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Mini Office Supply Bookcovers for Matchboxes

14 February 2011 41,660 views 45 Comments

by heather

I found a photo of some mini office supply matchboxes on kootoyoo, and I was enchanted by them. Maybe it's the dollhouse miniatures series that Rhonda has been working on, or maybe it's just because I love little things. I knew I wouldn't be able to find these products at a store near me, so made my own mini office supply matchboxes. I made four different covers: for rubber bands, thumb tacks, paper clips, and gummed reinforcements. I was inspired by a vintage Dennison Gummed Reinforcements box for the last one. Since I made the covers myself, I'm sharing them with you as a printable so you can whip these up in a few minutes.

Making mini book covers is addictive! It would be fun to use images of vintage book covers and shrink them down to make a whole bunch of cute matchboxes. I bet this general idea would be a fun one for wedding favors or other types of party favors. Maybe skip the office supplies and stick something else inside the matchbox. (It probably isn't a good idea to put anything edible in a matchbox that has previously contained matches. If you want to make edible favors, make your own matchboxes.)

Project Materials:

Matchboxes, pack of 10 is $1
Glue stick, on hand
Scissors or craft knife and mat, on hand
Printable (download here)
Paper and color printer, on hand
Office supplies to fill the matchboxes with, on hand

Total: less than $1 for two sets
Matchbox Book Covers Printable

To Make:

1. Print out Matchbox Book Covers printable.

2. Cut book cover images out with a craft knife and cutting mat or scissors.

3. Fold to fit on matchbox. You might need to trim the "book page edge" sides to make them fit well onto the box.

Note: If you want to use these as matchboxes, cut off both book page edges so you leave one working strike strip on the matchbox.

4. Glue to matchbox, smoothing the back of the book cover on first. Then glue the top cover on with top book page edge overlapping over the other.

5. Allow to dry, and then fill matchboxes with corresponding office supplies.

Disclosure: this article may contain affiliate links or other forms of sponsored content. Opinions are 100% the author's. Full disclosure policy.

45 Comments »

Kirsty said:

Far out! You don’t do things by halves. I LOVE yours. Sensational job.

# 14 February 2011 at 2:43 am

Helen said:

Wow, cute idea. I see this becoming quite addictive, I have so many differnt drawers and boxes with bits and bobs, it would be great to make a little book shelf of matching boxes!

# 14 February 2011 at 3:53 am

Michelle L. said:

Heather, these are SO COOL! Cutest little faux books in the world, I love them! Thanks for the gorgeous printable, what a nice gift. Happy Valentine’s Day, you!

# 14 February 2011 at 5:32 am

rhonda said:

Heather, these are incredible! LOVE!! :)

# 14 February 2011 at 6:42 am

TRU @ TRU TALES FEATS said:

Very cool idea!

# 14 February 2011 at 7:07 am

rowena___. said:

heather, these are awesome!!! thank you for sharing the idea and the printables, i am definitely doing this!

# 14 February 2011 at 7:52 am

MsJoyceG said:

Thank you .. very useful .. and cute.

# 14 February 2011 at 8:29 am

Kathy V. said:

Super cute!

# 14 February 2011 at 8:55 am

Care said:

Eeeeek! Adorable!! I love me some TINY stuff! :o)

# 14 February 2011 at 9:49 am

Mod Podge Amy said:

These are so awesome! You could use them on those mini-notebooks too, just for an added cute factor.

# 14 February 2011 at 5:03 pm

Emily Joyce said:

Adorable! I can’t wait to make these. Thank you so much for sharing them with us!

# 15 February 2011 at 8:33 am

jeanie said:

SO cute and so kind of you to share….we have a bridal shower for my future daughter in law and my daughter got office for her room so gonna help her make these as the bride is a full time student and would love this. THANKS
=0) jeanie

# 15 February 2011 at 8:56 am

Karen said:

I’m visiting from Living Locurto! So cute!! They are simple adorable! – Karen

# 15 February 2011 at 9:16 am

Niki Turner said:

Squee!!! These are adorable! Thanks for sharing!

# 15 February 2011 at 9:34 am

Amy said:

these are awesome! love, love, love.

# 15 February 2011 at 2:10 pm

Free Printable Matchbox Office Organizer Wrappers | Copycat Crafts said:

[...] Link: Mini Office Supply Bookcovers for Matchboxes | Dollar Store Crafts. [...]

# 18 February 2011 at 5:24 am

Tabitha said:

These are too adorable! Thanks a whole bunch for sharing. :-)

# 19 February 2011 at 8:43 pm

Peggy said:

What a great idea! I love using matchboxes as I have an old card catalogue which is used for craft supplies. These will make a great addition.

# 22 February 2011 at 9:07 am

Paula is QuiteCurious said:

That is so cute! I love the idea. I could use a mouse-sized library, too.

# 27 February 2011 at 12:56 am

iHanna said:

Who doesn’t love mini-books of all kinds? These are so fun, thanks for sharing Heather!

# 27 February 2011 at 7:36 am

Linda J said:

Now what a unique idea,, I showed my 16yr old daughter and she said “Phatt, mom too kewl” lol

So we are only hoping our dollar store carries the matchboxs’

Thanks so much for the tutorial as I have four daughters’ and a 15 yr old granddtr that come over on Thursday nights for our craft night, no babies (home with the daddy’s).

This will be our next project if I can find the matchboxes….pics to follow.

