Introduction: Cardboard Boombox
I recently bought a pair of speakers so that I could wake up to happy music from my mp3 player instead of horrible clock-radio alarm noise. A few minutes after setting them up, however, the speaker cords started to seem very cluttered and messy, so I decided to try to make a cardboard boombox to house them in, in the style of an apple iHome (I have a Creative Zen Vision M, which doesn't have the vast line of tailor-made accessories that the iPod does, and making things is more fun than buying them anyway.)
Step 1: Slicin' Boxes
I used a standard 4" x 10" x 12" Fed Ex box, because it fit the height of my speakers pretty perfectly.
Cut a hole for the speaker power cord, and slice the flaps off of the short (10" for me) sides of the box.
Cut a hole for the speaker power cord, and slice the flaps off of the short (10" for me) sides of the box.
Step 2: The Mp3 Player Cradle
Take one of the newly disembodied box flaps, and mark it in various ways:
2a. Mark off a section as deep as the box you're using.
2b. Mark the outline of your mp3 player laying down across the box-depth line from step 2a.
2c. Mark the outline of your mp3 player standing up, just under the outline of it laying down, and
2d. Just above the box-depth line from 2a.
2a. Mark off a section as deep as the box you're using.
2b. Mark the outline of your mp3 player laying down across the box-depth line from step 2a.
2c. Mark the outline of your mp3 player standing up, just under the outline of it laying down, and
2d. Just above the box-depth line from 2a.
Step 3: Mp3 Player Cradle, Pt. II
Slice along the long sides of the laying-down outline, from one standing-up outline to the other.
Then, bend the mp3 player-shaped section back as you bend the main section of the cardboard forward, making a niche for your player to sit in.
You might have to adjust the length of the cuts, etc., several times before the player sits right. I did.
Then, bend the mp3 player-shaped section back as you bend the main section of the cardboard forward, making a niche for your player to sit in.
You might have to adjust the length of the cuts, etc., several times before the player sits right. I did.
Step 4: Power Cord Holder
Next, put a square of duct tape (for reinforcement) on on the side of the box closest to the power cord hole. Poke two small holes, about an inch apart, through the tape and the box, and thread through the holes a few inches of wire. You can use this to hold your bundled power cord when you're not using the speakers.
Step 5: Handle
Now poke two pairs of holes, about five inches apart, in the top edge of the box. Thread a loop of rope through, and tie the ends together on the inside of the box, making a handle.
If you're going to carry it around a lot and want a comfier handle, weave some more rope back and forth between the two handle strands. (pictured in step 7)
If you're going to carry it around a lot and want a comfier handle, weave some more rope back and forth between the two handle strands. (pictured in step 7)
Step 6: Closure
I had to extend the flaps a bit to completely cover the speakers. I just used a strip of cardboard and some tape.
To keep the flaps closed, attach a few inches of wire to the bottom flap. Poke two holes in the top flap, and use some more wire to mount something around which you can wrap the wire from the bottom flap. I used a nut, but it doesn't matter.
To keep the flaps closed, attach a few inches of wire to the bottom flap. Poke two holes in the top flap, and use some more wire to mount something around which you can wrap the wire from the bottom flap. I used a nut, but it doesn't matter.
Step 7: Adorn.
Invite some friends over and have a good time decorating your new totally rad (backpackable! bikerackable!) homemade cardboard boombox.