Tips Archive: oo8
Thinking outside the “Box”

Looking for inspiration for your next roombox or miniature scene? Want to build in something entirely unique? Can't find just the right container to build that scene you've planned in your head so long? The Miniatures Guide from http://miniatures.about.com/ has compiled a list of fifty unique containers that can be hollowed out, emptied, transformed, turned upside-down or otherwise modified into roomboxes. 

1. Gift bag - baby, birthday, wedding, etc 
2. Food or household product boxes - kitchen, bakery, Sweet Shoppe 
3. Rubber ducky - beach, bathroom or river/ocean scene 
4. Book - just about anything, library, school room, child's room, depends on the theme of the book 
5. Orange crate - market stall 
6. Computer monitor (hollowed) - office, study, work cubicle 
7. Computer base (emptied, back off) - office, study, work cubicle 
8. Television – living room, theater 
9. Cigar box - gentleman's study, bar 
10. Sports helmet - bar scene, sports scene, school scene 
11. Ballet shoe box - dance studio, recital, etc 
12. Make-up case - hair salon, bathroom, etc 
13. Tire - shop, garage, etc 
14. Fire hydrant - fire station 
15. Pencil box - schoolroom 
16. Clay pot - flower shop or garden 
17. Watering can - flower shop or garden 
18. Ice cream container - sweet shop 
19. Candy box - sweets shop, valentine's day scene 
20. Cookie tin - birthday party, Christmas scene, sweets shop, kitchen 
21. Brief case - business person, professional, office, etc 
22. Old paint can - house in progress, workshop, etc. 
23. Picnic basket - summer scene 
24. Old BBQ grill - BBQ, summer scene or beach scene 
25. Paper lanterns - Japanese tea room or sushi restaurant 
26. Bird house or cage - pet store 
27. Lunch pail or box - diner 
28. Sewing basket - quilt shop 
29. Bread box - bakery 
30. Roach bait box - motel room, restaurant 
31. Condom box - bedroom scene 
32. Plastic apple - classroom scene 
33. Trout creel - camping or fishing scene 
34. 30's style wooden case radio - old fashioned living room scene 
35. Nativity crèche - a church, horse stable, baptism scene 
36. Terrarium - green house 
37. Large tea cup - tea shop 
38. Coffee cup - coffee shop 
39. Baby wipes box - nursery 
40. Stuffed animal - child's room, nursery, pet store 
41. Hat box - men's study, clothing store, bedroom, etc 
42. Old speaker - music studio, teen's room 
43. Fish tank - pet store, ocean beach scene 
44. Old clock fixtures - clock shop, livingroom, study, etc 
45. Large or tall boots - fire station, shoe store, old woman who lives in the shoe, etc 
46. Mailbox - mailman scene, neighborhood street 
47. CD storage case - teen's room, music room
48. Old meat safe - butcher shop 
49. Purse or handbag - women's bathroom or vanity, boutique, "everything but the kitchen sink" 
50. Plastic piggy bank - child's room, shopping scene