Hanging File Boxes Repurposed from Cardboard Crates

I have a ton  had a ton of these cardboard crates from my food storage in my basement (I threw a bunch away because I couldn't figure out what to do with them).  Then I was unloading a case of green beans and thought, "there has got to be something useful I can make with these."  These fabulous and very cute hanging file boxes were the finished product.  I LOVE THEM (and am so wishing I hadn't thrown away at least a dozen and a half of these a few months ago).
Here's what you need to make these:
2 cardboard crates per 1 hanging file box (make sure they are the same size or if you are going to make a matching set them make sure you are using all the same sizes of boxes.  These are not all created equal so pay close attention.)
Spray adhesive
Black spray paint (or whatever color you want.  Black is nice because it has good coverage)
Black masking tape (I found mine at Walmart but that was years ago-not sure where to still find it.  I have the standard 3/4" width of masking tape but actually a bit wider would be easier).
Decorative paper (2 12x12 sheets per hanging file)
Ribbon
To begin find your matching boxes.

You want one to be able to fit inside the other like this (it should be able to stick out at an angle).

The bottoms should fit together perfectly then pull the inside box out at an angle (how much really depends on you.  The part where the boxes no longer overlap but there is a space, is where you are going to cut the front (inside) box. 

My front box (the one that fits inside) I cut 6 1/2" from the end that fits inside the other box.

On the outer box the only pieces I am going to cut off are on the sides above my mark (which is where the boxes overlap) which I made at 6 5/8" and off the top (which will create a flat back piece).

Notice my mark, then I have the sides above that mark and the top of the box to cut off.

It should look like this.

So here are my two pieces now.

When I put them back together it should look like this:

Now I spray painted both pieces.  I didn't worry as much about the part that would be inside the angled piece or the back of the folder.  Let that dry.

Next I taped off both of the sides of the front box piece at an angle from the back edge to the front.  I did this because this is the part that will be exposed once these are put together and I don't want sticky spray adhesive on those parts.  Now spray the bottom and untaped sides of this piece with spray adhesive.

Reassemble the hanging file and hold the sides in place with an extra piece of tape and I used a clothes pin as well.  I left it like this overnight, though spray adhesive works quite quickly.  I did find the clothes pins to be very handy to hold the top of the sides while they dried.

Here is what it looks like when it was done drying.

Now I taped all the cut edges with black masking tape.  I think this gives it a finished look.  I also taped along the sides where the two pieces overlap.  I actually used two pieces on each side because it wasn't as wide as I wanted it to be.

You can't hardly tell that it is there.  I like how the masking tape blends in really well.

Finally I was able to decorate them.  I cut pieces of scrapbook paper to cover the front and the inside of the file.  I attached them with doublesided tape (because I use it for everything).  I cut the paper so that there would be an 1/8" of the black still showing around all of the sides.

Finally for the hanging ribbon.  Measure in from each side 3".

Punch a hole using a hole punch. (can you see the arrows pointing to the holes?)  I went down as far as my punch would reach.

Thread a piece of ribbon through from the front. 

Tie it together in a loose knot and you are set.

I decided after the fact to add a label to the front of each one.  I printed these on the computer. 

I think these are my favorite project I have made to date.  Watch out friends and family-everyone might be getting a set (gives me a good excuse to get my food storage more organized).

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