint chip and glued it to the bottle. My printer is not working but it would have been cool to make a fancy label. I did cut out a dragon fly from a cutter and glued it to the label.

Using the eye dropper fill the empty bottle with finger nail polish remover; or you can use a small store bought sample to add to the kit.

Step 7: Side Strings

Poke the string through the holes of the box as shown and tie the ends of the string to make a single loose knot. I am not sure what kind of knot that is, but you may decide to untie it at some point so I would make it loose.

Then tie again to bring the box together.

You can place a piece of tape at the ends of the string to make it easier to thread through the holes.

Step 8: Handle

To make the handle for the kit; I folded a piece of paper the width that I wanted and figured out how long I wanted the handle and covered it with tape. I think a thinner handle would look better and I will be making the next one out of fabric instead of paper, I think it will look a lot better.

I cut a small piece of Velcro and stuck one side of the Velcro to the left hand side of the handle and the other Velcro piece to the left hand side of the box. It was very sticky so I did not need to glue or tape the Velcro to the box and handle. I was surprised it was so strong. I am careful when I open the box to lay it flat and gently pull between the layers of Velcro so there is little tension against the Velcro.

I taped the right side of the handle to the right hand side of the box.

Some of the boxes look like I did not line up the box edges but they were lined up. I tried Velcro but it did not make a lot of difference but I realized that I made the first one differently and it looked better. What I did was poke 2 holes behind the existing holes in the flap and drew the string through all four holes. You can see the difference on the sides of the box now. The first picture on this page is the newer version. The reason the box looks like that is because the pointed edge is two pieces and I did not want to tape them together because I wanted the box to open flat when the side strings were loosened to give a little more protection while using the nail polish.

You get better after making more than one though. When I make a pattern the first time I usually make it with similar materials that I will be using but not my favorite one; so the second or third one I make looks pretty snazzy.

Step 9: Sunshiines Final Thoughts

This kit was much stronger than I had anticipated. I think it should last a while. White yarn wrapped around the paper handles would have given it a more sophisticated look but I did not have any. I loved the magnet feature to prevent the bottles from tipping over and to keep them stabilized while they are in a car, purse or desk. If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment and I will help if I can.

This instructable has been entered into the Paper contest and if you like it; I would be grateful for your vote top right hand corner when the vote button is visible. Sometimes it take a day or two thanks . . .

I wish to thank Instructables and contributors for making this site a delightful place to share. Thanks for stopping by and do have a splendorous day! sunshine ~