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