# 27 February 2011 at 3:07 pm

beatriz_souza said:

thanks for sharing, Heather! i’ve used matchboxes as cases for handmade books, specially accordion ones.
tks to yr project, hope i’ll b able to spot those supplies that love to play hide-and-seek in my slightly messy office-studio…;o)

# 27 February 2011 at 6:31 pm

Lee Tucker said:

Awesome idea! Thanks!

# 27 February 2011 at 6:44 pm

Ruby Murray said:

The cutest thing ever, who doesn’t love a mini book and totally functional too!

# 27 February 2011 at 7:21 pm

patricia said:

These are adorable Heather! There are endless possibilities with the titles.

Thanks for the link to my boxes! :)

# 28 February 2011 at 3:36 pm

Sam said:

thank you! these are darling!

# 26 September 2011 at 7:34 am

jenny said:

I tried to download the template, but first I had to give all kinds of access to my facebook account, then they wanted me to pay 5 dollars for a 1 day pass before allowing me to download.

Does this money go to you? If so, then I don’t mind, but I’d rather it be clear that it is a financial transaction, and it is clear that you are selling your art — say through Etsy or eBay.

# 26 September 2011 at 9:13 am

heather (author) said:

@Jenny, no you shouldn’t have to pay to have access. It sounds like they were trying to sell premium access to you (there should have been a “no, just take me to the download button” option. But I agree, that’s annoying. I’ll try to see if there is a better way to host the download. Sorry for the inconvenience, and thanks for taking time to leave feedback about the process.

# 26 September 2011 at 9:59 am

Helen said:

Hi Heather

These are so cute and I would love to do this. I do have the same issue that Jenny has. Is there any way to do this? I would be happy to provide the money to you as it was you who put in all the effort. But from what the site was saying that does not seem to be the case. Could you email it and I paypal the money to you?

# 23 November 2011 at 6:35 am

heather (author) said:

You can upload a document to share with the world for free access to Scribd. So maybe just make a doc that says “hi world,” upload it, and then get your free download. :)

# 23 November 2011 at 8:33 am

how-to: office supply matchbox book covers | make handmade, crochet, craft said:

[...] love mini and I love organization, so these office supply matchbox book covers from Heather at Dollar Store Crafts made me do a little happy dance right here at my desk. [...]

# 2 January 2012 at 5:21 pm

Bookcovers for Matchboxes | Marla's Art Page Blog said:

[...] Dollar Store Crafts has done it again. I think these are wonderful and she gives a download for the cover! I am ready to fill a mini bookshelf and organize my office supplies. Now what to do with all the matches? [...]

# 7 January 2012 at 9:13 am

Tyna Ashley-Miller said:

I need some of these regular old staple matchboxes like you show with the dollar store kit. Do you sell them?
The regular Diamond slider box with one side for lighting/scratchiing if desired. I have not found these in your store.
Where can I go to find the boxes that hold 32 matches each, are small and resemble or are the same, old matchboxes of this brand of yore?
Tyna

# 7 February 2012 at 2:05 pm

heather (author) said:

@Tyna, I just write this blog – I don’t have a store. But you can find these small matchboxes at Dollar Tree in the kitchen section. You should also be able to find them in a regular grocery store too!

# 7 February 2012 at 2:32 pm

Cindy said:

I love these boxes and I just printed them out. For Christmas this year I made an advent calendar with small decorated matchboxes. When my daughter was young I had ordered something similar from Current (many years ago). Each box contained a small ornament that you put on a miniature tree. She had adored it as a child and asked me to recreate one for her. I can send pictures but I am not sure how to attach to this, let me know and I will.

# 22 February 2012 at 5:23 pm

Caixinha para clips | Blog Aroeira Home said:

[...] Achamos a dica aqui. [...]

# 23 July 2012 at 4:12 am

Time to Hit the Books (these are so cute, the kids will want to!) « Shop Suey Boutique Blog said:

[...] For school supplies, we love these cute Mini Office Supply Bookcovers for Matchboxes! [...]

# 2 August 2012 at 12:05 pm

Tyna Ashley-Miller said:

please send information about matchbook book covers

# 6 August 2012 at 12:47 pm

Packaging Jewelry 101: Upcycling Matchboxes « Karboojeh ? Handmade said:

[...] dollarstorecrafts.com via Karboojeh on [...]

# 8 August 2012 at 12:57 am

DIY: Congrats on New Job Gifts « Good Morning, Sunshine! said:

[...] Matchbox Office Supply Containers (via [...]

# 16 August 2012 at 4:00 am

de said:

I love this idea. One of my chidden is raising money in an online store to pay adoption fees for an Ethiopian orphan. Is it okay to use this idea to raise money to get my grandchild home? She of course would cite your blog on the listing!

# 29 October 2012 at 8:22 am

Loving Liberty Jewelry said:

Ohhhhhh are so adorable! I love books too! What a neat idea for the top of your desk! I’m in love!

# 6 November 2012 at 1:20 pm

Dollar Store Crafts » Blog Archive 15 Uses for Matchboxes » Dollar Store Crafts said:

[...] my free Matchbox Covers Printables to make matchboxes into tiny office supply containers (that look like wee [...]

# 21 December 2012 at 10:51 pm

freebird7100 said:

I love this idea & would love to download the matchbox pattern but I would have to pay for it. So I wont be getting them, still a cute idea!

# 23 December 2012 at 12:54 pm

Tiffany said:

So cute! I love the organizational aspect of it. I think I’m going to adapt it into memory books. I sometimes do memory ornaments, where I put something like sand, some seashells, and a beach picture in an ornament to hang. But that could easily be adapted to this book idea, for those book lovers (like me). Thank you so much for sharing this!

# 19 January 2013 at 3:26 pm