Yup, I had a super-crafty-fun-weekend! and it was grrrrrreeeeeeeeaaaaat!!!!! (insert Tony-the-Tiger voice here…)
Okay, so, first, I decoupaged a box that that I’m using as a jewelry box for the pieces I want to sell (you know, rather than the cardboard box I had them in). I even put a little handle on it and mirror inside it! It’s really cute. Here it is:
All finished!
Now, of course, getting to this point, what with the Mod Podge and the cutting and the mess (you should see my sweat pants–covered in modgy fingerprints. Oh yeah–and I used paint, too!) was quite a bit of chaotic fun!
I started with all my shtuff…
Like how I laid it all out so nicely for a pic? 🙂
And then, of course, about half-way through, I realized I needed more shtuff. No pics of that, though… So then I got to painting the inside. Also, no pics. There was far too much mess going on to pick up the camera. I’m gonna wait a few more months before I get paint on it.
And then I had to measure. Well, sort of. I did measure the sides so I wouldn’t waste too much paper, cause it was all pretty and stuff! But of course, I only measured the one time, and so my measurements aren’t all spot on. My father would be so disappointed (he’s a pro at the measuring thing…) But in the end, I did find a use for most of those left-over paper bits I did end up with (more on that in another post. Tomorrow, maybe…) So, after all the measuring and the cutting and the modgin’ and the podgin’ was done, I ended up with this:
kinda cool, if I do say so myself....
So then, for the finishing touches. I really wanted a handle on it, and I had visions of a suitcase like handle, but I have no spare suitcases, so I had to improvise something else. I also wanted it to have a bit more interest goin’ on up top there, and I have these large chip-board butterflies. I have no clue where they came from, but they’ve been in my stash for awhile. So I took some of that paper and ‘podged it up, and painted the ugly cardboard sides. While I was at it, I took a length of pink ribbon and raided my bead stash for some large hole beads. I found some great wooden ones, and strung those on the ribbon. Then, to the toolbox I wandered! With the help of my trusty staple gun, I attached the ribbon, and then used my E-6000 epoxy to attach the butterfly on top. And wah-lah! A handle and some interest!!!
gotta love E-6000!!!!!!!
As the glue dried, I was pondering the inside. Okay, truth be told, the glue wasn’t so much dried as still very glue-y when I thought “Hey, a mirror would be cool!” And it just so happens, I had a perfect mirror to use! Back to the E-6000, slapped some dollops on the back of the mirror, press it into the inside top, prop it open, and then a few minutes later, discover that the glue from the butterfly is now dripping onto the coffee table. Oops!!! So I flipped the whole mess upside-down! Eventually, it dried. well, the butterfly bit did. I discovered the next day, after I closed the lid for a few minutes, that the mirror bit was still oozing. So, back open it went! Finally, that all dried.
Then, I realized, there’s no easy way to see yourself in the mirror if you’re playing with jewelry, since it just flipped all the way open… so, I had to add some catcher-thingies… I’m sure they have an actual name, but I know not what it is. Anyway, I used more ribbon, E-6000, and eyelets. And let me say, I need a punch that will punch a hole in ribbon… that was not fun… and in retrospect, this part should get done BEFORE the mirror goes in… But I made it work:
Just hammer those eyelets in there! And use the E-6000 to make sure they stay!
And that was it! Here’s some more close up shots, after the fact:
And finally, filled with stuff!
You know, I’m really tempted to make another one to use as a purse. It’s too cute!! And more on the rest of my crafty weekend soon!
RLW
The Crafting English Prof... 