DIY tissue box cover & dress up storage center

I'm very aware of how things look in my house (like whether or not they're aesthetically pleasing) and a little thing like an ugly tissue box sitting on a table bothers me. (I know I'm not the only one. Right?!) Last week I bought an ugly tissue box cover from the thrift shop for $1. I intended to cover it and make it pretty. Here's the before:

I decided to use my own papers to cover this. I started by measuring the tissue box: each panel is 5" wide by 5 3/4" high. Since there are four panels, the total measurement is 20 x 5 3/4. Then I created a Photoshop file that measured 21"x 6" (left room for margins and error) and filled it with my patterns. I couldn't choose just one, so I did a sort of collaged or quilted effect. Here's what my Photoshop file looks like:

The next step was to print the file on two sheets of paper (one 11x17 piece was not big enough since the finished size was 20x 5 3/4).Then I got out the Modge Podge, sandpaper and x-acto knife. I cut the pages down to size and sanded the tissue box since it was shiny and I was concerned that the paper wouldn't adhere to it. Then I brushed the Modge Podge onto the box. Here's an in-progress photo:

After I was finished and it dried I put a coat of the Modge Podge over the paper to create a protective seal. Easy, quick craft! Here's the finished product:

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The other DIY project that I and my dad completed this weekend was a dress-up storage center for Malayna. Okay, so all I actually did was paint it - my dad did the rest! I found the plans for it on Ana White's website, which has given me so many more ideas.

We had been keeping her dress-up clothes in a big basket, but the stuff on the bottom never got played with. This is a great solution.

Here's what Malayna did with the storage center most of the weekend:

She liked sitting in it and pretending it was a little car. (I added wheels to the bottom to make it easier to move around.) Here it is with her dress-up clothes in it:

I'm going to add some hooks to the side so she can hang necklaces, ties, hats, etc. Thanks Dad! Keep your tools ready for the next project.