Bowties are cool. So are fake books made into T.A.R.D.I.S. replicas. I made this special keepsake box for a huge Doctor Who fan. This is a fun craft that even kids can make. Personalize it however you want. The following is the how-to on how I turned it into a T.A.R.D.I.S., but you can use the same methods to create anything.
I found this “book” at Michaels. It’s kinda ugly, so who wouldn’t want to upgrade it? Hey, you can see the cool Scrabble Treasure Box I made in the background! That is also a great box to make.
I painted the outside with a coat of acrylic paint and let it dry. About 2 hours later I traced the TARDIS details on the cover, with a pencil. The paint scratches off very easy, so becareful.
I used a hot glue gun to make the details “pop out” on the book. On the back I put the initials of the future owner. Hot glue is cool. Well, it’s technically “hot,” but it is cool to craft with!
After 2 more coats of paint (cobalt blue) I started working on the other details. I highly recommend letting the paint dry for at least 2 hours between coats. When I was finished painting and decorating the outside, I sprayed it with 3 light coats of polyurethane spray (with a day to dry between each coat). Coating it with a clear varnish is a very important step! The paint will rub right off if you don’t.
Felt was hot glued on the inside of the TARDIS. If you do this project, check and see where the magnets are that keep it shut BEFORE you start hot gluing. I had to fix my felt a few times in order to get it to close completely shut.
I didn’t glue down the white felt as much. It’s a “secret” pocket. This project takes a lot of time to do, and requires a lot of time to wait for the next step. It is worth every minute though. I forgot to take photos after I was done making it, so I have to thank my friends for sending me a few. You can tell that this family loves Doctor Who by the awesome figurines and sonic screwdriver in the photo.
You want to make one, don’t you? Well, hurry up then!
