Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
EASY STEPS TO MAKE YOUR CURIOSITY CABINET
Gather your supplies
• Vintage picture frame
• 90 x 19mm x 2.4m dressed pine
• 900 x 600 x 6mm MDF
• 4mm mirror
• 900 x 600 x 12mm MDF
• 50 x 6mm toughenedglass shelves
You’ll also need Tape measure; saw; PVA glue; nail gun and nails, or hammer and 40mm nails; wood putty; sandpaper; undercoat; water-based enamel in black; painting gear; gold spray paint; drill and bits; heavy-duty, double-sided tape; foam core sheet; spray adhesive; decorative tissue paper; ribbon; double-sided tape; small brass cup hooks; gold chain; angle brackets; 15mm button head screws; brass piano hinge; hacksaw; brass shelf supports
Here’s how
STEP 1 Using your frame as a template, measure and cut 4 lengths of pine to make a box that will sit on the back of the frame. Glue and nail together.
STEP 2 Cut 6mm MDF so it fits inside the box and run a bead of glue around the edges. Place offcuts of pine on the bench inside the box to act as spacers, then put the MDF inside the box so it sits on the offcuts.
STEP 3 Run a bead of glue around the join between the MDF backing and the box and wipe off excess with a damp rag. Leave for 2 hours to dry, then turn over and repeat on the other side of the MDF. STEP 4 Fill nail holes with wood putty, let dry and sand smooth. Undercoat entire box, then apply 2 coats of black paint. STEP 5 Spray the inside of the box with gold paint to connect the inside of the box with the frame. STEP 6 Sit the frame on top of the box and mark the bottom of the opening in the frame on the side of the box. This will be the position of the bottom shelf so your things will sit level with the bottom of the opening. Mark the position of the remaining shelves on the side of the box.
STEP 7 Make a template out of a scrap timber block
Design and build your own wall cabinet with a twist – a secret compartment!
to drill the holes for the shelf supports in the side of the box. This will make sure that they will be in the same position on both sides. Place template on side of box and drill holes. Use tape around your drill bit as a depth gauge.
STEP 8 Put strips of heavy-duty double-sided tape on the back of the mirror. Peel the backing off the tape, then put the mirror inside the box and press in place.
STEP 9 Cut foam core sheet to fit inside of box. Coat with spray adhesive and cover with decorative tissue paper.
STEP 10 Cut 2 lengths of ribbon to wrap around the corners of the covered foam core sheet and continue around the back. Put a piece of double-sided tape at both ends of the ribbon and stick to the sheet.
STEP 11 Put strips of double-sided tape on the back of the sheet and stick to the back of the box.
STEP 12 Screw small cup hooks to each side of the box at the back. String gold chain between the cup hooks.
STEP 13 Attach the box to the frame using small angle brackets and button head screws. Paint them black to disguise them.
STEP 14 Cut 12mm MDF to suit the outside dimensions of the box. Undercoat and paint black. Use a hacksaw to cut piano hinge to length and screw to the MDF using supplied screws. Attach other leaf of hinge to edge of box.
STEP 15 Attach unit to wall by fixing through 12mm MDF. If screwing to a plasterboard wall, make sure you get some fixings going into a timber wall stud behind the plasterboard. Insert shelf supports into holes and sit shelves on them.