There are many ways to create special items out of the over-stocked, forgotten, and basically unusable items that you have lying around your home. We all have things in our home that should be thrown-out, but aren’t or could be recycled but remain in-home. Anyways, the point is that we all have things that are just there, doing nothing. So in these days of saving money where we can and trying to frugal with our cash, how about creating a community chest for little to nothing?

Who says you can’t use old items to recreate new versions of old classics? I am going to tell you how to make an old game board new again. I’m not talking about dusting it off, I am talking about transforming it, turning it into something completely opposite of what it originally was; but excellent of course.

Find an old game board of Monopoly, Scrabble, just any game board that you no longer use that is in decent condition. Now you will want to get some of the Monopoly money or scrap paper, also felt can be used optionally. You will also need a ruler, a pencil, a utility knife (sharp), a hot-glue-gun, tape (optional), scissors, and white glue all ready to use as we go along. Take the game board, after wiping it clean, and place it face-down, with the hinges running horizontally, on a hard surface. You will use the ruler to measure, and mark, four lines that need to be parallel to the edges of the board: 3 ½” in from the left and right edges, 3 ½” up from the bottom edge, and 3 ½” up from the hinge. Now use the sharp utility knife to cut along the dotted section of each line, removing the shaded areas. Measure and mark four more lines parallel to your first set: 1/16” below the bottom marked line, and 1/16” to the inside of the left and right marked lines.

Now you need to score each line of the second set, and make sure not to cut all the way through. Be very careful as you peel away the resulting strips of cardboard one layer at a time, until each joint bends easily to a 90-degree angle. Run a bead of hot-glue along each joint and then fold the sides up. You need to hold the sides in place until the glue sets. Run more glue on the inside of each corner. Use the Monopoly money to cut a few ½”-wide strips and attach them to the outside of the box’s corners and lid with white glue. This will cover the raw edges. Use leftover board pieces to make your own dividers if you want.