Make a box lid to replace one that has been lost or destroyed, or perhaps even for a box that never had a lid to begin with. Made with mat board or sturdy cardboard, it can remain plain once created or decorated with paint and embellishments to turn it into a gift box or one for storage. Whether it's small or large, a box lid is not difficult to create and takes a short time to put together to fit over any existing box.

Lay the mat board or cardboard flat on a work table, right side down. Place the box to be covered on top, centered.

With a pencil or marker, trace the perimeter of the box onto the mat board or cardboard. Remove the box and set aside.

With a straightedge or ruler, mark 1 inch or 2 inches all around the perimeter of the box traced to create the lip for the box lid. This measurement depends on the size of the box to be covered. For example, if the lid is to cover a small box, then perhaps only a 1-inch lip is needed. If the box to be covered is very large, then a lip of 3 inches will be appropriate for the lip. What is important is that when the new lid is placed on top of the box, the lid will stay secure and not fall off.