Alice in Wonderland Furniture

Have you ever wanted to create a piece of furniture that's not only useful but truly one-of-a-kind? That’s exactly how I felt when I began designing this Alice in Wonderland-inspired piece. I've always been captivated by the whimsical, layered world of Alice’s story, much like a drawer, it holds hidden compartments and delightful surprises. That idea led me to craft a double-sided character: two faces of Alice. Let this project spark your imagination, and I can’t wait to see how you bring your own vision to life!

This project is a heavy-duty project that will necessarily require some of your time and patience to craft, around 10 hours. As I always say, time is your best ally if you want to craft something sturdy.

Cardboard & Paper Supplies

1. At least 3 large planks of double-walled corrugated cardboard
2. Thick cardboard tubes (like those from poster or fabric rolls)
3. White cardboard stock paper
4. White sparkly foam paper

Cutting Tools

1. 1 pair of heavy-duty scissors
2. 1 pair of precision scissors
3. 1 box cutter knife
4. 1 cordless electric cardboard cutter (optional, but highly recommended)

Brushes

1. 2 medium large square head brushes (one for glue, one for paint)
2. 1 medium rounded head brush
3. 1 small rounded head brush

Paints

1. Blue satin paint
2. Blue glittery paint
3. White satin paint
4. Black paint
5. Red paint
6. White paint
7. Skin color paint
8. Pink paint
9. Yellow satin paint
10. Yellow glittery paint
11. Copper paint

Drawing & Coloring Tools

1. Various colored markers
2. 1 box of all-color watercolor pencils
3. 1 ruler

Ribbons & Decorative Elements

1. 2 rolls of blue silk ribbon
2. 1 roll of black and red silk ribbon

Adhesives

1. 1 glue gun
2. 1 gallon of school glue
3. Brown duct tape
4. Craft masking tape
5. Painter’s masking tape
6. Glue spreader

Stapling tools

1. Office stapler
2. Upholstery stapler

Start by cutting your double-wall corrugated cardboard into four long planks of equal length and width. These will form the main structure of your furniture.

On each plank, draw the outline of your desired shape. In my example, I went for a whimsical design featuring:

1. A rounded top for the character’s head
2. Pointy corners for the shoulders
3. Soft, curved lines for the body
4. A wavy base at the bottom

On three of the four planks, mark and draw the outlines for the drawer openings these will serve as the fronts where the drawers will slide in. Leave the fourth plank solid, as it will act as the back panel of your chest of drawers. Use a box cutter to carefully cut along all the marked outlines, including the drawer openings.

Be sure to keep the cut-out drawer facades, as you’ll be using them later when assembling the drawer fronts.

Next, cut small notches along the edges of each plank. These should be about 0.5” deep and spaced every 2 inches. These notches will help interlock your support strips later on.

Cut thin cardboard strips that are 1 inch high. These will become the internal framework that holds everything together.

You’ll need two sets of strips:

1. One set as long as the width of your furniture
2. One set as long as the length of your furniture

You'll need one strip per notch, so count the notches and cut accordingly. This part can be time-consuming, but don’t rush it for the sturdiness of your furniture depends on it. A cordless electric cutter can save you a lot of time and effort here.

Now it’s time to prep your support strips to interlock:

1. Take the shorter-length strips (the width of your furniture), divide their length by 4, and cut 4 evenly spaced notches into each one.
2. Take the longer-length strips, and at each interval (determined by the spacing of the notches on the shorter strips), cut a matching notch.

Once you’ve notched all your strips, begin interlocking them slotting the longer strips into the notches of the shorter ones. This crisscross pattern will form a sturdy grid-like skeleton inside your furniture, giving it strength and stability.

With your internal structure ready, it’s time to start assembling:

1. Take the front-facing panel (with your design and drawer outlines) and the solid back panel.
2. Position the interlocked strips between them.
3. Carefully glue the edges of each strip where they meet the inside of the front and back panels. Use a hot glue gun for strong, quick-setting bonds.
4. Make sure everything lines up properly and is securely attached before the glue dries. Then use duct tape to secure everything durably.

