KAREN FOSTER 13-Inch by 8-3/4-Inch 3D Peek-A-Box, White

I bought this for an advent calendar for my sons. I planned on painting it, distressing it and decorating the drawers and outside. In the description, it states that it is paintable, so I thought that I was good to go (I was after a more vintage, aged look so I wanted an ivory base, not white). Well... the whole thing is glossy cardboard. You can paint all you want, but it won't stick. One scratch with a fingernail and it's gone. A complete waste of money! I tried sanding the drawers first... still too much glossy finish. I don't have the time, nor the patience to paint thee entire thing with a primer first and I'm not certain that a primer would even stick. I was so disappointed I almost cried. Now I am just ticked that I spent so much money on it! I will try to find an alternate use for it. In photos of finished products on Karen Foster Design website, they show these boxes decorated to the nines. I would love to know what adhesive they used. I am telling you, I am an avid crafter and I know of nothing that would adhere to this. Everything would just peel right off as soon as it dried. UGH!

The cardboard is stiff and would last a while - but the door has snap hinges (little tacky). I wanted to make an advent box and the "door" edges cover some of the drawers so you cant see them if you painted/decorated. The cardboard also has a sheen to it - I dont think paint would have stuck well. I didnt try to paint though, I just returned them. Really should not have the door on it.

The box is cheaply constructed and even before I was finished decorating it for a gift I had broken the closure strap and the paper on some of the boxes were starting to peel.

This thing camr damaged: claps didn’t work, back falling off and corners smooshed. I had to do some major crafty work to make it work. They gave me some money back when I sent pictures in.

Good

Inside box is glued to a "cover" which comes apart when product is opened. Very poor quality for the price.

I absolutely loved this product. I used mine to make an advent calendar, but plan to purchase another to make as a keepsake boxes. There are so many fun uses.

My wife has made 7 advent calendars with these peek a boxes. She doesn't paint them, so I can't speak to that. Overall the quality is good. She doesn't care for the plastic in the door, so she cuts out the plastic, then covers it with decorative card stock. She then puts the printed card stock on each daily box, and puts the included number stickers on each box. She uses mod podge to stick all of the card stock on. Each one has turned out well. The main complaint would be the snaps. We have had the snap flaps fall out on almost every box and had to re-glue it in.