Sometimes, I just see something in a store and it grabs my imagination about what could I make of it. Did you ever felt the same way? I feel this very often. :D Like when I saw this little, hexagonal wooden box. It did inspire me!
I thought about that you maybe interested in my brainchild, so I decided to write a step-by-step tutorial about the designing process.
There's much room for improvement in taking pictures of my creations, but I tried my best.
I'd like to remark here, that I've never been payed by any of these companies to advertise or hype they products! I mention them simply because I used them at the time.
I. Preparations
Firstly, we have this nice, little, hexagonal wooden box with copper colored hinge and clasp. Dimensions: height ~ 4 cm; diameter ~ 7 cm; outer circuit ~23 cm; inner circuit ~ 16 cm; inner depth ~ 3 cm.
- Rayher Easy Glue or other universal glue, which dries clear (water-based)
- Lefranc & Bourgeois Déco acrylic paints (Wedding pink & Snow white colors)
- Pentart decoupage varnish & glue (glittery)
- Pentart Crackle Medium crackling varnish
- Stamperia Vernice Protettiva shiny varnish (water-based)
- Rayher self-adhesive halfbeads (instead of the rhinestones)
- 1 meter of cotton lace (paperlaces were omitted in the end)
- paper napkin with cupcakes
- brushes
- scissors
- screwdriver (it usually comes in my mind when I've already started the work >.<)
Tip: I used to store the small pieces (hinge, screws, etc...) in a small cup, bottlecap or these plastic eggs from Kinder Surprise. They are closable, and keep the stuff from vanishing.
II. Foundation
It's not necessary, if the wood is brigt enough. And if the napkin's pattern needs it (ex. snowy landscape, white flower), maybe putting some foundation under the pattern is enough. Becouse I wanted to see white color in the cracks, I decided to paint the whole box with white acrylic. Inside and outside. Two layers for a nice covering (the lower part already has the 2nd layer in the picture).
Tip: If we'd like to avoid the paint to be "stiped" by the brush, we can use a small piece of sponge to make a smooth surface (with soft, tapping moves).
III. Decoupage
At first, we cut out the patterns (the cupcakes in this case), after that, we should peel the "third", colored layer - we only need this layer. Put the glue on the surface - I did it on the both sides of the lid. Be careful with the siting! Watch out for the location of the hinge and the clasp - which side will the box open!
Smooth the patterns on the glued surfaces (I always use a dry, soft brush for this)! When the glue has dried, we put another layer of the glue - as a varnish coating - I usually make two layers. The glue will dry clear!
Tip: I used a special kind of the glue, which has some glitter in it, because I wanted sparkling cupcakes.
IV. Crackling
I didn't take any pictures about the applied crackling varnish, because it is so clear, it's hard to see. This material should conract the paint over it, and in the cracks we could see what is under the varnish (in my case: the foundation).
Beware of the crackling varnishes, which have 2 components: those are for crackling the varnish itself, they are inappropriate for getting this result!
So, we put on a layer of this varnish: I did on the top of the box, around the cupcake, and on every six outer vertical side of the lower part (you will see this on a further picture). If it's dried we can paint the whole box with our main color (I used the pink), with special care of the cupcakes! I painted twice the not-cracked areas for a better covering.
Tip: Don't spare the varnish! Neither the paint! If the layers are too thin, our cracks going to look crappy!
V. Laced rims
How a little lace can zing up everything is nearly unbelievable! To cover the inside and out, upside and down lips of box at it's opening, a single meter was enough (in fact I have a 20 cm leftover). Nothing special: glue the rims and tap on the lace.
I put the metal parts back after this phase. (under the lace, some cracks can be seen in the left picture :D) But I suggest to be more patient, and leave the assembling for the end!
Tip: we can easily handle the glue with the help of a brush, use plenty of glue, because the lace will soak up some of it!
VI. Finishing moves
Now we can cover the whole box with a shiny lacquer (except the laces and the metal parts of course), to make it more durable (one or two layers should be enough). And I put a nacreous, self-adhesive halfbeads in all six corners of the hexagon on the top, to make it less "flat". We can line it with foam, felt or a small, stuffed cushion.
We can assemble the box with the hinge and the clasp - if we haven't already did this. And... voilá!
Tip: It can be a stylish ornament on our favorite shelf, while we can keep our most precious whatnots: small earrings/plugs, piercings, rings, etc. But it is also a nice "package", or a gift itself (i this case, we are suggested to put something in it: a small jewel, or chocolate).
If you are reading this, you've got nothing left to do but to try yourself out!
Of course, you can use and modify these techniques freely to create your own, personal creations!
I hope this entry is worthy as a revival, and I hope it will be followed by other useful, interesting and/or beautiful articles! You can ask and rate, or leave a comment if you want to! And if you make your own little box, let me know, and send a picture, so others can take fancy!
Thanks for your attenton!
Good creating for everyone! ^3^
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