Now that the front and back panels of your furniture are complete, it’s time to work on the sides and fully enclose the structure. Start by measuring the height and width of your furniture. Then, find a large enough piece of cardboard to cut at least three or four long strips that will wrap around the sides. Since the piece has a unique, wavy silhouette, you’ll need to make the cardboard more flexible by gently rolling the strips. This helps loosen the cardboard fibers and allows it to bend more easily. This flexibility is one of the reasons cardboard is such a favorite among crafters for unconventional designs.

Use kraft tape or duct tape to securely join the strips together and attach them to the sides of the structure. Make sure all edges are sealed well. Your furniture should feel enclosed and sturdy.

At this stage, the only open areas should be the spaces where the drawers will eventually slide in. You’ll need to seal the inner frame of these openings as well. Measure the height and width of the top, bottom, and side edges of each drawer compartment. Cut corresponding pieces of cardboard and tape them in place using kraft tape, aiming for a clean, smooth finish.

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Optional:

For a whimsical touch, I added a rounded "hat" shape on top of Alice’s head and stapled it into place. This is entirely optional, so feel free to get creative or skip it.

Use thick cardboard tubes (like those from fabric rolls or poster tubes) to create sturdy feet. Cut six equal-length pieces to match the width of the drawer. Arrange them in groups of three and stack them in a triangular shape, securing them together with painter’s masking tape.

Attach one triangle under each side of the drawer structure. Then, cut two shorter tubes for the center section. Secure these under the middle of the drawer using both masking tape and duct tape for added stability.

Cover the entire structure—including the feet—with kraft paper to unify the surface and prepare it for painting. Use a glue spreader to smooth the paper as you go, making sure it adheres cleanly to every curve and corner.

Next, create the drawers themselves. Start by measuring the width and depth of each drawer opening. You’ll need to account for the thickness (or density) of your cardboard, since the drawers need to fit snugly without getting stuck.

1. For the width, subtract three times the thickness of your cardboard.
2. For the depth, reduce it by about 2 inches to prevent the drawer from getting caught at the back. You can adjust this further if needed.

Test each piece of your drawer before assembling. Trim them down as necessary to ensure a smooth fit.

Use regular tape to initially assemble the pieces of each drawer, and then reinforce the structure with kraft tape. Don’t forget to tape the inside as well for extra strength.

Use a hot glue gun to affix the cut-out drawer facades to the front of each drawer. Secure them in place with painter's masking tape while the glue sets to ensure a firm bond and proper alignment.

Once all the drawers are built, cover them with kraft paper just like you did with the main structure.

Paint the drawers in a rich metallic blue. Then, glue blue silk ribbon around the edges of each drawer front to create a polished border. For added durability, you can also staple the ribbon into place.

Next, place each drawer front on a sheet of glittery white foam board, trace around it, and cut out matching shapes. Glue these foam pieces onto the front of the drawers, partially covering the ribbon to create a layered look.

Here’s where you can truly make the piece your own. I drew inspiration from Alice in Wonderland, but feel free to explore any theme you love.

If you're going with an Alice in Wonderland design:

1. Sketch Alice’s face on one side of the top rounded section using a graphite pencil. On the opposite side, draw the Evil Queen.
2. Once you’re happy with your sketches, paint Alice’s face with a soft skin tone and her hair in yellow. Use blue for her eyes and light pink for her lips.
3. For the Evil Queen, use a slightly deeper skin tone and black hair.

Paint Alice’s dress in satin blue and white, using the shape of the drawers to mimic the form of her body. On the Queen’s side, use red, black, and copper for her costume.

Paint the sides of the furniture with satin white, and add a black hat on top, decorated with a checkerboard pattern on the side representing Alice’s world.

Add more whimsical flair by sketching and coloring characters or scenes from the story using markers and watercolor pencils. Glue them onto both the drawer fronts and the sides of the furniture.

One side of the chest can depict Alice falling down the rabbit hole, while the other features the colorful Wonderland creatures she meets along the way.

Add satin blue ribbon along the edges of Alice’s side and black and red ribbon on the Queen’s side for a clean, polished look.

Cut trapezoid shapes to fit over the drawer’s feet and paint them black. These simulate Alice’s shoes and should be placed on the side where Alice is visible.

Congrats! You created a fully functional and beautifully artistic piece of furniture.