Years ago, in the wedding aisle of a local store, I found a package of twelve folding boxes apparently intended to hold small gifts for attendants.
They looked to me like the perfect base for making trunks.
Here are the first two trunks I made.
It's been a long time since I worked with these boxes, but as I recall they seemed a bit tall. I think I cut them down, but whether at the top or the bottom I don't remember. I also glued them to cardboard so that they would have a firmer backing, adding tabs to make it easier to glue the sides and bottom together.
THE "LEATHER" TRUNK
I used a straight edge and the back of the blade of a craft knife to score the folds, then cut them out with the ruler and a sharp new blade. I cut through the original front flap, gluing the decorative part to the top edge of the trunk bottom, and used a second matching piece of decorative trim cut from an extra box, gluing it upside down above the trunk's lid opening.
For this trunk, the box was painted terra cotta, then a slightly lighter clay color was sponged on to give it the appearance of leather. The straps and trim were narrow seams cut from an old leather purse, and the buckles on the straps are jump rings. I think I put a dirty water wash over all to blend.
You can see this trunk jam-packed with items in the story of Anachronon the Wizard in the Fantasy pages.
THE "TIN" VERSION
When I was a child, I had a little trunk for my dolls and doll clothes that had been decorated by my mother. For the second experiment with the wedding favor boxes I tried duplicating that little trunk.
For this one, I merely glued the trunk together and painted it ivory. The decorative details were cut from a magazine advertisement for personalized business cards. The design on the trunk top was outlined with a piece of gold gift tie cord. The "brass" trim was cut from a Christmas card, and the other piece of decorative trim was cut from a lace doily. Actually, it looked better "in person" than it does here; I should've done something to make the two brass pieces look more alike. I gave this trunk to a friend, so there is no opportunity to take better photos.
I made more of these trunks in various designs and finishes, some with open lids, for a swap, but in those days didn't think of taking photos of all of them.
Here is a picture of a similar folding trunk pattern found on the internet at http://www.accucutcraft.com/dies-and-sets/bags-boxes/box-chest.html
This little box that contained Easter mints is less than two inches long and a bit over a half inch deep. It will make a large old-fashioned suitcase or trunk, suitable to go in an attic or a 50's and earlier setting.
I have used individual serving raisin boxes to make trunks in the past but don't have pictures.
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