Posted by JulesinParadise (Jules):
I am a collector of alterable items. I have hat boxes, paper mache balls and cones and boxes galore. It was not until I came across the Beach Cottage line of papers by IOD did I realize what I wanted to do with one of my many cigar boxes.
I wanted to turn it into a treasure box to hold my special shells. I keep the big ones I've picked up on our beach walks in a glass bowel but have a few I have just had in a drawer that were very special to me.
One shell is the first my then to be hubby gave me about 17 years ago. Another is one my mother and I found before she died. Each of these has a special meaning to me and deserved more than to be stowed away in a drawer. Thank you IOD!
I started by sanding the paper covering the cigar box lightly to insure a better adhesion of the paper to the box.
I used the lid, sides and bottom of the box as templates to cut the paper to fit. For the insides I cut the paper 1/8 less than I did for the outside pieces. I finished the inside and the outsides of the box before I did the lid. I adhered the paper to the box with Glue n Seal applied with a broad paint brush.
I used a narrow roller and a bone folder to go over the papers to eliminate bubbles. When this was done, I sealed the papers with a top coat of Glue N Seal. I allowed the inside of the box to dry before I did the sides and the outside of the lid.
I used a gold Krylon ink pen to 'gilt' the edges of the box but any gold paint will work as well. When the gold dried, I applied the paper to the sides of the box following the same steps as above for adhering the papers. I added the two ornate corners when the sealer had set.
I used the Helmar's Scrap Dots to attach the corners. While corners have grips that go into the material of the cigar box, Scrap Dots insured they would not come loose. I dyed the tulle by using a solution of 1 part water to 2 parts Glimmer mist. I used a disposable tin to mix the 'dye' in and submerged the tulle into the mixture for about ten minutes, turning it from time to time.
I air dried the tulle but it can be dried with a heat gun as well. I fussy cut the flowers, the shells and the mermaid out of the papers. I placed one end of the tulle under the background paper and adhered that side. I glued the paper across leaving the right hand edge unglued until I could tuck the other end of the tulle.
Next, using a paint brush, I brushed the Stickles across the tulle and allowed it to set. I placed the remaining fussy cut pieces, one by one, onto the paper and tulle, sealing each with the sealer as I went. I added more Stickles to the mermaid's tail and to the flowers and added gems to the center of several of the flowers. I used the Scrap Dots to give the paper crafting pieces different heights on the cover. The sealer protected them from being torn.
I love my new treasure box for my special shells and am so glad they are no longer hidden away. Thank you for looking.
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