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One thing you’ll soon learn about me is that I’m a big fan of the 80s and if something catches my eye, I prefer to make it than buy it
This project was inspired by The Big Bang Theory and if you’re a fan of the show yourself, then you’re more than likely familiar with the Rubik Cube Tissue Box. This is an ideal gift for any 80s or BBT fan and the best part is it’s cheap and easy to make!
For this project you will need:
Polystyrene sheets – approx. 10mm thick (I got this free from a parcel that I ordered, however you can buy these on eBay for approx. £5 or alternatively buy a wooden tissue box holder for roughly the same price)
PVA glue
Kitchen tissue (I personally like to use extra absorbent)
Square shaped tissue box (I couldn’t find a square shaped box so bought a 12x11cm box instead)
Black acrylic paint
Sellotape
Pen
Paintbrush
Craft knife and cutting mat
Six sheets of card paper (orange, yellow, green, blue, white and red)
Instructions
1. Cut four 13cm squares (this will be the sides of the box) and one 14cm square (this will be the lid of the box) out of the polystyrene sheet using a craft knife and cutting mat. Size may vary dependent on the length and width of the tissue box that you will be covering. As my tissue box is 12cm in length, I’ve made the sides slightly wider (13cm) so that the polystyrene cover can sit snug on top of the tissue box once assembled.
2. To make the sides of the tissue box holder, tape the four 13cm squares together. You will want to stick each square to the sides of the right hand corners of the previous square, as demonstrated in image 2 below.
3. Mark a cross in the centre of the 14cm square (this is where you will later cut a hole) and tape this on top of the sides of the box.
4. Cut around 4 large sheets of kitchen tissue into small strips.
5. Using a paintbrush, a smidgen of water and PVA glue, glue 2 layers of tissue around the polystyrene box and leave to dry for a couple of hours. Don’t layer tissue and PVA Glue on top of the cross that you previously marked as you will still need to cut a hole here once dry.
6. Where you marked the cross, cut a circle approx. 3cm wide on the lid. This involved a little bit of trial and error, however I found a hole 3cm wide enables the tissue to be pulled out smoothly. If there is any polystyrene visible around the hole of the lid, PVA glue tissue around this and leave to dry.
7. Once dry, paint the box in black acrylic paint and leave to dry.
8. Cut fifty four 4cm squares – 9 orange, 9 yellow, 9 green, 9 blue, 9 white and 9 red. You won’t need to use all squares as you will only be placing these on 5 sides of the box as opposed to 6, however if you’re particular like me, it gives you flexibility to mix and match all colours.
9. Finally stick these squares on the sides and the lid of your box, leaving the centre of the lid empty and Voila, your masterpiece retro tissue box is now complete and ready for use!
