My very good friend, Evelyn, is getting married to a wonderful guy named Ray. Evelyn and I worked together at YMI Jeans while she was the PR Manager and I was the Advertising Manager. She is now the fantastic Marketing Director. We were kind of attached at the hip most of the time. It’s funny how you can become so close to your co-workers. I really miss seeing her all the time so it was wonderful to make her a little engagement gift to help celebrate the exciting occasion. I made her a decorative box to keep all the little pieces of the journey of wedding planning and bought her a journal to try and write in. I have a box that I kept all the wedding extras like invites, table place cards, wedding dress inspiration and etc. You need a place for all that stuff, right? I gave her the journal because I wish I had kept one. I did decide to keep a journal from my pregnancy and Noah’s first year. I really enjoy looking back on the funny entries from the beginning. =) Journal more, you will be glad you did.

Speaking of weddings… Check out this cool site: Tailored. It’s a tool brides and grooms can use to find and collect inspiration, browse wedding products and share with friends. It reminds me of Pinterest for wedding planning. Oh if only this were around when I was planning my wedding… Sigh. I will just have to live vicariously through my engaged friends and make them try this out.

OK, onto the project. =)

Supplies:

♥ Box

♥ Spray paint

♥ Ribbon

♥ Strong glue (I used Liquid Fusion)

♥ Rhinestones

♥ Buttons

♥ Jewelry wire

♥ Jewelry pliers

♥ Fabric

♥ Mod Podge

♥ Sponge brush

♥ Scissors

♥ Acrylic paint

♥ Paint brush

How to:

Step 1

Clean off your box of choice to prepare for spray painting.

Step 2

I used painter’s tape and scratch paper to avoid getting spray paint on the inside of the box.

Step 3

Take your chosen spray paint color (and spray paint handle if you have one) and paint away. Remember to avoid drips, apply multiple light coats one at a time. Allow to dry at least 30 minutes before handling.

Step 4

Measure ribbon to go around the outside of the box. Attach with small amount of glue. I used Liquid Fusion but any strong fabric glue would do.

Step 5

Pull the other side of the ribbon around and glue. Since I have yet to find a way to avoid glue marks on fabric, I added a touch of sparkle with some large rhinestones. I love this sort of detail.

Step 6

Find a button of your choice. I don’t know about you but I have a thing for keeping any of those extra buttons that come attached to clothes I buy. I figure one day I will have use for them. Here it is!

Step 7

Wrap a piece of jewelry wire around the back loop of the button and twist. Please excuse my non-existent manicure…

Step 8

Wrap wire with button around ribbon. Using jewelry pliers really helps here. Then snip off the excess with wire cutters. If the wire is thin enough, scissors would be just fine.

Step 9

Pick a fabric of your choice.

Step 10

You can either trace the top of the box or another shape on the backside of the fabric. I chose to use this Corningware dish lid for the perfect circle shape I was looking for. I always use odd things around the house to trace circles and ovals. Once I used my paper towel dispenser…

Step 11

Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge onto the front of the fabric. Let fully dry at least 15 minutes. The Mod Podge will stiffen the fabric slightly and will allow you to cut without creating frayed edges.

Step 12

While that’s drying, you can paint a little message or your gift recipients name on the inside lid. I used a Champagne color Metallic Acrylic paint.

Step 13

As long as the fabric is dry, you can cut out the shape and use Mod Podge to glue to the top of your box. Allow to dry at least 10-15 minutes. Then, add a coat of Mod Podge over the entire top of the lid and fabric to create a seal.

Done!

There are so many ways to decorate a box so have fun with it and maybe make one for yourself. =)

Congratulations to Evelyn and Ray! Love you!

For another cute gift idea, check out this adorable Handmade Wedding Guestbook tutorial from one of my favorite blogs, A Beautiful Mess with Elsie Larson.

♥♥

Arica