Timeworn Gift Box Art Project
Turn Something New Into Something Old and Create Unique Wrapping
The next time you are visiting a craft store, visit the box section. There are cardboard boxes that look like they are made from brown cardboard. An opportunity!
Creating a time worn gift box is not only a keepsake for the recipient, but it is also a lot of fun. This craft project is also safe (and simple enough) to work on with small children as an after school craft project.
For this mixed media art project, you will need the following materials:
- Small brown craft cardboard box
- Heavy-duty glue stick
- Walnut distress ink
- White ink pad
- Vintage style papers
- Vintage style stickers
- Faux or used postage
- Twine or riff-raff
- Straight edge scissors
- Sealing wax
- Seal (your choice of decoration)
- Fine grit sandpaper
Follow these simple steps to complete this mixed media art project:
- Tear up the vintage papers so a deckled edge is present. Ink along all the edges with walnut distress ink. Set aside to dry completely.
- Ink along all the edges and corners of the outside of the box and its cover using the walnut ink again. Because the box is so porous, the ink should dry quickly. If not, speed up drying time through use of a heat gun or a hair dryer.
- Affix the distressed papers to the outside of the box and the cover, allowing the papers to wrap around the edges. Allow some of the box to still show through. Be sure all the edges are secured firmly into place.
- Using the fine grit sandpaper, sand along the edges of the box and the corners of both the box and the cover. (This will add to the box's worn appearance.)
- Add the faux or used postage to the cover. Add the vintage stickers to the cover, as well as to the box. Again, be sure some of the box’s original color is still showing through.
- Ink along the edges of the cover and the corners of the box.
- Wrap twine or riff-raff around the box to look like a gift. Using the sealing wax and the seal, add wax to the knot of the twine or riff-raff.
Prior to sealing this box closed, you may want to add a small trinket, some jewelry, various treasures, or some ephemera from a memory you want to preserve. However, left empty, this box is beautiful as a stand-alone piece of art.
There are further embellishments that can be added such as:
- Vintage keys
- Faux coins or paper money
- Old buttons
- Small game pieces
- Charms
- Tags (altered)
Because this project has so many variations, including the changing of themes, let your imagination run wild. This makes a great personalized gift for any occasion. Match the them of the box to match the recipient’s interests and personality. If you are creating a stand-alone art piece for yourself, follow your own interests and tastes.
